The University of Miami AIDS Research Center on Mental Health and HIV/AIDS - Center for HIV & Research in Mental Health (CHARM)

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PROJECT SUMMARY: DEVELOPMENTAL CORE (B) As a result of 3.5 years of successfully awarding and supporting developmental projects (3 cohorts), mentoring new investigators, and other supporting activities as a D-ARC, the Dev Core proposes to extend our work as a Full ARC, building and sustaining the growth of investigators pursuing mental health (MH) and HIV research. The focus continues to be on community engaged research mitigating the disparities experienced by racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minority populations. The Dev Core Awards Program will support Early Stage Investigators (ESI), established investigators new to MH/HIV, and community stakeholders, in pursuing community-engaged, MH/HIV research focused on mitigating health disparities. We will offer traditional Pilot Awards, Scholar Awards that emphasizes research skills development and investigator time for research, Community Pilot Awards in partnership with the MHD-CE Core, and Program Planning Micro-Grants in partnership with the EIS Core. We will expand eligibility for the Pilot and Scholar Awards to investigators from other regional institutions: Florida State University, Florida International University, and Nova Southeastern University. At least one Pilot or Scholar Award each year will be implementation science-focused, with priority areas informed by the EIS Core. The Dev Core coordinates the review of each award, and we systematically track and support the progress of awardees and support those who are not selected in revising their proposals for future funding mechanisms. The comprehensive mentoring program encompasses our efforts to support the career development of ESI and underrepresented minority (URM) scientists. We facilitate the efforts by assembling a mentoring team (through the Mentoring Advisory Committee) and pursue comprehensive individual development plans (IDP). Career development of ESIs is further supported by our contributions to ongoing career development and grant writing workshops in synergy with other Cores and research Centers at UM and beyond. Other Dev Core activities include technical assistance and pre-submission peer reviews of grants and manuscripts, catalyzing the success of CHARM scientists across the career development spectrum from pre- and post-doctoral CHANGE T32 trainees to mid/senior-career scientists. The interdisciplinary Dev Core Directors, all underrepresented racial/ethnic minority investigators, and cross-institutional contributors are crucial to the success of the overall mission and scientific Aims of CHARM, the only NIMH (D-)ARC in the Southeastern United States. With respect to legacy planning, Core leaders include a senior level Director (Behar-Zusman) an Associate Professor Co-Director (McIntosh), and a mid- career Professor (Educator Track) Training Director (Horigian). The Dev Core provides crucial resources to reinvigorate MH/HIV research in a region that is among the most heavily affected by the epidemic.