Admin-Core-001

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

ADMINISTRATIVE, MENTORING AND EDUCATION CORE A: SUMMARY The major goal of Phase 2 of COBRE funding of the Mississippi Center of Excellence in Perinatal Research (MS CEPR) is to further the sustainability of an innovative, nationally recognized center of excellence in perinatal research spanning the spectrum from adverse pregnancy to subsequent health outcomes in mothers and offspring. More specifically, perinatal research encompasses the study of disease states that occur during gestation and early post-natal development that result in long-term adverse consequences in the mother and offspring across their lifespans. Research focuses on the integrative relationships and health disparities in adverse pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and developmental programming of cardiovascular, renal, metabolic and behavioral diseases. This is an important area for research especially in light of the increasing evidence of long term health consequences brought about by adverse fetal environment, and subsequent low birth weight. An adverse perinatal environment is thought to account at least in part for the development of obesity, cardiovascular, renal, and behavioral diseases later in life for male and female offspring, and predispose the mothers for increased risk of these diseases with aging. This is especially important for Mississippi since we have one of the highest rates of preeclampsia, low birth weight, preterm labor, obesity, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases and hypertension in the United States. The addition of COVID19 and the complications associated with it further add to disproportionate levels of morbidity and mortality in both our Caucasian and African American populations. Thus, Phase 2 of this COBRE will continue to improve sustainability and research excellence in the MS CEPR by providing infrastructure and capacity for continued building of a multidisciplinary, diverse group of basic, clinical and population scientists working on the common synergistic theme of perinatal diseases and health disparities and to facilitate their collaborations. Specific Aims of the Administrative, Mentoring and Education Core A are to provide leadership for all aspects of the MS CEPR; coordinate and provide support for all Center-related activities; maintain and improve mentoring and education programs for MS CEPR research project leaders (RPLs) or pilot project leaders (PPLs); interface with the NIGMS, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) administration, the UMMC Office of Research and Sponsored Programs including Pre- and Post-Award Centers, the departments represented by RPLs and PPLs; recruit, train, and mentor a diverse group of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to provide the next generation of perinatal researchers and to provide mentoring experience for RPLs and PPLs as needed; organize networking meetings and seminars as well as meetings of the Executive Committee, Internal and External Advisory Committees; and increase the number of investigators at UMMC who focus on perinatal research by working with department chairs to hire new perinatal investigators.