Longevity, Equity, and Aging Research Network (L.E.A.R.N.) Consortium Research Education Core

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY—RESEARCH EDUCATION CORE The goal of the Research Education Component (REC) of the Longevity, Equity, and Aging Research Network (L.E.A.R.N) Consortium is to enhance the diversity of the research workforce by training promising scientists from diverse and underrepresented groups for sustained careers in research on aging with a specific focus on ‘ethnogeriatric health disparities’. Through an annual pilot award program, we seek to advance the career trajectories of early career faculty from underrepresented groups (collectively “RCMAR Scientists”) from the L.E.A.R.N Consortium of organizations, which includes Stanford University, San Jose State University and Palo Alto University (both Minority Serving Institutions), the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and our community organizational partners. Our REC will provide training, mentoring, and support to enable RCMAR Scientists to conduct transdisciplinary research on aging that integrates biological, social, behavioral, and cultural considerations using various innovative techniques (e.g., biomedical data science, digital health, precision medicine, virtual reality/simulation-based interventions, qualitative research, mixed-methods research, and implementation science). We will fund three 12-month mentored pilot awards per year, designed and implemented with the guidance of committed and skilled research mentors. Each RCMAR Scientist will choose a primary mentor (from their organization) and a secondary mentor from any of the L.E.A.R.N Consortium organizations. Training will include didactic instruction on ethnogeriatric health disparities research methods as well as, embedded within, a customized selection of courses that will enhance knowledge in domains important for future success. RCMAR Scientists will attend a weekly seminar series that includes scholar research-in-progress, faculty research, professional guidance, peer-to-peer advising, and professional development topics and complete training in Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness (J.E.D.I) issues, research ethics, rigor and reproducibility, compliance, and good clinical science practices. We will provide ongoing mentoring and support to RCMAR Scientists after the funding period, including technical assistance in research grant writing toward independent NIH funding. RCMAR Scientists will gain much of the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to transition into viable research careers, including conduct of transdisciplinary aging research, authoring manuscripts, competing for external funding, developing mentoring and team building strategies, and how to design and implement their career development plans. We aim to enable them to successfully step into research-based positions in academia, industry, government, or the not-for-profit sector. Our RCMAR Scientists will learn in an environment that emphasizes teamwork and teaches that the most innovative research is a product of team science that bridges all disciplinary areas spanning the aging research landscape, from the identification and mitigation of ethnogeriatric health disparities to discovery of novel approaches that promote health equity and wellness for diverse older Americans.