Promoting DEIA in Lung Disease Research Through a Mentored Training Experience at IUB-SPH

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PROJECT SUMMARY This Administrative Supplement to Recognize Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Mentorship proposal expands on the research goals of parent study and its associated diversity supplement, which aim to a) investigate the mechanisms by which gonadal sex hormones contribute to asthma development and progression, and b) discover basic biological differences underlying the influence of sex and gender in asthma presentation and outcomes. If funded, this supplement award will provide support for 10 undergraduate student trainees to help conduct this research and participate in a culturally relevant leadership development and research training program. The specific activities of this administrative supplement will support DEIA by supporting the career development of a cohort of students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields, while expanding the research goals of the parent award. This will be accomplished by 1) building student awareness of career opportunities, 2) increasing student knowledge of the science research/discovery process, 3) cementing individual resolve, perseverance and confidence in students, and 4) exposing students to a variety of professionals from a multitude of backgrounds in public health to expand their options for career selection. Specifically, a cohort of 10 students from institutions across the United States, and from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM, will be recruited for an integrated leadership development and research training program at Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health (IUB-SPH). The first phase of the program will focus on cohort-building activities that will be conducted virtually over 3-months, and include elements of career development training that will prepare them for a summer research experience. The second phase of the program will consist of an 8-week in-person summer research intensive experience at IUB-SPH, where students will participate in a) an intensive in-person individual leadership development program, b) a hands-on laboratory techniques training, c) the completion of an independent research project aimed to characterize sex differences in pro-inflammatory gene expression triggered by allergen exposure in primary human bronchial epithelial cells, as well as to detect novel sex- specific protein biomarkers for allergic inflammation in the lung epithelium using an immunology multiplex analysis technology platform. Similar to the parent award and its associated diversity supplement, this administrative supplement is well-aligned with the research priorities of NHLBI by investigating pathobiological mechanisms important to the onset and progression of lung diseases, identifying factors that account for individual differences in lung disease pathobiology, including sex differences and the influence of sex, and developing, diversifying, and sustaining a scientific workforce capable of accomplishing the institute’s mission.