St. Louis Summer Research Immersion Program

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Abstract Increasing diversity and inclusiveness within the Pediatric Neurosciences workforce will help close the gap in health disparities and accelerate research efforts that will lead to new treatments for pediatric brain disorders. Minority populations are affected by cognitive and neurological conditions at a rate higher than other groups, yet they are involved in neuroscience research at a much lower rate. The NIH/NINDS has demonstrated leadership in addressing this critical disparity by creating an NINDS Office of Programs to Enhance Neuroscience Workforce Diversity (OPEN) and developing specific individual and institutional funding opportunities to promote inclusion across the NINDS scientific portfolio. The current proposal will create the St. Louis Summer Research Immersion Program in Pediatric Neuroscience (SSRIP) to provide an innovative research training experience to high school students who might not otherwise have access to such opportunities. This R25 research education program is both innovative and responsive to the priorities of the NINDS. It directly addresses the stated priorities of the NINDS to eliminate disparities in the Pediatric Neurosciences workforce, enhance creativity and innovation through diverse representation, broaden the scope of biomedical inquiry, and ensure fairness in our diverse nation. Further, the SSRIP models the NIH Scientific Diversity Toolkit by developing all four key focus areas: 1) a diverse candidate pool; 2) unbiased talent searches; 3) outreach and networking; and 4) mentoring relationships. Washington University's educational environment presents an ideal context and substantial existing infrastructure to develop this unique training program. Thus, in addressing PAR-21-168, SSRIP will advance the collective mission of the NINDS, WUSM, and the St. Louis community of enhancing the diversity and inclusiveness of the Pediatric Neurosciences research workforce both locally and more broadly.