Training Program in Translational Science, HIV, and Sexual and Gender Minority Health

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Project Summary Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) are heavily burdened by HIV in the U.S., including cisgender sexual minority men, transgender women and men, and non-binary people assigned male at birth. SGM also experience vast health inequities outside of HIV, including mental health problems, substance use, and various physical health outcomes. Minority stressors (i.e., those unique to SGM) are linked to HIV-related outcomes and mental health, driven by various biopsychosocial processes. Further, these health issues do not occur in a vacuum; multiple, comorbid health-related issues interact synergistically to form a “syndemic” that drives HIV incidence and HIV care outcomes among SGM. In order to rapidly address these issues, we need skilled translational scientists who can delineate the mechanistic processes driving disparities, translate findings into interventions, and implement programs with communities. Built on the infrastructure of Northwestern's Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, the TrainingProgram in Translational Science, HIV, andSexual and Gender Minority Health (NU-THRIVE)will support promising scientists in building the skills necessary to understand these complex relationships and mitigate health disparities impacting SGM people, including HIV. NU-THRIVE aims to train postdoctoral fellows in research methods across the Translational Science Spectrum through a rigorous program in which they will: 1) specialize and gain depth of knowledge in 2 Translational Science Skill Domains (i.e., Quantitative Methods, Qualitative Methods, Interventions & Trials, Implementation Science) through mentored research; and 2) gain breadth of knowledge in all 4 domains through a formal training curriculum. NU-THRIVE will support 3 new postdoctoral fellows per year, on 2-year appointments. We expect a majority will have a PhD (behavioral/social science) and a minority will be MD physician-scientists. Fellows will select 1 Primary and 1 Secondary Mentor. Primary Mentors are faculty who focus primarily on HIV, mental health, and/or SGM health. Secondary Mentors come from a range of disciplines and have expertise complementary to the aims of NU-THRIVE but may work outside of or adjacent to HIV and mental health among SGM. Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in 8 core competencies: 1) translational science in HIV & SGM health; 2) biopsychosocial drivers of HIV, mental health, & associated comorbidities; 3) developmental lifespan & environmental influences on HIV, mental health, & comorbidities; 4) intersectional identities, HIV, & SGM health; 5) team science skills; 6) ethics & responsible conduct of research; 7) writing, dissemination, & grantsmanship; 8) professional & career development. NU-THRIVE training modalities will include mentored research activities, a didactic seminar series, intensive trainings in translational science methods, structured writing support, and other activities available in the rich Northwestern environment. NU-THRIVE will place fellows at the forefront of HIV and SGM health research, with the goal of more rapidly moving basic science discoveries to efficacious interventions and onward toward implementation.