Accelerating Research Advancement for Investigators Underrepresented in Academia

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The biomedical workforce suffers from a lack of diversity among the research workforce: the number of investigators from underrepresented backgrounds who enter academia is disproportionately low, and subsequently, there is a high attrition rate among these investigators due to numerous significant challenges related to being from an underrepresented group. Lack of diversity in biomedical research is harmful because diversity improves the research community and our scientific output and because investigators from underrepresented backgrounds are more likely to conduct research in diverse populations. Thus, recruiting and retaining underrepresented investigators is critical to achieving equity in biomedical research and clinical care. Two key factors that improve retention and career advancement for investigators from underrepresented backgrounds are the availability of faculty role models with similar backgrounds and access to robust mentorship. This award aims to provide such mentorship and role modeling through a comprehensive mentoring and career development program: the MPIs, Drs. Stanford and Stanley are physician-scientist colleagues with multiple previous and existing collaborations who have expertise in mentorship and promoting diversity. They will lead a comprehensive program that achieves three aims for underrepresented scholars: (1) providing comprehensive, multi-level mentoring that includes both robust faculty mentorship and peer and near-peer mentorship; (2) providing guidance and skill-building for research advancement, including preparation of R01 or equivalent grant applications at the end of the mentoring experience; and (3) preparing scholars to be mentors and academic leaders. Critical components of the program include monthly peer- mentoring meetings, monthly individual meetings with one of the MPIs, quarterly meetings with a near-peer mentor, participation in a curriculum with multiple faculty speakers that ensures the skills required for grant writing, scientific communication, and academic advancement, and participation in the larger group of scholars supported by this grant mechanism. During the 2–3-year mentoring experience, scholars will gain a supportive group of peers, close mentoring relationships with the MPIs and a near-peer mentor; skills to overcome the many challenges of academia, including those unique to investigators from underrepresented backgrounds; skills in grant and manuscript writing through both groups and individually mentored activities; skills in mentoring and leadership; and a vision and strategy for moving forward in their careers. This proposal serves the mission of NIDDK by supporting and promoting scholars from underrepresented backgrounds who are already NIDDK funded, substantially increasing the chances of their retention and success in the biomedical workforce.