South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE): Increasing Data Science Capacity

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Project Summary The South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE) is a state-wide network comprised of three Comprehensive Research Universities (CRUs) and ten Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) whose goals are to enhance the biomedical research infrastructure and promote undergraduate research training in South Carolina while increasing access to research opportunities and careers in biomedicine for underrepresented minorities and economically disadvantaged students. The scientific themes in SC INBRE emerge from the research expertise in South Carolina and include Biochemistry and Cell/Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, and Neuroscience. With the rise of “big data” and a move towards personalized medicine, the need for research and training in Bioinformatics has increased. To meet this demand, the Bioinformatics Core of SC INBRE provides workshops and hands-on training opportunities for faculty and students seeking to apply bioinformatics tools to their research. During the current funding cycle, SC INBRE made significant progress in addressing these goals. From 2015-2019, 415 students were trained in biomedical research labs in the SC INBRE network. Of these students, 39% were male, 61% female and overall 29% were underrepresented minorities. For the students who completed their undergraduate education during this funding period, 44% enrolled in graduate school, 17% went to medical/health professional school, and 39% obtained a job industry. SC INBRE faculty and students produced over 100 publications and gave over 600 presentations during this funding cycle. Their work led to over $9 million dollars in extramural funding from a variety of federal and non-federal sources. Fostering inter-institutional collaborations and promoting a research culture at PUIs, SC INBRE contributed to a collaborative U54 award which brings $12.5 million in research dollars to South Carolina. During the next phase of SC INBRE, the network’s reach across the state will be expanded to include several new PUIs, with long-time network members serving a role models for these new institutions. The Developmental Research Project and Bioinformatics Pilot Project programs will continue to support faculty-driven research and student training. SC INBRE will continue to promote undergraduate research training at network PUIs through SC INRBE-sponsored Undergraduate Research Programs and proposes to expand training capacity at five PUIs through renovation of existing space/facilities. Career and professional development activities will be provided to SC INBRE faculty and students, as well as opportunities to network and develop collaborations with SC INBRE colleagues. Outreach programs developed at selected SC INBRE institutions will engage high school teachers and students, strengthening the pipeline of future college students interested in biomedical research careers and actively encouraging participation by underrepresented minority students and those from underserved areas in South Carolina.