Mentoring Institute for HIV and Mental Health Related Research of the University

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案旨在：建立一个长期的指导计划，吸引(6)来自公共关系学术项目或专业学校的初级教师和研究生参与艾滋病毒和心理健康研究。这些是：波多黎各大学（几个校区和中心），庞塞医学院（包括临床心理学课程）和中央加勒比大学医学院；鼓励和促进其职业规划的发展，以艾滋病毒和心理健康研究为具体目标，并最终申请美国国立卫生研究院的资助，并将研究和教育活动的重点放在与心理健康有关的艾滋病毒和健康差异上，作为研究所的总体主题。由于需要进行合作研究，因此有理由将精神健康和药物滥用艾滋病毒/艾滋病研究人员队伍的发展和多样化作为本方案的标题。该研究所的重点恰恰是建立多机构、多学科和跨学科的团队和合作。有必要创造一种合作的文化，这个指导学院通过其PI和关键人员将确保这一过程的持续进行。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal aims to: establish a long-term mentoring program that will attract (6) junior faculty and graduate students from the academic programs or professional schools in PR into HIV and Mental Health Research. These are: the University of Puerto Rico (several Campuses and Centers), the Ponce School of Medicine (including the Clinical Psychology program) and the Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine; to encourage and facilitate the development of their career plans with the specific goal of HIV and Mental Health Research and the eventual application for NIH funding and to focus the research and educational activities on HIV and Health Disparities related to Mental Health as the overarching theme of the Institute. The need for collaborative research justifies targeting the development and diversification of the Mental Health and Drug Abuse HIV/AIDS research workforce as is the title of this PAR. The focus of this Institute will be in precisely the establishment of multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary teams and collaborations. There is a need to create a culture of collaboration and this mentorship institute through its PI and key personnel will make sure that the process is ongoing. The Institute's research-education mentoring program is based on a competency development model. Mentors are expected to offer their scholarly, analytic and unique expertise in order to enable, empower, and inspire the participants in the acquisition of the core and cross-cutting competencies. Six core areas of competencies have been identified as essential to pursue a systematic and integrated approach to research. These are conceptualization, research design, implementation, analysis, dissemination, and expansion. All the participants, independently of the stage of their research development, need to be exposed continuously to cross-cutting knowledge and skills. They should acquire new knowledge related to HIV, mental health, and health disparities. They should develop skills to address issues in an ethical and culturally competent way; to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams; and to become a leader and accept responsibility in reducing HIV health disparities related to mental health.