Enhancing UNderGraduate Education and Research in AGing to Eliminate Health Disparities (ENGAGED)

加强老龄化研究生教育和研究，以消除健康差距（ENGAGED） 该计划将解决增加参与老龄化研究的生物医学科学家的多样性的明确需求 以及生物医学研究生课程中代表性不足（UR）的学员缺乏， 特别是在与老龄化有关的领域。鉴于维克森林学院在老龄化研究方面的优势， 医学（WFSM）和维克森林现有的老年学和老龄化相关主题的教学培训 大学（WFU）和温斯顿-塞勒姆州立大学（WSSU），参与计划的教师（包括 WFSM的项目主任，WFU和WSSU的联合主任）拥有广泛的学术和专业知识， 经验;以多样性为重点的研究和培训计划的合作历史;基础，临床， 人口和转化研究专业知识和资金;和培训计划管理专业知识。 因此，我们特别有能力为本科UR学生提供培训，以促进更大的 兴趣，曝光，和研究经验，在科学的老龄化和健康差距老化。的目标 （1）提高对多样化老龄化人口面临的独特医疗保健问题的认识， 解决这些问题的研究机会;（2）扩大有偿实践的机会 在WFSM，WFU和WSSU在学年期间和8 - 9周的夏季研究实习 上网时段这些目标将通过“老年学”新生研讨会和介绍健康来实现 科学课程，包括与老龄化相关的主题讲座;创建一个"参与研究俱乐部"，以促进 围绕老龄科学的社区意识;提供各种教育活动，包括实地 前往研究实验室和老年诊所，在老年评估和现实世界的学习经验， 实验室程序、相关讲习班、研讨会和期刊俱乐部;以及跟踪受训人员和计划 结果。研究实习将在多元化研究导师团队的指导下提供 在癌症、心血管疾病、糖尿病/肥胖、肾功能/疾病、神经科学和 身体功能，为学员提供各种各样的研究机会，在老龄化领域。网络 研究和职业导师将提供正式和非正式的资源和职业道路咨询， 与年龄相关的生物医学研究，特别是博士/高级学位，在计划期间和之后。的 注意，约40%的培训教师是UR少数民族，许多人具有研究专长和/或临床经验 解决老龄化人口的健康差距。总而言之，拟议的参与计划提供了几个 创新的方法，以准备UR学生在老龄化领域的研究职业生涯，并需要 独特的优势，现有的基础设施和不同教师之间的长期合作的优势 在WFSM，WFU和WSSU，以确保该计划的成功创建和实施。持续性 一旦课程确定，受训人员的成功成果显而易见，预计将向过去的国家投资管理局提供资金。

The Enhancing UNderGraduate Education and Research in AGing to Eliminate Health Disparities (ENGAGED) program will address the clear need to increase the diversity of biomedical scientists involved in aging research and the dearth of under-represented (UR) trainees in graduate programs in the biomedical sciences, particularly in aging-related fields. Given the strengths in research on aging at Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSM) and in the existing didactic training in gerontology and aging-related topics at Wake Forest University (WFU) and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), the ENGAGED Program Faculty (including Program Directors at WFSM, Co-Directors at WFU and WSSU) has vast academic and professional experiences; a history of collaborations for diversity-focused research and training programs; basic, clinical, population and translational research expertise and funding; and training program administration expertise. Thus, we are particularly well-positioned to offer training for undergraduate UR students to promote greater interest, exposure, and research experiences in the science of aging and health disparities in aging. The goals are to (1) increase awareness of the unique health care issues facing a diverse aging population and of the opportunities for research that addresses these issues and (2) expand opportunities for hands-on paid research internships at WFSM, WFU and WSSU during the academic year and during an 8-9 week summer session. These goals will be accomplished by ‘gerontologizing’ freshman seminars and introductory health science courses with lectures on topics relevant to aging; creating an ‘ENGAGED Research Club’ to foster a sense of community around the science of aging; providing a variety of educational activities, including field trips to research laboratories and geriatric clinics, real-world learning experiences in geriatric assessments and laboratory procedures, relevant workshops, seminars and journal clubs; and tracking trainee and program outcomes. Research internships will be offered under the direction of a diverse group of Research Mentors with expertise in cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes/obesity, kidney function/disease, neuroscience, and physical function, offering trainees a wide variety of research opportunities in the field of aging. A network of Research and Career Mentors will provide formal and informal resources and counseling on career paths in age-related biomedical research, particularly PhD/advanced degrees, during and after the program. Of note, ~40% of training faculty are UR minorities, and many have research expertise and/or clinical experience addressing health disparities in aging populations. In sum, the proposed ENGAGED program offers several innovative approaches to preparing UR students for a career in research in the field of aging and takes advantage of unique strengths, existing infrastructure, and long-standing collaborations among diverse faculty at WFSM, WFU, and WSSU to ensure successful creation and implementation of the program. Sustainability past NIA funding is anticipated once courses are established and successful outcomes for trainees are evident.