Yale Clinical and Translational Science Award: Nwanaji-Enwerem Diversity in Health Related Research

摘要：Uzoji Nwanaji-Enwerem

SUMMARY: Uzoji Nwanaji-Enwerem The Parent Award: The Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI) was established in 2005 to develop institutional infrastructure that would better support translational and clinical research and to mentor the next generation of investigators. The YCCI was awarded the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) in 2006, now funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Since then, the CTSA has be successfully renewed for Yale three times. The YCCI leverages this funding to provide essential resources and training to early investigators embarking on careers in translational and clinical research, including bioinformatic and computational research infrastructure, state-of-the-art research cores, pilot grants, study design support, administrative and regulatory support, and educational offerings. This funding has gone a long way, leading to successful mentorship of numerous junior investigators during the most critical phase of their careers. Since 2006, 161 past or current Junior Faculty Scholars have received more than $700 million in independent grants (~76% from NIH), producing ~6,300 publications, with 99% of Scholars remaining in clinical research. The Candidate: Ms. Uzoji Nwanaji-Enwerem is a PhD Candidate in the Yale School of Nursing, and her long- term career goal is to become an independent and productive nurse scientist, with a focus on conducting interdisciplinary research to understand the relationship between psychosocial factors, particularly stigma and discrimination, with sleep among persons from underrepresented backgrounds. The Project: Although only representing only 12% of the U.S. population, Black people account for as much 43% of people living with HIV disease. One major challenge is intersectional stigma (stigma related to race, sexuality, and HIV status), which often is a major contributor to experienced trauma in in these individuals. These traumatic experiences are associated with physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral health outcomes. The co- occurrence pattern of trauma and poor sleep among Black PLWH highlights an opportunity to improve health and quality of life through interventions that address both issues. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) serves as a brief, cost-effective, and evidence-based treatment for combatting psychological trauma. Relationship to the Parent Grant: Ms. Nwanaji-Enwerem's research study directly advances the YCCI CTSA's T3 translational research aim for implementation of health care practices, particularly those that serve under- represented communities with respect to the management of back people living with HIV. During the award period, she will receive research mentorship from Dr. LaRon Nelson who has successfully mentored 10 trainees, 9 of which are now funded as independent faculty in tenure-track roles at their respective institutions. She will also receive research mentorship from Dr. Theddeus Iheanacho who is an expert in the study of innovative culturally-responsive strategies.