BEST-DP: Biostatistics Enrichment Summer Training Diversity Program

描述（由申请人提供）：BEST（生物统计学浓缩暑期培训）多样性计划将为生物医学研究中代表性不足的个人（来自弱势背景，种族和少数民族以及残疾人）提供生物统计学，心血管疾病和肺部疾病的研究机会，并将为未来更多样化的研究队伍做出贡献。最好的生物医学研究是有用的，相关的，并最大限度地推广到广大公众。为了确保研究工作的相关性和适用性，调查小组的成员必须多样化，根据性别、种族/民族、经济和文化背景以及残疾状况有足够的代表性。如果我们的研究团队缺乏多样性，我们在确定研究重点和资源方面就会面临不平衡的风险。如果我们的研究团队多样化，我们将受益于丰富的研究人员，在制定研究议程时更广泛的视角，在招募来自不同背景的受试者方面更成功，并增强减少健康差异的能力。很明显，我们无法实现更多样化的研究团队的目标，除非有更多的代表性不足的学生选择攻读生物医学科学的研究生教育。这项建议的目标是为大学学生设立一个暑期课程，向他们介绍生物统计学、公共卫生、心血管和肺部研究领域的方法和挑战，以期为他们的职业选择提供信息和影响。我们将启动一个为期2个月的暑期项目，每年招收10-15名学员，该项目包括8个主要特点：(1)培训研究生院成功必备的技能（记笔记、科学写作、口头陈述和ppt技能）；(2) SAS生物统计学与统计计算入门课程；(3)一个由导师指导的研究项目；(4)了解心血管和肺部研究以及生物统计学的里程碑式发现和当前挑战；(5)负责任进行研究的培训；(6)研究生入学咨询（简历撰写、个人论文撰写、GRE准备）；（七）社会活动和事件；（八）参加津贴和差旅费。受训人员还将获得当地住房。作为我们努力的一部分，我们将开发和实施跟踪和评估方法，以监测项目的有效性。鉴于哥伦比亚大学作为主要研究中心的声誉，其在心血管和肺部研究方面的广泛投资组合，其专家教师和导师，以及其在种族多元化，文化丰富的纽约市的位置，我们准备为NHLBI建立更多元化的科学劳动力的目标做出重大贡献。学术医疗中心、制药和设备公司、政府机构和研究组织寻求赞助最终将改善公众健康的研究。为了确保研究工作的相关性和适用性，调查小组的成员必须多样化，根据性别、种族/民族、经济和文化背景以及残疾状况有足够的代表性。我们研究团队的更大多样性将丰富研究人员，在制定研究议程时拥有更广阔的视角，在招募不同背景的受试者方面取得更大的成功，并增强减少健康差异的能力。（摘要结束）

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The BEST (Biostatistics Enrichment Summer Training) Diversity Program will provide research opportunities in biostatistics, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease for individuals who are under- represented in biomedical research (those from disadvantaged backgrounds, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities), and who will contribute to a more diverse research workforce in the future. The best biomedical research is useful, relevant, and maximally generalizable to the public at large. In order to ensure the relevance and applicability of research efforts, it is essential that investigative teams are diverse in membership, with adequate representation according to gender, race/ethnicity, economic and cultural background, and disability status. If our research teams lack diversity, we run the risk of imbalance with respect to determining research priorities and resources. If our research teams are diverse, we stand to benefit from enrichment of the pool of investigators, broader perspective in setting the research agenda, greater success in recruiting subjects from diverse backgrounds, and enhanced ability to reduce health disparities. Clearly we cannot achieve the goal of more diverse research teams unless a greater number of under- represented (UR) students choose to pursue graduate education in the biomedical sciences. The goal of this proposal is to establish a summer program for UR students that will introduce them to methods and challenges in the areas of biostatistics, public health, and cardiovascular and pulmonary research, with a view to informing and influencing their career choices. We will launch a 2-month summer program for 10-15 trainees per year that incorporates 8 key features: (1) Training in skills essential for graduate school success (note-taking, scientific writing, oral presentation, and PowerPoint skills); (2) Coursework in Introductory Biostatistics and Statistical Computing with SAS; (3) A research project supervised by a faculty mentor; (4) Exposure to landmark findings and current challenges in cardiovascular and pulmonary research, as well as biostatistics; (5) Training in the responsible conduct of research; (6) Graduate admissions counseling (resume development, writing the personal essay, and GRE preparation); (7) Social activities and events; and (8) A stipend for participation and funds to defray travel costs. Trainees will also be provided with local housing. As part of our effort, we will develop and implement methods for tracking and evaluation to monitor program effectiveness. Given Columbia's reputation as a major research hub, its extensive portfolio in cardiovascular and pulmonary research, its expert faculty and mentors, and its location in ethnically diverse, culturally rich New York City, we are poised to contribute substantially to NHLBI's goal of building a more diverse scientific workforce. Academic medical centers, pharmaceutical and device companies, governmental agencies, and research organizations seek to sponsor research that ultimately will improve the public's health. In order to ensure the relevance and applicability of research efforts, it is essential that investigative teams are diverse in membership, with adequate representation according to gender, race/ethnicity, economic and cultural background, and disability status. Greater diversity in our research teams will result in enrichment of the pool of investigators, broader perspective in setting the research agenda, greater success in recruiting subjects from diverse backgrounds, and enhanced ability to reduce health disparities. (End of Abstract)