Summer Undergraduate Program to Advance Research and Equity in Pain and Neurological Health

Project Summary Pain and neurologic disease are significant public health concerns. Sixty percent of Americans, more than 200 million people, are affected by at least one neurologic disorder. Chronic pain affects millions of people in the U.S., resulting in high economic burden ($600 billion/yr) on society. The risk and burden of neurologic disorders and chronic pain are disproportionally experienced by minoritized and medically underserved groups. To advance the field in reducing the burden of pain and neurologic disease, we will need to better understand treatment mechanisms and develop new therapies that are relevant and accessible for diverse populations; while focusing on eliminating inequities in prevention, diagnosis, and access to evidence-based care. This work will require creating opportunities to prepare the next generation of researchers who, early on in their training, are exposed to principles of equity in pain and neurologic health. With this goal in mind, our proposed training program, SPARQ: Summer Program to Advance Research and eQuity in Pain and Neurological Health, aims to expose undergraduate students to pain and neuroscience research with a special focus on pain inequities across the lifespan. SPARQ is designed as an innovative, interdisciplinary, and intensive short term (9-week) mentored research skills building program supporting 10 undergraduate students per year. Our first specific aim is to provide an immersive and rigorous mentored research experience in basic science, mechanistic, and clinical research in pain and neuroscience, working in the labs of our diverse and interdisciplinary faculty mentors. Interwoven with this experience is a didactic program that includes a core curriculum of research seminars and workshops that provide training in research skills, writing, ethics, understanding disparities in pain and neurologic health, and inclusive research practices. Students will have an opportunity to present their research in poster and oral presentations at the end of summer Research Symposium. Our second specific aim is to impart critical and tailored professional development capacity building skills needed to successfully compete for higher educational opportunities and for successful research careers. Students will receive support for their personal and professional growth; have opportunities to participate in clinical observerships; and will receive individual mentoring from program faculty. Finally, our third specific aim is to increase recruitment and training of underrepresented and disadvantaged students to the field of pain and neuroscience research. We will use best practice strategies to recruit SPARQ applicants from groups underrepresented in research through Seattle area community colleges and universities using existing and developing new strategic community and academic partnerships committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Program evaluation is completed annually and reviewed with an advisory committee. The long-term goal is to develop a cadre of diverse and interdisciplinary future researchers to meet the nation’s biomedical workforce needs in research and clinical care of patients with pain and neurological disease.