The Pediatric Injury and Violence Prevention Student Internship Training Program (INSIGHT)

ABSTRACT Injury and violence are leading causes of pediaric death and disability, contribute to health inequities, and minority groups are disproportionately affected. The Pediatric Injury and Violence Prevention Student Internship Training (INSIGHT) course is an innovative, interdisciplinary, and intensive 8-week NICHD funded (R25HD094336-04; Vavilala PI; 2018-2023) mentored research experience for upper-level undergraduate students intended to increase the research workforce in pediatric injury and violence prevention. The focus on pediatric injury and violence prevention is unique, and the program has exceeded goals set during the initial award period. Since 2018, INSIGHT course applications increased four-fold, and INSIGHT has increased the pediatric injury and violence prevention research pipeline, including the number of first generation, or otherwise underrepresented students exposed to research education, health professions, and pediatric injury and violence prevention. Specific Aims for the competing renewal (years 5-10) are: 1) To provide an immersive and rigorous mentored research experience in pediatric injury and violence prevention, 2) To impart critical and tailored professional development capacity building skills needed for successful pediatric research careers, and 3) To increase recruitment and training of students from backgrounds underrepresented in research. INSIGHT trainees will receive a rigorous research experience along with a curriculum of interactive seminars and scientific presentations, and are taught skills intended to contextualize the research and to successfully compete for higher educational opportunities and research careers. In this renewal application, we propose innovations in research topics, research methods, and course programming. INSIGHT success takes many forms, from recruitment of a highly diverse student population, to development of research products suitable for publication, and to the growing number of program alumni who pursue careers with research, particularly in injury and violence.