Research Capacity Core

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) RCMI Center for Health Disparities Research (RCHDR) was created in September 2017 and includes a Research Infrastructure Core (RIC) aimed at building and enhancing biomedical research infrastructure at NCCU. In last 4 years, RIC has responded to the needs of researchers and suggestions by our advisory committees to develop basic, behavioral and population health infrastructure. In its first cycle, RIC provided support for 3 full projects, 6 Investigator Development Core (IDC) funded pilot projects, 24 additional (non-RCHDR) seed grants and over 20 NIH-funded projects. The RIC also added new capabilities in analytical, imaging, metabolic analysis, and rodent behavior studies, as well as creating multiple biomedical and behavioral -focused programs in data science, health communications, and environmental risks. To maintain and expand our health science research activities at NCCU, RCHDR proposes to continue building our research eco-system through the redesigned Research Capacity Core (RCC). RCC will further enhance our resources in both basic biomedical and behavioral sciences; and lay the groundwork for NCCU researchers to conduct population and health services research pilot studies. RCC will also integrate strategic collaborations with NIH- funded Centers at area institutions and other RCMI centers (through the RCMI coordinating center) to increase our research capacity in biomedical, behavioral, and health-related research.