IGNITE KUH Network Core

NETWORKING CORE ABSTRACT The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to major research institutions including University of Virginia (UVA), Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) that have with well-funded and developed research programs. One of the major goals of the Integrated Virginia Research Training Centers in Kidney, Urology and Hematology (IGNITE KUH) is to strengthen the collaboration between these institutions, particularly in integrating research in benign KUH fields. The program is a novel effort to create a research hub to not only train predoctoral and postdoctoral scientists, but also showcase the significance of KUH research careers to the next generation of scientists. Through the networking core, we will develop a statewide program by providing a platform for peer-to-peer mentorship and performing outreach activities to attract students from the three constituent institutions, and also act as a concierge to foster interactions with students from under-represented and minority institutions in Virginia who are interested in KUH research. There are several undergraduate research programs at UVA, VCU, VT as well as at the historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), however there is no central nexus, in particular for research of the KUH-related diseases that pose a major disease burden for the minority and rural population of Virginia. The networking core of the IGNITE KUH will act as a liaison between the program trainees and mentors with the students and faculty of these undergraduate research programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The networking core of the IGNITE KUH has the following specific aims: (1) To provide career guidance for KUH research at multiple training levels; (2) To provide a platform for dissemination of scientific ideas and progress of KUH research; and (3) To increase the visibility of KUH research in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The activities will include direct peer-to-peer mentoring, networking with undergraduate programs, long-term near-peer partnerships, and integration with national programs. The outreach activities include symposiums, webpages/virtual newsletter, and an information portal for matching interested students with the appropriate programs in UVA, VCU and VT in partnership with iTHRIV and Healthy Appalachia Institute initiatives of the Commonwealth of Virginia.