Investigator Development Core

Abstract- Investigator Development Core The Investigator Development Core of the “UTEP Center for Investigator Training and Community Engagement in Transdisciplinary Minority Health Disparities Research,” will be critical in advancing the Center goals for a robust model of community engaged transdisciplinary minority (Hispanic) health disparities research training. The University of Texas at El Paso's (UTEP) unique US-MX Border location and strong community engagement and servingness with local Hispanic communities (83% Hispanic) will be utilized for implementing investigator development. Social determinants of health intersect and interact to significantly impact health disparities in minority (Hispanic) communities like the ones we serve. However, health disparities research design less frequently tends to incorporate such complex intersections and interactions at the big picture level to holistically and collectively shape health span of minority populations. The specific aims of the investigator development core are: (1) to enhance minority health disparities research and community engagement of investigators of all levels across disciplines at UTEP through career enhancement opportunities in transdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary health disparities research that spans multiple domains and levels of influence on risk and resilience and, (2) to foster an institution-wide culture change for investigator development in inter/transdisciplinary, translational and community engaged scholarship to help develop, expand and retain a network of minority health disparities researchers during and beyond program years 1-5. Investigator training in Minority (Hispanic) Health Disparities Research will be fostered through two main components: (i) Pilot Project Program and (ii) Community Engaged Mentoring. Community engaged pilot projects (N=21), Intensive Active Coaching in grantsmanship for early career investigators (N=50), a comprehensive community engaged health disparities research workshop series for investigators at all career levels across all disciplines (N=150), an innovative minority-user centered academic mentor-community mentor-investigator mentee triad model mentoring for early career investigators (N=50) and, support for a network community engaged minority health disparities researchers will be implemented through Program Years 1 to 5. Outcomes expected include (i) a sustainable institutional level scalable community-campus mentorship model for transdisciplinary minority health disparities research; (ii) effective mentor-mentee relationships for investigators of all levels, (iii) expanding networks of health disparities researchers who can address syndemics in inter/transdisciplinary and community engaged study designs, (iii) established multi- sectorial community partnerships (iv) sustained investigator grantsmanship progress in community engaged minority health research (v) increase in community engaged scholarship dissemination, and (vii) advancing guidelines and policies for big-picture, trans/interdisciplinary minority health disparities research.