FAMU Center for Health Disparities Research

Project Summary The overarching goal of the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Center's application (2024-2029) is to build upon the progress made by the Center in improving health outcomes through its interdisciplinary impact, leveraging the previous achievements that have enabled it to reach key milestones. Our FAMU Center will continue enhancing basic biomedical and behavioral research while improving the investigators’ research skills. To achieve the goals of the Center, we are proposing the following specific aims: 1) Enhance FAMU research capacity and rigor for basic biomedical/behavioral research pursuits by supporting innovative research projects, expanding research infrastructure, and strengthening community engagement, partnership, and activities that will create a sustainable research environment. Meanwhile, we will provide all investigators and core leaders with the training and resources necessary to increase their use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This will lead to more accurate and insightful scientific discoveries, as well as better approaches to serving the communities.2) Increase the success rate of FAMU investigators in obtaining extramural research funding by enabling investigators to develop innovative research competencies through offering the Career Enhancement Program (CEP), innovative technology, and research collaborations. 3) Support new faculty and early career investigators in biomedical and behavioral research by establishing an Investigator Development Core that will provide pilot project funding and a robust mentoring program with a platform through the Career Enhancement Program. 4) Establish and support partnerships with the community to create a sustainable research environment that addresses community health research by forming the Community Engagement Core (CEC) to promote early education awareness, detection, and screening. The recruitment of two investigators will have a significant impact on the research efforts of the Center. One investigator will specialize in artificial intelligence (AI), while the other will focus on cancer biology. The Center will also support three Innovative research projects in basic biomedical and behavioral addressing mechanisms and screening interventions to enhance health status. These research projects will address novel therapy in breast cancer, pain therapy, and investigate novel approaches to promoting cervical cancer screening. Additionally, the Center will establish well-engaged collaborations and partnerships with recognized research centers and the Coordination Center (-CC). Achieving the Center's goals will be significantly facilitated by the commitment and partnership of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Jacksonville, Florida, through its SPORE grants, which will provide an environment conducive to career advancement. The Center will engage an external, independent evaluator to execute a comprehensive formative and summative evaluation plan, providing a foundation for data-informed decision-making. Funding for the Center will empower Florida A&M University (FAMU) to advance its mission of improving health outcomes by strengthening its research infrastructure, expanding the community of research investigators, supporting impactful public health initiatives, and making significant contributions to therapeutic discoveries, particularly in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.