Research Training Program in Reproductive and Sexual Health

PROJECT SUMMARY The vision of The ASCENT Research Training Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is to strategically develop an innovative, interdisciplinary, and multi-level national research training experience that enhances the future of SRH-related biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and translational research. The program will achieve this through foundational research curricula, advanced training in community-engaged research (CER), hands-on simulation training, mini-immersion experiences, and mentoring, utilizing the Matrix Mentor Model. Currently, research curricula and mentorship specific to SRH and CER lack consistency across academic institutions, disciplines, and training levels. Strategic efforts are necessary to progress academic and community partnerships that can lead to critical innovations and interventions through CER. To address this gap, we have designed a unique research training program with community-, institutional-, and national support open to Scholars from upper undergraduate to professional levels. The program goals include, (1) Establishing The ASCENT Research Training Program, creating administrative excellence and a research training toolkit focused on advanced SRH topics and CER methods, (2) Providing 10 weeks of focused hands-on research experiences, mentoring, and funding for a multi-level cohort of 8 nationally recruited SRH Scholars; and (3) Develop regional and national opportunities for scholar advancement through partnerships with professional societies. These national partners will support recruitment and provide a wide pool of mentors and research opportunities, showcasing specialized research techniques. ASCENT Research Training Program Scholars will gain SRH knowledge, confidence, and essential hands-on CER experience. The program will support Scholars in attending and presenting at regional and national scientific conferences to enhance their professional networks and career trajectories. Successful completion of these activities will establish a multi-level interdisciplinary SRH Scholar training program, unlike any existing program. Ultimately, this program and toolkit will equip participants with advanced CER techniques, enhance the training experiences of SRH biomedical scholars, and train a new generation of reproductive health scholars trained in CER and advanced research approaches