Research Capacity Core

Modified Abstract Section: FIU-RCMI Research Capacity Core (RCC) ABSTRACT The FIU-RCMI Research Capacity Core (RCC) plans to continue building on our existing infrastructure with added and expanded features to provide measurable and sustainable research resources and support to ESIs. FIU-RCMI scientific focus areas will include basic biomedical research, behavioral research and population science, and clinical/health services research, with one R01-equivalent project in each area. The RCC will add to the quality and productivity of health research at FIU by: 1. Providing infrastructure support and connecting ESIs to resources; 2. Mentoring, training and guiding ESIs in contemporary quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches to prepare pilot proposals, conduct, analyze and publish data, and use it to develop competitive K and R applications; 3. Convening senior investigators, mentors and mentees to provide educational opportunities; and 4. Creating and improving scientific methods, metrics, measures and tools for health research. Innovative aspects of the RCC include more opportunities in data science and machine learning as well as qualitative and mixed methods approaches, providing financial and collaborative methodological guidance for mentors, increasing the focus on advancement of methods and metrics, and adding and mentoring ESIs in core leadership roles. The RCMI RCC has made an impact at FIU by increasing resource availability, widening involvement and providing accessible opportunities for all university and partnering community stakeholders. During our initial funding cycle, the RCC sponsored 53 professional development and research in progress events reaching a total of 1,349 attendees, provided methodological mentorship and support for pilot program applicants and awardees, conducted needs assessment to guide the RCC activities, and created a repository of research resources and disseminated the training and funding opportunities through various platforms. Moving forward, the goal of the RCC is to provide consistent, rigorous, innovative, and sustainable opportunities for training and mentorship for all ESIs at FIU, as well as newly recruited faculty. This will be accomplished by executing the proposed aims with new and innovative aspects and collaborating with internal and external partners that include the RCMI network of affiliated institutions as well as the FIU-RCMI Investigator Development and Community Engagement Cores, and FIU- STATCONSULT, a core facility in providing sustainable methodological research services to the university community.