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84.031K STRENGTHENING HISTORICALLY BLACK GRADUATE INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

84.031K STRENGTHENING HISTORICALLY BLACK GRADUATE INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

CREST PHASE I: CENTER FOR CIRCADIAN RHYTHMICITY AND SLEEP HOMEOSTASIS -WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CENTERS FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CREST), THIS PROJECT AIMS TO STUDY SLEEP AND INTERNAL CIRCADIAN CLOCKS THAT REGULATE SLEEP-WAKE CYCLES. THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE LACK OF SLEEP HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH INDIVIDUALS WHOSE OCCUPATIONS REQUIRE SHIFT-WORK. HOW CIRCADIAN DISRUPTIONS AFFECT SLEEP IS UNKNOWN. THIS PROJECT WILL IDENTIFY HOW CIRCADIAN DISRUPTIONS AFFECT THE BODY. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH A WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH CENTER FOR CIRCADIAN SYSTEM BIOLOGY. THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS WILL FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING HOW CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS ADAPT/RESYNCHRONIZE IN RESPONSE TO FREQUENTLY DISRUPTED AND EVER-CHANGING STIMULI. THE CENTER AIMS TO: IDENTIFY THE NEURONAL NETWORK MECHANISMS BY WHICH LIGHT-DARK SIGNALS ARE INTEGRATED BY THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK IN THE BRAIN; PROBE THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS FOR THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF CIRCADIAN CLOCKS OUTSIDE OF THE BRAIN; AND DETERMINE THE NEUROCIRCUITRY UNDERLYING SLEEP. RESEARCH METHODS WILL INCLUDE SPATIAL TRANSCRIPTOMICS, PROTEOMICS, COMPUTATIONAL NEUROBIOLOGY, AND IN VIVO BRAIN IMAGING. THE PROJECT?S SCOPE WILL ENGAGE COLLABORATORS TO LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES. THE EXPECTED RESULTS ARE THE IDENTIFICATION OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS RESPONSIBLE FOR CIRCADIAN DISRUPTIONS. RESULTS WILL BE DISSEMINATED AT MEETINGS AND IN PUBLICATIONS FOR THE SCIENTIFIC AND LAY COMMUNITIES. BROADER IMPACTS INCLUDE UNDERSTANDING AND MITIGATING THE ADVERSE IMPACT OF CIRCADIAN DISRUPTIONS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY. THE CENTER OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CREST) PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO ENHANCE THE RESEARCH CAPABILITY CAPABILITIES OF INSTITUTIONS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS THAT EFFECTIVELY INTEGRATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

TRAINING THE TRAINERS: BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL DATA SCIENCE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH - ABSTRACT THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (MSM) SINCE ITS INCEPTION HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, AS WELL AS UNDERSERVED URBAN AND RURAL POPULATIONS BOTH IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. EMBEDDED IN THE MSM MISSION IS THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES; INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF THE MEDICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE; AND ADDRESSING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE NEEDS THROUGH PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE. THE MSM PROPOSES A NOVEL CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN HEALTH DISPARITIES (CTRHD) WHICH COMPRISES SEVEN INTEGRATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING FOUR CORES AND THREE SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE RESEARCH CAPACITY CORE (RCC) WILL ENHANCE OUR BEHAVIORAL AND POPULATION/ HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CAPABILITIES. THE RCC WILL CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AT OTHER NIH-FUNDED CENTERS, BOTH IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. THE INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT CORE (IDC) WILL PROVIDE PILOT FUNDING WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITY PROJECTS FROM JUNIOR AND EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS. IN ADDITION, THE IDC WILL COORDINATE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CORE (ADMIN CORE) AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) TO CONTINUE TO TRAIN BASIC SCIENTISTS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH TEAMS (MDTTS). THE ADMIN CORE/IDC/CEC WILL PROVIDE A ROBUST MENTORING PLAN AND A RANGE OF SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES (SEMINARS, GRANT APPLICATION WORKSHOPS/WRITING PROGRAMS, AND RETREATS) TO ENSURE INVESTIGATOR SUCCESS. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) WILL GUIDE ALL CTRHD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS BASED ON THE MOREHOUSE MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE CEC WILL CATALYZE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH BY OFFERING CONSULTATION STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS. THE RCC WILL ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A MOBILE HEALTH UNITY (MOBILE HEALTH EQUITY UNIT) AND COORDINATE WITH THE CEC, IDC, FULL PROJECTS, AND OTHER MSM RESEARCHERS. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE U54 CTRHD WILL BE PURSUED AS OUTLINED: AIM 1: ENHANCE MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND SUPPORT MECHANISMS THROUGH A RESTRUCTURED RESEARCH CAPACITY CORE (RCC); AIM 2: INCREASE AND PREPARE ALL INVESTIGATORS (ESPECIALLY EARLY-STAGE RESEARCHERS) TO BECOME EXTRAMURALLY -FUNDED HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCHERS THROUGH IDC, CEC AND RCC ACTIVITIES; AND AIM 4: EXPAND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) BY FOSTERING EXISTING AND STRENGTHENING NEW SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBO), ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY NETWORK IN RURAL GEORGIA.

CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN HEALTH DISPARITIES - ABSTRACT THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (MSM) SINCE ITS INCEPTION HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, AS WELL AS UNDERSERVED URBAN AND RURAL POPULATIONS BOTH IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. EMBEDDED IN THE MSM MISSION IS THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES; INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF THE MEDICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE; AND ADDRESSING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE NEEDS THROUGH PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE. THE MSM PROPOSES A NOVEL CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN HEALTH DISPARITIES (CTRHD) WHICH COMPRISES SEVEN INTEGRATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING FOUR CORES AND THREE SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE RESEARCH CAPACITY CORE (RCC) WILL ENHANCE OUR BEHAVIORAL AND POPULATION/ HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CAPABILITIES. THE RCC WILL CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AT OTHER NIH-FUNDED CENTERS, BOTH IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. THE INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT CORE (IDC) WILL PROVIDE PILOT FUNDING WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITY PROJECTS FROM JUNIOR AND EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS. IN ADDITION, THE IDC WILL COORDINATE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CORE (ADMIN CORE) AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) TO CONTINUE TO TRAIN BASIC SCIENTISTS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH TEAMS (MDTTS). THE ADMIN CORE/IDC/CEC WILL PROVIDE A ROBUST MENTORING PLAN AND A RANGE OF SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES (SEMINARS, GRANT APPLICATION WORKSHOPS/WRITING PROGRAMS, AND RETREATS) TO ENSURE INVESTIGATOR SUCCESS. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) WILL GUIDE ALL CTRHD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS BASED ON THE MOREHOUSE MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE CEC WILL CATALYZE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH BY OFFERING CONSULTATION STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS. THE RCC WILL ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A MOBILE HEALTH UNITY (MOBILE HEALTH EQUITY UNIT) AND COORDINATE WITH THE CEC, IDC, FULL PROJECTS, AND OTHER MSM RESEARCHERS. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE U54 CTRHD WILL BE PURSUED AS OUTLINED: AIM 1: ENHANCE MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND SUPPORT MECHANISMS THROUGH A RESTRUCTURED RESEARCH CAPACITY CORE (RCC); AIM 2: INCREASE AND PREPARE ALL INVESTIGATORS (ESPECIALLY EARLY-STAGE RESEARCHERS) TO BECOME EXTRAMURALLY -FUNDED HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCHERS THROUGH IDC, CEC AND RCC ACTIVITIES; AND AIM 4: EXPAND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) BY FOSTERING EXISTING AND STRENGTHENING NEW SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBO), ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY NETWORK IN RURAL GEORGIA.

RESEARCH CENTERS IN MINORITY INSTITUTIONS (RCMI) COORDINATING CENTER - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED RCMI COORDINATING CENTER (RCMI CC) IS TO SERVE AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS THE RCMI U54 CENTERS THROUGH COORDINATION OF INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE AND COLLABORATIVE INTERACTIONS THAT ENHANCE RESEARCH CAPACITY AND COMPETITIVENESS. TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, THE RCMI CC WILL ENGAGE THE RCMI U54 PI/PDS AND CORE DIRECTORS FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AS WELL AS DEVELOP A ROBUST EVALUATION AND TRACKING PLAN. SPECIFIC AIM 1. COORDINATE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND EVALUATION ACROSS THE RCMI U54 CENTERS APPROACH: ORGANIZE AND CONVENE AN ANNUAL FACE-TO-FACE RCMI GRANTEES CONFERENCE; CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE RCMI U54 PI/PDS TO DISCUSS ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES AND PROGRAM EVALUATION; COORDINATE AND ENHANCE COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES; DEVELOP COMMON PERFORMANCE METRICS. SPECIFIC AIM 2. COORDINATE AND LEVERAGE RESEARCH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS APPROACH: CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE U54 RCMI RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE CORE (RIC) DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS CORE FACILITY MANAGEMENT, SHARING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND OTHER RESOURCES, RESEARCHER NEEDS AND RESEARCH BARRIERS; FACILITATE BROAD ACCESS TO OTHER NON-RCMI RESEARCH RESOURCES; PROVIDE METHODOLOGY CONSULTATIONS; MAINTAIN A CENTRALIZED DATABASE TO TRACK PERFORMANCE METRICS. SPECIFIC AIM 3. COORDINATE MENTORING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS APPROACH: CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE U54 RCMI INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT CORE (IDC) DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS MENTORING STRATEGIES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR PILOT PROJECTS PROGRAMS; FACILITATE BROAD ACCESS TO AND FACILITATE COLLABORATION WITH RCMI AND NON-RCMI INVESTIGATORS. SPECIFIC AIM 4. COORDINATE SUSTAINABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS APPROACH: CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE U54 RCMI COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; FACILITATE BROAD ACCESS AND COLLABORATION WITH RCMI AND NON-RCMI COMMUNITY PARTNERS; FOSTER SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF SUCCESSFULLY ADMINISTERING THE RCMI TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH NETWORK, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE PROPOSED RCMI CC WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON IMPROVING COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE RCMI U54 CENTERS.

THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S INSTITUTE OF GENOMIC MEDICINE CENTER FOR GENOMIC DIVERSITY - ABSTRACT – OVERALL THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINES A PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH A CENTER OF GENOMIC DIVERSITY AT THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (MSM). LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF TRANSLATIONAL GENOMIC MEDICINE (ITGM), THE PROGRAM AIMS TO ENHANCE GENOMICS RESEARCH CAPACITY, IMPROVE MINORITY HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND ADVANCE WORKFORCE EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ELUCIDATING NOVEL GENOMIC KNOWLEDGE IN RACIALLY AND ANCESTRALLY DIVERSE COHORTS AND INVESTIGATING THE INTERPLAY OF SOCIAL AND BIOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. THROUGH MULTIPLE PROJECTS LED BY ESTEEMED FACULTY MEMBERS, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO UNCOVER EPIGENETIC CHANGES RELATED TO STRESS AND EXAMINE THE UTILITY OF A DIVERSE REFERENCE “PAN”GENOME IN GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE, GENOMICS WORKFORCE DIVERSITY CORE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE CORE TO FACILITATE COMMUNITY EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND DATA INFRASTRUCTURE. OVERALL, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE GENOMICS RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVE GENOMIC TOOLS FOR MINORITY HEALTH RESEARCH, AND ENHANCE EDUCATION AND DISSEMINATION EFFORTS.

TBI-ADRD MODELING WITH A TEAM SCIENCE APPROACH (TBI-ADRD TEAM SCIENCE) - ABSTRACT SUMMARY WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT WE CAN INCREASE SYSTEMICALLY DEVELOP A PROGRESSIVE MURINE TBI-ADRD MODEL WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VALIDITY WITH A “TEAM-SCIENCE”-BASED TWO-PHASE ADRD-RELEVANT PHENOTYPE ENRICHMENT STRATEGY. THIS 'TEAM SCIENCE' FRAMEWORK ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE AND INTEGRATE THE COMPLEMENTARY EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE OUR 5-SITE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ANIMAL MODEL TESTING TEAM. THIS COLLABORATIVE DESIGN AIMS TO IMPROVE MODEL REPRODUCIBILITY BY TESTING EACH MODEL AT TWO SITES, AND THE USE OF STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURE (SOP), COMMON DATA ELEMENTS, (CDE) FOR METHOD/DATA COLLECTION HARMONIZATION. AT EACH STAGE, WE WILL EVALUATE ALL DATA COLLECTED, AND MODEL ADVANCEMENT ARE BASED ON A MULTI-DOMAIN 'ADRD ASSESSMENT: (A) DEVELOPMENT OF ROBUST ADRD- RELEVANT NEUROCOGNITIVE AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL DEFICIT PHENOTYPES (PRIMARY), (B) DEVELOPMENT OF ADRD-RELEVANT PROTEINOPATHY-LINKED NEUROPATHOLOGIC PHENOTYPES (PRIMARY), (C) POSITIVE EX VIVO PROTEINOPATHY SIGNATURE USING BRAIN LYSATE THIOFLAVIN-T PROTEIN AGGREGATION ASSAY, (D) PROGRESSIVENESS OF NEUROBEHAVIORAL / PROTEINOPATHY PHENOTYPES, AND (E) CROSS-SITE REPRODUCIBILITY OF ADRD PHENOTYPIC FEATURES. AIM 1. PHASE I: EXAMINE AND SCREEN FOR MOUSE STRAIN DETERMINANTS AND TBI INJURY TYPES THAT MIGHT FAVOR POST TBI-ADRD FORMATION AND PROGRESSION. WE WILL CONDUCT A SYSTEMATIC SCREEN OF DIVERSE MOUSE STRAIN DETERMINANTS AFFECTING TBI-ADRD FORMATION, INCLUDING FOUR STRAINS (E.G., CD1, CAST/EIJ, PWK/PHJ, C57BL/6) AND TWO DISTINCT TBI MODELS (CONTROLLED CORTICAL IMPACT/CCI, AND REPEATED CLOSE HEAD INJURY/RCHI). AT INTERIM AND TERMINAL 18 MONTH ENDPOINTS, WE WILL APPLY A CAREFULLY SELECTED MULTI-DOMAIN 'ADRD ASSESSMENT PANEL’ (MENTIONED ABOVE) TO EVALUATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESSION OF POST-TBI ADRD-LIKE NEUROPATHOLOGIES, NEUROBIOCHEMICAL/BIOMARKER SIGNATURES, AND NEUROCOGNITIVE/MEMORY DEFICIT ASSESSMENTS. THE HIGHEST-RANKED TBI-ADRD PARADIGM WILL ADVANCE TO PHASE II. AIM 2. PHASE II. USING THE SELECTED MOUSE STRAIN/INJURY MODEL CANDIDATE, INTRODUCE AND EVALUATE TWO TBI-ADRD MODEL ENRICHMENT FACTORS. WE WILL INTRODUCE SECONDARY ADRD- AUGMENTATION FACTORS, INCLUDING NEUROINFLAMMATION AND MOUSE/HUMAN-DERIVED PATHOLOGIC SEEDING MATERIALS FOR POLYPROTEINOPATHY TRANSMISSION, THE FINAL DELIVERABLE OF THIS PROJECT IS AN OPTIMIZED, VALIDATED, AND MOLECULARLY CHARACTERIZED MURINE TBI-ADRD MODEL THAT ACCURATELY RECAPITULATES THE KEY PROGRESSIVE NEUROPATHOLOGY, NEUROBIOCHEMICAL SIGNATURES/BIOMARKER EXPRESSIONS, AND COGNITIVE DEFICIT PHENOTYPIC FEATURES OF HUMAN TBI- ADRD. AIM 3. IMPLEMENT TBI-ADRD MODEL DISSEMINATION TO FACILITATE ITS USE BY OTHER TBI INVESTIGATORS. WE WILL COMMIT RESOURCES NECESSARY TO FACILITATE THE DISSEMINATION OF OUR FINDINGS AND ENABLE OTHER RESEARCHERS TO REPRODUCE OUR TBI-ADRD MODEL AND KEY FINDINGS AND IMPROVE ON IT, ALL OUR SOP AND DATA WILL BE UPLOADED TO THE PRECISE-TBI ENDORSED OCD-TBI PRECLINICAL TBI DATA-SHARING CONSORTIUM FOR OPEN ACCESS.

FIRST COORDINATION AND EVALUATION CENTER TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE - NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON GENDER, CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP IN MEDICINE: C-CHANGE PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT THE FIRST CEC IS REQUESTING SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH/ANALYSES THAT ARE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF AN ACTIVE NIH RESEARCH GRANT U24MD017138-03 IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE FIRST PROGRAM AWARDEE SITES’ ABILITY TO USE C-CHANGE FACULTY SURVEY (CFS) DATA BOTH FORMATIVELY AND FOR SUMMATIVE EVALUATION OF THEIR SITES, WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE IDENTIFICATION OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS. THE CEC WILL CREATE DATASETS THAT THE SITES WILL USE TO EVALUATE INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE AT THEIR OWN SITES. THE CFS IS A VALIDATED INSTRUMENT MEASURING 17 DIMENSIONS OF THE EXISTING INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE THAT IS OFTEN USED TO SUPPORT THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF FACULTY IN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES. THE SURVEY PROVIDES AN ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AND FOR RESEARCH PROGRAMS, PROGRAM EVALUATION, AND CHANGE ACTIVITIES. THE CFS ASSESSES FACULTY PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING: LEVELS OF VITALITY, TRUST, PROFESSIONALISM, FEELINGS OF BEING RESPECTED AND BELONGING, GENDER AND DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, RESPECT AND EQUITY, MENTORING, EXTENT OF VALUING DIVERSITY, ANTISEXISM AND ANTIRACISM SKILLS, CHANGE AGENCY FOR EQUITY, AND OTHER CONSTRUCTS RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE FOR FACULTY. THUS FAR, C-CHANGE HAS COLLECTED SURVEY DATA AT THE FOLLOWING SITES: COHORT 1 CORNELL UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2022 SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER 2022 DREXEL UNIVERSITY MARCH 2023 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY MARCH 2023 UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM/TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP MARCH 2023 ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI JUNE 2023 COHORT 2 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE/BALTIMORE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP MAY 2023 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO MAY 2023 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY JUNE 2023 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA OCTOBER 2023 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO NOVEMBER 2023 COHORT 3 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO MARCH 2024 [ALL OTHER COHORT 3 SITES ARE PENDING DATA COLLECTION IN OCTOBER 2024] FIRST PROGRAM AWARDEES ARE REQUIRED TO EVALUATE SITE-LEVEL INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE CHANGE AS DESCRIBED IN RFA-RM-22-008. ALL PIS AND DATA AND EVALUATION LEADS WERE SURVEYED TO COLLECT THEIR FEEDBACK TO AN INITIAL PROPOSAL DRAFT. THIS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPLEMENT PROPOSAL IS RESPONSIVE TO ALL FEEDBACK AND REQUESTS MADE BY SITES REGARDING THEIR NEEDS FOR CFS DATA.

HEALTH EVIDENCE FOR ALL TEENS - H.E.A.T - THE HEALTH PROMOTION AND RESOURCE CENTER (HPRC/MSM) AT MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL TEENS (HEAT). HEAT WILL SCALE EVIDENCE BASED TEEN PREGNANCY (TPP) AND RELATED RISK INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMS (EBIS) IN THREE PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS: CLAYTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT, NORTH CENTRAL HEALTH DISTRICT AND SOUTHWEST HEALTH DISTRICT. HEAT WILL SERVE COUNTIES WITH THE HIGHEST TEEN BIRTH AND STDS RATES IN THE HEALTH DISTRICTS. THE PROGRAM WILL REACH RURAL WHITE TEENS, RURAL AND URBAN BLACK TEENS, RURAL AND URBAN LATINO TEENS. WE WILL ALSO SERVE LGBTQ TEENS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVED TEENS IN SELECT COUNTIES WITH HIGH NEEDS AND DISPARITIES AMONG THESE SUBGROUPS. FOR ALL TEENS, WE WILL ADDRESS THE HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT CONTRIBUTE TO TEEN PREGNANCY, STIS AND RELATED RISK BEHAVIOR AMONG THESE GROUPS. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL HEAT WILL IMPLEMENT TPP AND RELATED RISK EBIS IN THREE SETTINGS IN EACH TARGET COUNTY. HEAT WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH YOUTH LEADERSHIPS COUNCILS IN EACH TARGET COUNTY. HPRC/MSM WILL SUBCONTRACT WITH THREE ORGANIZATIONS TO SCALE EBIS AND YLCS IN THE TARGET COUNTIES: CLAYTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT IN THE ATLANTA METRO-AREA, OCONEE COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD IN CENTRAL GEORGIA AND PHOEBE PUTNEY MEDICAL SYSTEM IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA. EACH SUBCONTRACT LEAD WILL UTILIZE EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HEALTH SYSTEMS, COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED AGENCIES, AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO REACH THE POPULATIONS OF FOCUS. HPRC/MSM WILL SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN THESE REGIONAL NETWORKS THROUGH CAPACITY/COLLABORATIVE BUILDING, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MONITORING. THE GOALS ARE TO 1) ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY FOR ADOLESCENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, 2) IMPROVE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND 3) INCREASE POSITIVE YOUTH BEHAVIORS KNOWN TO PROTECT AGAINST TEEN PREGNANCY. EVALUATION MONITORING WILL ENSURE REACH, PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVE, FIDELITY, AND QUALITY.

HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL TEENS - H.E.A.T - THE HEALTH PROMOTION AND RESOURCE CENTER (HPRC/MSM) AT MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL TEENS (HEAT). HEAT WILL SCALE EVIDENCE BASED TEEN PREGNANCY (TPP) AND RELATED RISK INTERVENTIONS AND PROGRAMS (EBIS) IN THREE PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS: CLAYTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT, NORTH CENTRAL HEALTH DISTRICT AND SOUTHWEST HEALTH DISTRICT. HEAT WILL SERVE COUNTIES WITH THE HIGHEST TEEN BIRTH AND STDS RATES IN THE HEALTH DISTRICTS. THE PROGRAM WILL REACH RURAL WHITE TEENS, RURAL AND URBAN BLACK TEENS, RURAL AND URBAN LATINO TEENS. WE WILL ALSO SERVE LGBTQ TEENS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVED TEENS IN SELECT COUNTIES WITH HIGH NEEDS AND DISPARITIES AMONG THESE SUBGROUPS. FOR ALL TEENS, WE WILL ADDRESS THE HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THAT CONTRIBUTE TO TEEN PREGNANCY, STIS AND RELATED RISK BEHAVIOR AMONG THESE GROUPS. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL HEAT WILL IMPLEMENT TPP AND RELATED RISK EBIS IN THREE SETTINGS IN EACH TARGET COUNTY. HEAT WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH YOUTH LEADERSHIPS COUNCILS IN EACH TARGET COUNTY. HPRC/MSM WILL SUBCONTRACT WITH THREE ORGANIZATIONS TO SCALE EBIS AND YLCS IN THE TARGET COUNTIES: CLAYTON COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT IN THE ATLANTA METRO-AREA, OCONEE COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD IN CENTRAL GEORGIA AND PHOEBE PUTNEY MEDICAL SYSTEM IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA. EACH SUBCONTRACT LEAD WILL UTILIZE EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HEALTH SYSTEMS, COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED AGENCIES, AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO REACH THE POPULATIONS OF FOCUS. HPRC/MSM WILL SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN THESE REGIONAL NETWORKS THROUGH CAPACITY/COLLABORATIVE BUILDING, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MONITORING. THE GOALS ARE TO 1) ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY FOR ADOLESCENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, 2) IMPROVE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND 3) INCREASE POSITIVE YOUTH BEHAVIORS KNOWN TO PROTECT AGAINST TEEN PREGNANCY. EVALUATION MONITORING WILL ENSURE REACH, PROGR AM GOALS AND OBJECTIVE, FIDELITY, AND QUALITY.

CORAL CENTER - MODIFIED PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT SECTION – OVERALL CORAL CENTER PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN LIVE AT THE CROSSROADS OF TWO OF THE GRAVEST PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS CONFRONTING THE 21ST CENTURY US: (1) THE MATERNAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY EPIDEMIC AND (2) THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS. IN A NATION WITH THE HIGHEST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE OF ALL HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES, MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS – SUCH AS ANXIETY, PERINATAL AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, AND BIRTH-RELATED PTSD – ARE THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH, AFFECTING 1 IN 5 WOMEN. ACCORDING TO MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW COMMITTEES (MMRCS), BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF MATERNAL DEATHS AND ARE THE LEADING PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF MATERNAL DEATHS. DESPITE THEIR SIZE AND IMPACT, THE US IS ILL PREPARED TO MOBILIZE TO ADDRESS THESE CRISES BECAUSE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE NEGLECTED WITHIN THE FIELD OF MATERNAL HEALTH AND BECAUSE THE FIELD OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEGLECTS MATERNAL HEALTH. LED BY A PARTNERSHIP OF MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, EMORY UNIVERSITY, AND A ROBUST NETWORK OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CORAL CENTER WILL GENERATE ACTIONABLE EVIDENCE ABOUT THE DETERMINANTS OF MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH WOMEN, AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THEM, WITH THE GOAL OF ENDING THE MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS IN GEORGIA AND BEYOND. GEORGIA IS AN ESSENTIAL SITE FOR THIS WORK AS IT HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST PREGNANCY-RELATED MORTALITY RATIOS IN THE US. THE STATE MMRC HAS FOUND THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE A LEADING – AND GROWING – CAUSE OF MATERNAL DEATH. LEVERAGING AN OUTSTANDING INFRASTRUCTURE SPANNING 2 MAJOR UNIVERSITIES AND A STRONG NETWORK OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CORAL CENTER WILL MOBILIZE ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BY DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING A ROBUST MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE; CONDUCTING RIGOROUS, ETHICAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES; BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF INVESTIGATORS; AND COLLABORATING WITH ACADEMIC, GOVERNMENTAL, AND COMMUNITY TO DISSEMINATE AND TRANSLATE DISCOVERIES.

CENTER TO ADVANCE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AMONG BLACK PREGNANT/POSTPARTUM WOMEN AND BIRTHING PEOPLE (CORAL). - ABSTRACT PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN WHO ARE BLACK LIVE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THREE OF THE GRAVEST PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS CONFRONTING THE 21ST CENTURY US: (1) THE MATERNAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY EPIDEMIC; (2) THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS; AND (3) INTERSECTIONAL DISCRIMINATION. IN A NATION WITH THE HIGHEST MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE OF ALL HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES, BLACK WOMEN ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE WHILE PREGNANT OR POSTPARTUM THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS. MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS – SUCH AS ANXIETY, PERINATAL AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, AND BIRTH-RELATED PTSD – ARE THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH, AFFECTING 1 IN 5 WOMEN, AND DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFLICT BLACK WOMEN. OVERDOSES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, AND RELATED HARMS ARE SURGING AMONG BLACK WOMEN. ACCORDING TO MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW COMMITTEES (MMRCS), BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF MATERNAL DEATHS AND ARE THE LEADING PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF MATERNAL DEATHS. DESPITE THEIR SIZE AND IMPACT, THE US IS ILL PREPARED TO MOBILIZE TO ADDRESS THESE CRISES BECAUSE OF LONGSTANDING LEGACIES OF INTERSECTIONAL DISCRIMINATION WHEREBY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE NEGLECTED WITHIN THE FIELD OF MATERNAL HEALTH AND THE FIELD OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEGLECTS MATERNAL HEALTH. BLACK WOMEN IN PARTICULAR HAVE SUFFERED: HISTORICALLY AND PRESENTLY, APPROACHES TO ADDRESS BLACK MATERNAL MORTALITY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY FAILED TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE. LED BY A PARTNERSHIP OF MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, EMORY, AND A ROBUST NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES OF REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, RESEARCH JUSTICE, AND THE NIMHHD MENTAL HEALTH FRAMEWORK, THE CENTER TO ADVANCE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AMONG BLACK PREGNANT/POSTPARTUM WOMEN (CORAL) WILL GENERATE ACTIONABLE EVIDENCE ABOUT THE MULTILAYERED DETERMINANTS OF MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN CLOSE AND EQUITABLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH BLACK WOMEN, AND THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THEM, WITH THE GOAL OF ENDING THE MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS IN GEORGIA AND BEYOND. GEORGIA IS AN ESSENTIAL SITE FOR THIS WORK AS IT HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST PREGNANCY-RELATED MORTALITY RATIOS IN THE US, AND BLACK WOMEN EXPERIENCE A RATE THAT IS 2.3 TIMES THAT OF WHITE WOMEN. THE STATE MMRC HAS FOUND THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE A LEADING – AND GROWING – CAUSE OF MATERNAL DEATH. LEVERAGING AN OUTSTANDING INFRASTRUCTURE SPANNING 2 MAJOR UNIVERSITIES AND A STRONG NETWORK OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CORAL WILL MOBILIZE ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT BLACK MATERNAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BY DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING A ROBUST TRANSDISCIPLINARY COMMUNITY-DRIVE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE; CONDUCTING RIGOROUS, ETHICAL TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES; BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF INVESTIGATORS; AND COLLABORATING WITH ACADEMIC, GOVERNMENTAL, AND COMMUNITY TO DISSEMINATE AND TRANSLATE DISCOVERIES.

1/3 MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE/TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM O'NEAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER PARTNERSHIP - THIS TYPE-2 APPLICATION SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN AND BUILD UPON THE ESTABLISHED U54 PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (MSM), TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY (TU), AND THE UAB O’NEAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER (UAB OCCC). THE PARTNERSHIP, LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEAST, A REGION WITH UNDER-RESOURCED AND IMPOVERISHED POPULATIONS, AIMS TO ATTAIN EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH TO ADDRESS DIFFERENCES IN CANCER HEALTH OUTCOMES AND REDUCE THE CANCER BURDEN FOR ALL POPULATIONS. THE PARTNERING INSTITUTIONS BRING COMPLEMENTARY STRENGTHS TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THROUGH INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE TO ENHANCE PRODUCTIVE CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAMS, DEVELOP A PIPELINE OF INVESTIGATORS IN CANCER RESEARCH AT MSM AND TU, AND INCREASE THE INVOLVEMENT OF UAB OCCC INVESTIGATORS FOCUSED ON RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND KEY DRIVERS OF CANCER OUTCOMES. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS FOUR CORES (ADMINISTRATIVE, OUTREACH, RESEARCH EDUCATION, AND PLANNING & EVALUATION); TWO FULL AND FIVE PILOT RESEARCH PROJECTS (THE FIRST THREE YEARS SUPPORTED TWO FULL AND ONE PILOT PROJECT; THE LAST TWO YEARS INCLUDE FOUR PILOT PROJECTS); AND TWO SHARED RESOURCES (BIOETHICS AND BIOSTATISTICS/BIOINFORMATICS). WITH THESE ASSETS AND ACTIVITIES, THE PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTRIBUTE: 1) THROUGH THE CURRENT FOUR PILOT PROJECTS: A) PILOT PROJECT-1 EXAMINES HOW VARYING TUMOR CELL DENSITIES IN BREAST CANCER RELATE TO GENE EXPRESSION AND MOLECULAR SIGNATURES; B) PILOT PROJECT-2 DEVELOPS AND DELIVERS A SOCIALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY TAILORED EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY TO IMPROVE EARLY DETECTION OF LUNG CANCER IN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA; C) PILOT PROJECT-3 EVALUATES A NEW NANOPARTICLE- BASED METHOD OF DELIVERY OF HONOKIOL, A WELL-CHARACTERIZED ANTI-CANCER AGENT, ALONE OR WITH DOCETAXEL, TO ENHANCE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY FOR BREAST CANCER; AND D) PILOT PROJECT-4 FOCUSES ON CHARACTERIZING THE MOLECULAR ALTERATIONS (MUTATIONS) IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER TO IDENTIFY NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC BIOMARKERS. 2) THROUGH THE OUTREACH CORE, AN EVIDENCE-BASED, THEORY-INFORMED, MULTI-LEVEL, CLINICAL TRIAL AND CANCER GENOMICS EDUCATION PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED THAT ADDRESSES THE DETERMINANTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN CLINICAL TRIALS AND CANCER GENOMICS STUDIES; AND 3) THROUGH THE RESEARCH EDUCATION CORE, EMPLOY AN INTEGRATED CANCER RESEARCH EDUCATION PROGRAM TO BUILD CAPACITY AND PROVIDE TRAINING TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AND JUNIOR FACULTY, PREPARING THEM FOR CAREERS IN CANCER RESEARCH. 4) THROUGH THE PLANNING & EVALUATION CORE, CONTINUALLY ASSESS/EVALUATE OUTCOMES OF THE CORES, RESEARCH PROJECTS, AND SHARED RESOURCES. 5) THROUGH THE BIOETHICS SHARED RESOURCE, PROMOTE AND ENSURE ADHERENCE TO BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND ADDRESS ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS AND BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES. 6) THOUGH THE BIOSTATISTICS AND BIOINFORMATICS SHARED RESOURCE, PROVIDE STATISTICAL AND BIOINFORMATICS DATA SUPPORT FOR ALL ACTIVITIES. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS WILL ENHANCE CANCER CARE FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

1/3 MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE/TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY/UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM O'NEAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER PARTNERSHIP - OVERALL: PROJECT SUMMARY: (OVERALL IS IDENTICAL TO ALL THREE PARTNERING INSTITUTIONS) THIS TYPE-2 APPLICATION IS TO STRENGTHEN AND BUILD UPON THE ESTABLISHED U54 PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (MSM), TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY (TU), AND THE UAB O’NEAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER (UAB OCCC). THE PARTNERSHIP, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTHEAST, A REGION WITH A LARGE, HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, AFRICAN AMERICAN (AA) POPULATION, HAS THE OVERALL GOAL OF ATTAINING EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH FOCUSED ON ELIMINATION OF CANCER HEALTH DISPARITIES AND ON REDUCING THE CANCER BURDEN AMONG UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THE REGION. THE PARTNERING INSTITUTIONS POSSESS DISTINCTIVE STRENGTHS THAT COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN ACHIEVING THE PROPOSED GOAL THROUGH INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE TO ENHANCE PRODUCTIVE CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAMS, TO DEVELOP A PIPELINE OF RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITY INVESTIGATORS IN CANCER RESEARCH AT MSM AND TU, AND TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT OF INVESTIGATORS CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON CANCER DISPARITIES AT THE UAB OCCC. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS FOUR CORES (ADMINISTRATIVE, OUTREACH, RESEARCH EDUCATION, AND PLANNING & EVALUATION); TWO FULL RESEARCH PROJECTS; ONE PILOT RESEARCH PROJECT; AND TWO SHARED RESOURCES (BIOETHICS AND BIOSTATISTICS/BIOINFORMATICS). WITH THESE ASSETS AND ACTIVITIES, THE PARTNERSHIP WILL: 1) THROUGH THE TWO FULL PROJECTS, A) DETERMINE IF AMPLIFICATION AND OVEREXPRESSION OF TRIP13 CONTRIBUTE TO PROSTATE CANCER AGGRESSIVENESS AND PROGRESSION AND B) DEVELOP COMBINATION THERAPY STRATEGIES THAT MODULATE THE IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT FOR COLORECTAL CANCERS AND IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE TARGETS ADAPTABLE TO PERSONALIZED MEDICINE. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE PILOT PROJECT ARE TO CHARACTERIZE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH UPTAKE OF LUNG CANCER SCREENING (LCS) IN TWO DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND TO EXPLORE BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS TO LCS AT THE SYSTEM, PROVIDER, AND PATIENT LEVELS THAT WILL INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-LEVEL INTERVENTION. 2) THROUGH THE OUTREACH CORE, IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE AN EVIDENCE-BASED, THEORY-INFORMED, MULTI-LEVEL, CLINICAL TRIAL AND CANCER GENOMICS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES THE DETERMINANTS FOR AA AND LATINX PARTICIPATION IN CLINICAL TRIALS AND CANCER GENOMICS STUDIES; 3) THROUGH THE RESEARCH EDUCATION CORE, EMPLOY AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT INVOLVES CAPACITY BUILDING AND LINKAGES TO HIGH SCHOOL, UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE/MEDICAL STUDENTS, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, MEDICAL RESIDENTS, AND EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS, ALLOWING THEM TO PURSUE CAREERS IN CANCER RESEARCH; AND 4) PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL PILOT RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE PLANNING & EVALUATION CORE WILL CONTINUALLY ASSESS/EVALUATE OUTCOMES OF THE CORES, RESEARCH PROJECTS, AND SHARED RESOURCES. THE BIOETHICS SHARED RESOURCE WILL PROMOTE AND ENSURE ADHERENCE TO BIOETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND ADDRESS ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS AND BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES. THE BIOSTATISTICS AND BIOINFORMATICS SHARED RESOURCE WILL DELIVER STATISTICAL AND BIOINFORMATICS SUPPORT FOR ALL ACTIVITIES. TOGETHER, THESE ACTIONS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ELIMINATION OF CANCER HEALTH DISPARITIES.

DP24-004, PRC CORE: MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER (MSM PRC): ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY AND JUSTICE THROUGH COMMUNITY POWERED IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE

DP24-004, PRC CORE: MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER (MSM PRC): ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY AND JUSTICE THROUGH COMMUNITY POWERED IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH: ROLE OF ACID-SENSING ION CHANNELS IN NEURONAL DEVELOPMENT/MATURATION -THE FUNCTION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM RELIES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEURONAL CIRCUITS DURING DEVELOPMENT. THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH NEURONS ADOPT SPECIFIC MORPHOLOGIES AND CONNECTIONS REMAIN UNCLEAR. THIS INVESTIGATION WILL IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF A MEMBRANE PROTEIN CALLED ACID-SENSING ION CHANNEL 1A, WHICH SENSES BRAIN ACIDITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MATURATION OF BRAIN NEURONS. THROUGH AN ARRAY OF METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES, THE STUDY WILL DETERMINE THE ROLE OF ACID SENSING IN NORMAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT. THE FINDINGS FROM THIS INVESTIGATION MAY HELP IN DEVISING TREATMENTS FOR NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS ASSOCIATED WITH DYSREGULATION OF ACID-BASE BALANCE. THROUGH AN INTEGRATED EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM, THIS PROJECT WILL ENABLE STUDENTS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN STEM, TO GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN DIVERSE METHODOLOGIES RELEVANT FOR RESEARCH IN NEUROSCIENCE. THESE EXPERIENCES WILL BETTER POSITION TRAINEES TO PURSUE CAREERS IN STEM AND CONTRIBUTE TO BROADENING PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE STEM WORKFORCE. NEURONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MATURATION ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE NORMAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN. THE SPECIFIC SIGNALING PATHWAYS INVOLVED IN THESE PROCESSES, HOWEVER, ARE NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD. THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT ACID-SENSING ION CHANNEL 1A (ASIC1A), A NOVEL PROTON-GATED AND CA2+-PERMEABLE CATION CHANNEL, PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN NEURONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MATURATION. PROTON CONCENTRATIONS CHANGE LOCALLY WHEN SYNAPTIC VESICLES RELEASE THEIR ACIDIC CONTENTS DURING NEUROTRANSMISSION, AND GLOBALLY IN THE BRAIN DURING PERIODS OF INTENSE NEURAL ACTIVITY. FOR DECADES, THE SIGNALING ROLE PROTONS PLAY IN NEURONS REMAINED ELUSIVE. THE FINDING THAT PROTONS CAN GATE A DISTINCT FAMILY OF ION CHANNELS HAS SHED NEW LIGHT ON THE MECHANISMS OF ACID SIGNALING. ASIC1 IS WIDELY EXPRESSED IN NEURONS OF THE PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS. EMERGING STUDIES HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT ACTIVATION OF ASIC1A PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLES IN NEURONAL INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. IN CONTRAST, THE PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF ASIC1A IN THE DEVELOPING BRAIN REMAIN LARGELY UNCLEAR. USING A COMBINATION OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, IMAGING, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, PHARMACOLOGY, PROTEOMICS, RNA-SEQ, IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS, THE PROPOSED STUDIES WILL SYSTEMATICALLY EXAMINE THE ROLE OF ASIC1A IN NEURONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MATURATION AND ITS UNDERLYING SIGNALING MECHANISMS. UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTAL FUNCTION OF ASIC1A IN NERVOUS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT WILL ADVANCE THE FIELD OF NEUROSCIENCE AND MAY ALSO HELP ESTABLISH NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR TREATING NEURODEVELOPMENTAL AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

RESEARCH CENTERS IN MINORITY INSTITUTIONS (RCMI) COORDINATING CENTER - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED RCMI COORDINATING CENTER (RCMI CC) IS TO SERVE AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES ACROSS THE RCMI U54 CENTERS THROUGH COORDINATION OF INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE AND COLLABORATIVE INTERACTIONS THAT ENHANCE RESEARCH CAPACITY AND COMPETITIVENESS. TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, THE RCMI CC WILL ENGAGE THE RCMI U54 PI/PDS AND CORE DIRECTORS FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AS WELL AS DEVELOP A ROBUST EVALUATION AND TRACKING PLAN. SPECIFIC AIM 1. COORDINATE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND EVALUATION ACROSS THE RCMI U54 CENTERS APPROACH: ORGANIZE AND CONVENE AN ANNUAL FACE-TO-FACE RCMI GRANTEES CONFERENCE; CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE RCMI U54 PI/PDS TO DISCUSS ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES AND PROGRAM EVALUATION; COORDINATE AND ENHANCE COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES; DEVELOP COMMON PERFORMANCE METRICS. SPECIFIC AIM 2. COORDINATE AND LEVERAGE RESEARCH RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS APPROACH: CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE U54 RCMI RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE CORE (RIC) DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS CORE FACILITY MANAGEMENT, SHARING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND OTHER RESOURCES, RESEARCHER NEEDS AND RESEARCH BARRIERS; FACILITATE BROAD ACCESS TO OTHER NON-RCMI RESEARCH RESOURCES; PROVIDE METHODOLOGY CONSULTATIONS; MAINTAIN A CENTRALIZED DATABASE TO TRACK PERFORMANCE METRICS. SPECIFIC AIM 3. COORDINATE MENTORING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS APPROACH: CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE U54 RCMI INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT CORE (IDC) DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS MENTORING STRATEGIES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR PILOT PROJECTS PROGRAMS; FACILITATE BROAD ACCESS TO AND FACILITATE COLLABORATION WITH RCMI AND NON-RCMI INVESTIGATORS. SPECIFIC AIM 4. COORDINATE SUSTAINABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS APPROACH: CONVENE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE U54 RCMI COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; FACILITATE BROAD ACCESS AND COLLABORATION WITH RCMI AND NON-RCMI COMMUNITY PARTNERS; FOSTER SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OF SUCCESSFULLY ADMINISTERING THE RCMI TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH NETWORK, THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE PROPOSED RCMI CC WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON IMPROVING COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE RCMI U54 CENTERS.

TRAINING THE TRAINERS: BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL DATA SCIENCE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH - ABSTRACT THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (MSM) SINCE ITS INCEPTION HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE HEALTH NEEDS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, AS WELL AS UNDERSERVED URBAN AND RURAL POPULATIONS BOTH IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. EMBEDDED IN THE MSM MISSION IS THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES; INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF THE MEDICAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE; AND ADDRESSING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE NEEDS THROUGH PROGRAMS IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE. THE MSM PROPOSES A NOVEL CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN HEALTH DISPARITIES (CTRHD) WHICH COMPRISES SEVEN INTEGRATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING FOUR CORES AND THREE SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE RESEARCH CAPACITY CORE (RCC) WILL ENHANCE OUR BEHAVIORAL AND POPULATION/ HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CAPABILITIES. THE RCC WILL CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AT OTHER NIH-FUNDED CENTERS, BOTH IN GEORGIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. THE INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT CORE (IDC) WILL PROVIDE PILOT FUNDING WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITY PROJECTS FROM JUNIOR AND EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS. IN ADDITION, THE IDC WILL COORDINATE WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CORE (ADMIN CORE) AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) TO CONTINUE TO TRAIN BASIC SCIENTISTS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH TEAMS (MDTTS). THE ADMIN CORE/IDC/CEC WILL PROVIDE A ROBUST MENTORING PLAN AND A RANGE OF SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES (SEMINARS, GRANT APPLICATION WORKSHOPS/WRITING PROGRAMS, AND RETREATS) TO ENSURE INVESTIGATOR SUCCESS. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) WILL GUIDE ALL CTRHD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS BASED ON THE MOREHOUSE MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE CEC WILL CATALYZE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH BY OFFERING CONSULTATION STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS. THE RCC WILL ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A MOBILE HEALTH UNITY (MOBILE HEALTH EQUITY UNIT) AND COORDINATE WITH THE CEC, IDC, FULL PROJECTS, AND OTHER MSM RESEARCHERS. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE U54 CTRHD WILL BE PURSUED AS OUTLINED: AIM 1: ENHANCE MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND SUPPORT MECHANISMS THROUGH A RESTRUCTURED RESEARCH CAPACITY CORE (RCC); AIM 2: INCREASE AND PREPARE ALL INVESTIGATORS (ESPECIALLY EARLY-STAGE RESEARCHERS) TO BECOME EXTRAMURALLY -FUNDED HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCHERS THROUGH IDC, CEC AND RCC ACTIVITIES; AND AIM 4: EXPAND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORE (CEC) BY FOSTERING EXISTING AND STRENGTHENING NEW SUSTAINABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBO), ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY NETWORK IN RURAL GEORGIA.