As emphasized in recent reports, research training of minority health professionals is a critical need nationwide. In response, the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, with NIH support (RR017589), established a successful academic program in clinical research, the Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) Program. In this renewal application, our immediate goal continues to be increasing the number and quality of outstanding Hispanic clinical investigators. A long-term goal of the MSCR Program is to establish research programs that integrate clinical investigations across multiple departments, schools and research institutes in Puerto Rico and collaborations with US mainland researchers. The ultimate goal is to enhance the participation of minority health professionals in clinical and translational research that will have a significant impact on the health of the community, particularly underrepresented minorities.
Specific aims of the application are to: (1) Develop the research capacity of minority health professionals through the Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) Program;and (2) Facilitate successful transition of MSCR graduates to research independence. To further these aims we propose to strengthen the current program by upgrading courses to strengthen didactic training, intensifying research mentoring opportunities, and continuing to evaluate our efforts. These enhanced opportunities will ensure that scholars will participate in ongoing faculty research, research seminars, and national conferences. They will receive publication, presentation, research dissemination, and grantsmanship experiences. Research mentors, chosen from the cadre of Medical Sciences clinical investigators, are fundamental to the success of the MSCR Program. Successful clinical investigators, mainly descendents of minority populations residing in the US, are accessible for long distance mentoring. The advancement of newly-minted clinical investigators will be stimulated by providing administrative, physical, and fiscal support. This career development program is being further strengthened by fostering partnerships with the community, industry and national research-intensive institutions interested in addressing significant questions in minority health issues. The ultimate vision of this Program is to prepare a cadre of Hispanic clinical researchers that will be ideally positioned to initiate original and important clinical investigations addressing the multifactorial health disparities between minority and non-minority populations.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
5R25RR017589-10
Application #
8105124
Study Section
National Center for Research Resources Initial Review Group (RIRG)
Program Officer
Arora, Krishan
Project Start
2002-09-24
Project End
2012-09-18
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-09-18
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$469,940
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Puerto Rico Med Sciences
Department
Type
Schools of Allied Health Profes
DUNS #
948108063
City
San Juan
State
PR
Country
United States
Zip Code
00936
Estape, Estela S; Quarshie, Alexander; Segarra, Barbara et al. (2018) Promoting Diversity in the Clinical and Translational Research Workforce. J Natl Med Assoc 110:598-605
Guerrios-Rivera, Lourdes; Howard, Lauren; Frank, Jennifer et al. (2017) Is Body Mass Index the Best Adiposity Measure for Prostate Cancer Risk? Results From a Veterans Affairs Biopsy Cohort. Urology 105:129-135
Koinis-Mitchell, Daphne; Rosario-Matos, Nicolás; Ramírez, Rafael R et al. (2017) Sleep, Depressive/Anxiety Disorders, and Obesity in Puerto Rican Youth. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 24:59-73
Orellano, Elsa M; Mountain, Gail; Varas, Nelson et al. (2014) Occupational competence strategies in old age: a mixed-methods comparison between Hispanic women with different levels of daily participation. OTJR (Thorofare N J) 34:32-40
Orellano-Colón, Elsa M; Varas-Díaz, Nelson; Bernal, Guillermo et al. (2014) Achieving Ecological Validity of Occupation-Based Interventions for Healthy Aging. Phys Occup Ther Geriatr 32:368-380
Mendez, Keimari; Romaguera, Josefina; Ortiz, Ana P et al. (2014) Urine-based human papillomavirus DNA testing as a screening tool for cervical cancer in high-risk women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 124:151-5
Ramos-Fernandez, Maria R; Medero-Colon, Roberto; Mendez-Carreno, Lorraine (2013) Critical urologic skills and procedures in the emergency department. Emerg Med Clin North Am 31:237-60
Aguilar, Maria L; Psoter, Walter J; Montero, Mauricio et al. (2013) The quality of removable prostheses in dentate, community-dwelling elderly residing in Puerto Rico. J Prosthodont 22:556-60
Acosta-Perez, Edna; Canino, Glorisa; Ramirez, Rafael et al. (2012) Do Puerto Rican youth with asthma and obesity have higher odds for mental health disorders? Psychosomatics 53:162-71
Martínez, Karen G; Castro-Couch, Melissa; Franco-Chaves, José A et al. (2012) Correlations between psychological tests and physiological responses during fear conditioning and renewal. Biol Mood Anxiety Disord 2:16

Showing the most recent 10 out of 35 publications