EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. The Northwest region of Mexico has experienced rapid demographic and economic growth over the past three decades, is of vital importance to the economic and security interests of the US and Mexico, and has a critical shortage of human resources in Reproductive and Perinatal Health. This research training plan is an integrated effort to develop the Maternal and Child Health infrastructure in Northwest Mexican border states, with a particular emphasis on improving research training in Reproductive and Perinatal Health. This proposal builds on the existing research capacity and regional and binationalcollaborations of El Colcgio de Sonora to facilitate its development into a Center of Excellence, strengthening their capacity to conduct biomedical and behavioral etiologic and intervention research in collaboration with the three major Mexican health care systems (1SSSTE,IMSS and SSA). Academic institutionsand government health systems will be strengthened through the development and training of future researchers, by developing ongoing research collaborations with UM faculty, and by offering of intensive methods courses and research workshops in Mexico. The effectiveness of the program will be maximized by: a) integratingplans with ongoing regional and binational efforts to increase attention to the emerging reproductive health needs of the region; b) leveraging existing substantial strengths in social science and health research at El Colegio de Sonora while capitalizing on their tradition of coalition building; c) providing intensive in-country short courses in research methodology and program evaluation to carefully selected individuals to create a core group of reproductive health researchers with representatives from each border state; d) enrolling Mexican nationals in University of Michigan's predoctoral training programs with research activities to be based in Northwest Mexico and a particular emphasis on recruitment of individuals expected to occupy key positions in academic research training programs and Mexico's public health systems; e) dissemination and practical application of results of research programs and ongoing collaboration with and mentoring of trainees beyond the 5 year life of this grant. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================
