CORE III: INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT

Core Director: Steven Shea, M.D.

Co-Directors: Jeanne Teresi, Ed.D, Ph.D.
Mindy Fullilove, M.D.
Ana F. Abraido-Lanza, Ph.D.,
Richard Mayeux, M.D., M.S.

The goal of Core III (Investigator Development) is to promote the development of investigators in minority aging through mentoring of researchers in this area, particularly minority researchers, and the fostering of collaborating between non-minority and minority researchers. This Core has six specific aims:

1) To publicize and select applications for pilot study awards. 2) To implement a procedure and curriculum for mentoring junior investigators, together with a process for evaluating the mentoring effort; 3) To track the success of the pilot study awards based on inclusion of minority subjects in the research, successful competition for peer-reviewed grant support based on the pilot projects, and other criteria; 4) To implement a plan to maintain at a high level or increase the number of minority investigators receiving support through the pilot award program. 5) To disseminate information related to research activities, research methods including development and testing of culture-sensitive measures, research findings, and methods for recruitment and retention of minorities in aging research. 6) To evaluate the information dissemination effort. These aims are closely integrated with the other Cores.

An announcement publicizing the overall goals of the RCMAR and soliciting applications for the pilot grant program will be mailed annually to all Health Sciences campus faculty including those in clinical and basic science departments in the Medical, Dental, Nursing, and Public Health Schools, and also in the Columbia School of of Social Work, at Harlem Hospital, and in the Department of Health and Nutrition Education at Teachers College.
In addition the announcement is been placed in the monthly newsletter sent by the Office of Grants and Contracts to all active investigators on the Health Sciences campus, and the relevant information is available at the RCMAR website.

The Review committee for these proposals are the Director and Co-Directors for this Core and the other RCMAR Cores. It is chaired by Dr. Shea or his designee. Proposals are limited to three pages. the NIH scoring system is been used. The criteria for selection is based on the significance of the research question and its relevance to closing gaps between older minority and majority groups in health status and/or access to health care, the soundness of the methods, the ability of the investigator to conduct the research, the research environment, the probability that the pilot award will foster development of a competitive proposal, and-if the applicant is relatively early in his or her research career-the experience, commitment, and track record of the mentor. In addition, the goal of supporting minority researchers will be taken into consideration. The Review Committee's recommendations is made to the Principal Investigator, who will consult with the CALME Advisory Panel in making the final decisions. The Review Committee have the responsibility for endorsing or revising these criteria and for modifying the review process, consistent with the overall mission of the Center.

The development of the procedure and curriculum for mentoring minority junior investigators and formal methods for monitoring, evaluating, and improving the mentoring process is been embedded in an active, supportive process based in the monthly CALME Aging Research Working Group meetings. These meetings are active discussions of planes and ongoing research, with presentations by junior investigators, more senior members of the working group(mentors), and other members of the CALME Center as well as others in the larger environment interested in issues of aging and minority health. The curriculum consist of the shared experiences of the working group and its colleagues.

To track the success of the pilot studies all awardees are contacted yearly by telephone and/or electronic mail to track the success of the pilot awards and these data will be included in the RCMAR annual report.

An annual conference will be organized to bring together investigators, public health officials, elected officials and community leaders, and others interested in the health problems of minority elders and in minority aging research. The RCMAR takes the leading role in organizing and hosting this conference in collaboration with the New York Academy of Medicine. Several topics for this conference emerge naturally from the overall goals of the RCMAR: strategies for enrollment of minorities in aging research studies; mentoring of minority researchers in aging, health promotion, and disease presentation; development, testing, use and analysis of race-and culture-sensitive measures in aging research; research activities and results; and strategies for academic health centers and clinical researchers working in them for building enduring alliances with community organizations.