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Congruent Mentorship to Reach Academic Diversity (COMRADE) in Neuroscience Research
Investigator (PI): Jean-Louis, Girardin; Ogedegbe, Olugbenga G
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): New York University, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Population Health / (646) 929-7870
Supporting Agency (SA): National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Initial Year: 2015
Final Year: 2020
Record Source/Award ID: RePorter/R25NS094093
Funding: 2015 Award Amount: $241,829
2016 Award Amount: $239,561
2017 Award Amount: $240,317
Award Type: Grant
Award Information: Reports resulting from this project
Abstract: The training program "Congruent Mentorship to Reach Academic Diversity (COMRADE) in Neuroscience Research" will offer an innovative, evidence-based mentored learning experience to underrepresented minority (URM) neuroscientists. The focus on URM postdocs is guided by evidence that they experience inconsistencies in mentorship, suboptimal academic social support, insufficient time for research, and lack of role models during graduate training. As recommended by the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education, mentees will participate in individualized exercises to improve career development and verbal/written communication skills; they will be mentored while implementing their individual development plan. Training will begin with a 2-week didactic program (Summer I), followed by congruent mentorship, a mid-year meeting, monthly webinars, ending with a 1-week, proposal-focused program (Summer II). Summer I comprises workshops on career and professional development, behavioral neuroscience methods, and grant writing. Summer II focuses on NIH mock study sections featuring peer proposal critiques and interactions with National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) project officers (POs). We will evaluate the program and track mentees' progress. Outcomes will include 1) number of professional presentations and publications, 2) academic leadership positions, 3) academic career awards, and 4) federal and non-federal grants. Mentees' characteristics (self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, resilience, and social support) predicting academic success will be measured pre and post enrollment. The specific aims of the program are 1) to select qualified URM postdocs with great potential to contribute to current knowledge of evidence-based neuroscience models utilized to reduce risk of stroke and related metabolic diseases; 2) to increase mentees' knowledge, skills, and motivation to pursue academic careers through intensive research training. This will be achieved via exposure to neuroscience research tools for risk reduction, instructions to enhance career development skills, and development of successful grant applications; 3) to provide continuous congruent mentorship to mentees and to facilitate transition into independent investigators; and 4) to provide mentees with intensive individualized training and guidance in grant writing and to acquaint them with the NIH review process. This will enhance their capacity to compete successfully for funding at the national level. Mentees will participate in guided mock study section, receiving feedback on their proposals by experienced investigators and reviewing proposals of their peers. COMRADE will address a critical deficiency in the academic workforce by mentoring URM postdocs to pursue independent careers in behavioral neuroscience and health equity research. Successful completion of the program will establish a network of 24 well-trained URM neuroscientists, thus expanding capacity to reduce the burden of neurological diseases and improve health equity in disparity communities.
MeSH Terms:
  • Career Choice
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Health Equity
  • Humans
  • Leadership
  • Learning
  • * Mentors
  • Minority Groups
  • Motivation
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (U.S.)
  • National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
  • Nervous System Diseases /*ethnology
  • /*therapy
  • Neurosciences /*education
  • /methods
  • Research Personnel
  • Risk
  • Social Support
  • Training Support
  • United States
Keywords:
  • career development
  • characteristics
  • communication
  • development plans
  • health equity
  • intrinsic motivation
  • learning
  • measures
  • mentors
  • mentorship
  • metabolic diseases
  • minority investigator
  • minority scientist
  • motivation
  • neurosciences
  • neurosciences research
  • next generation
  • outcome
  • peer
  • peer coaching
  • postdoctoral fellow
  • research training
  • resilience
  • risk reduction
  • self-efficacy
  • skill acquisition
  • skills
  • social support
  • stroke
  • training
  • training and education
  • training and infrastructure
  • training programs
  • underrepresented minority
  • writing
Country: United States
State: New York
Zip Code: 10016
UI: 20184292
Project Status: Completed