# Investigator Development Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · 2021 · $323,036

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT 
The elimination of health disparities in Arkansas is an elusive goal because the state's African American 
population is disproportionately burdened by chronic disease. To address this issue, the state needs, in part, a 
diverse and highly productive research workforce completing research that can be translated into policies, 
programs, and environments that reduce disparities and promote health equity. Studies suggest that early 
stage investigators (ESIs) are most productive when provided with structured support (e.g., mentorship, 
professional development opportunities, opportunities to collect preliminary data to support extramural grant 
applications) and that these effects are particularly notable among ESIs who are members of health disparity 
groups that are underrepresented in science. Thus, the proposed Investigator Development Core (IDC) of the 
Arkansas Center for Health Disparities will build upon the substantial success of our Exploratory Center of 
Excellence by including a multilevel model of support and professional development for ESIs who will conduct 
translatable research that benefits socially disadvantaged African American Arkansans. The overarching goal 
of the IDC is to expand opportunities for ESIs to engage in multidisciplinary and multilevel minority 
health and health disparities research that examines chronic disease disparities among socially 
disadvantaged African American populations. This goal will be achieved through implementation of a pilot 
studies program that provides structured mentorship (via on- and off-campus mentorship collaborations) while 
supporting the generation of preliminary data and, subsequently, dissemination of results and submission of 
extramural grant applications. The IDC will adapt and implement an established pilot project program; provide 
advisory and technical-support resources for rigorous research design and appropriate statistical analyses; and 
implement a program of multisource team mentorship for pilot project researchers. These efforts are expected 
to result in: increased recruitment, retention and advancement of ESIs conducted health disparities research 
within the Center's thematic focus; and increased health disparities research that informs health policy and 
program design to reduce disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10147769
- **Project number:** 5U54MD002329-15
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Brooke E.E. Montgomery
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $323,036
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-09-30 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10147769

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10147769, Investigator Development Core (5U54MD002329-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10147769. Licensed CC0.

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