# Investigator Development Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR · 2021 · $219,100

## Abstract

Investigator Development Core: Abstract
Representation of underrepresented minority professionals in biomedical workforce is critical for addressing
the issues related to changing demographics in the United Sates. Therefore, it is essential to increase the
diversity in the research workforce that focuses on minority health and health disparities. Career advancement
for faculty conducting research is measured by their ability to obtain external funding. The objective of
Investigator Development core (IDC) is to train and support the eligible scholars (post-doctoral fellows, junior
faculty and early stage investigators) to establish successful extramural research programs and mentor them
for a successful research career. We have developed the Steps Toward Academic Research (STAR)
Leadership program that provides training, pilot project support through U54 mechanism and from institutional
funds. IDC will work closely with the Program Executive Committee and Community Engagement and
Dissemination Core to accomplish this objective. In Aim 1, we will implement the STAR Leadership program
for scholars to develop competitive research grant applications in minority health and health disparities. Our
diversity recruitment plan recruits 10 scholars each year, and provides intensive training for effective grant
writing, conducting health disparity research, and developing research proposals working with subject experts
and community stakeholders. In Aim 2, we will conduct rigorous peer-review to select 3-5 new pilot projects
each year to fund investigator-initiated minority health and health disparity research. We will also support pilot
project awardees for the successful completion of their projects adhering with NIHMD research frame work by
providing post-award support including institutional resources (eg., access to core facilities, statistical
expertise, manuscript and grant writing support). In order to appreciate and encourage promising investigators,
we will assess project performance and supplement the scholars with high potential for extramural funding with
a second year of support through institutional funds. In Aim 3, we will immerse our scholars into the network of
faculty and professionals conducting minority health and health disparity research. Scholars will be connected
with UNTHSC partners, NRMN and NIMHD professional development and networking programs. The other
activities include, providing opportunities to disseminate their research to scientific and community
stakeholders, formation of ‘My Groups’ within NRMN platform with subject- and community experts to facilitate
the re-submission of grant applications, ensuing scholars’ persistence in health disparity research careers.
Successful outcome of our program will result in 50 scholars with fully developed health disparity research
projects, 15-25 scholars who will conduct health disparity research and gather data for extramural research
support, and 40% of the pilot project awardees se...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10167769
- **Project number:** 5U54MD006882-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Johnny J He
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $219,100
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-07-16 → 2025-06-16

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10167769

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10167769, Investigator Development Core (5U54MD006882-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10167769. Licensed CC0.

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