# Research Infrastructure Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $643,132

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract 
 Substance use problems and HIV/AIDS disease are complex disorders that affect the health of disadvantaged 
racial/ethnic minority groups, largely due to significant health disparities. To make significant progress in identifying the 
underlying causes of these diseases and improve their diagnosis, prevention, and treatment requires the work of a 
transdisciplinary team of researchers united by a common mission, supported by a connected infrastructure, and working 
in a geographical location ideally suited for the study of the targeted diseases and disparities. The proposed RCMI, will 
bolster critical infrastructure, technologies, collaborations, recruitment of new minority faculty, and professional 
development of minority faculty already at Florida International University (FIU), to meet the challenges of improving the 
health of traditionally underrepresented groups and reduce health disparities. FIU is among the 10 largest universities in 
the US with a diverse student body of nearly 50,000 students, including 61% Hispanic, 15% non-Hispanic white, 13% 
non-Hispanic black, 4% Asian, and 7% other minority groups. There are 256 early stage minority faculty in various 
disciplines related to health disparities in HIV or substance use problems. FIU has demonstrated an extraordinary support 
for developing the next generation of health disparity researchers with institutional support to diversify faculty and 
promote equity at FIU. The activities of this proposed RCMI will provide research opportunities, mentoring from 
numerous senior, NIH-funded investigators, infrastructure that includes laboratories, clinical spaces, and behavioral 
studies, imaging studies, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics support. Educational opportunities will include seminars, 
colloquia, journal club, lectures, mini-courses and mentorship committees. Training in responsible conduct of research is 
mandatory for all senior and junior investigators. The RCMI and FIU’s Office of Research and Economic Development 
(ORED) will assure inclusion and integration of infrastructure, prioritize resources to make facilities available, provide 
assistance to meet requirements for institutional compliance, support operation, administration and research activities and 
devise plans for sustaining research infrastructure through cost recovery. The training provided by this RCMI will 
enhance the diversity of the research enterprise and will offer mentoring opportunities on community engagement, 
recruitment of minority populations, and addressing the mechanisms by which health disparities and differences in health 
outcomes negatively affect racial and ethnic minorities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10194586
- **Project number:** 5U54MD012393-05
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ZORAN BURSAC
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $643,132
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2022-09-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10194586

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10194586, Research Infrastructure Core (5U54MD012393-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10194586. Licensed CC0.

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