# AADR Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Research Workforce of the Future - MIND the Future.

> **NIH NIH UE5** · AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH · 2022 · $82,213

## Abstract

Abstract
The AADR Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Workforce of the Future (AADR MIND
the Future) aims to develop a national and sustainable mentoring and mentor training network
with educational activities and interactive opportunities across the network, between mentors
and mentees within and beyond the home institutions to support the development of a diverse
cadre of dental, oral and craniofacial researchers to advance the objectives of the NIDCR
Strategic Plan and Strategic Priorities. Specific objectives of AADR MIND the Future are: to
support the development of a diverse cadre of early career dental, oral and craniofacial
researchers; to incorporate personal career development techniques for new investigators; to
create a diverse national and sustainable mentoring and mentor training network; to develop a
lasting educational plan based on existing paradigms in thematic domains – research/technical;
career development/personal growth; and mentor-mentee interpersonal relationships; to
enhance collaborations with a variety of institutions and organizations to sustain the network of
diverse mentees, mentors and program alumni, who could eventually serve the program. The
principle purpose of the network is to develop a national and sustainable mentoring program,
which will be centrally administered by the AADR and will specifically facilitate a diverse pool of
early career investigators, including those from groups identified as underrepresented in dental,
oral and craniofacial research and transition to the next career stage and to develop a high
quality independently funded research program. In the long term, this AADR program will
engage mentor and mentees with the goal to guide individual career development as well as to
improve the quality of mentoring at the home institution through dissemination of the lessons
learned by mentors and mentees in the network. The AADR Mind the Future program is a
national network of 11 universities and three organizations who will be intricately involved in the
education of 10 new mentees each year for the five funding years and for each year’s alumni.
The universities are organized into Eastern, Western, Southern and Midwest Hubs and include
the two dental schools based in Historically Black Universities and Colleges. The three
organizations that bring innovative aspects to the AADR Mind the Future program are the
Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence, the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science,
and the NIH National Research Mentoring Network. AADR is strongly positioned to implement
the proposed national mentoring program with a focus on career development, diversity and
inclusion.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10330471
- **Project number:** 5UE5DE029439-03
- **Recipient organization:** AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID Ray DRAKE
- **Activity code:** UE5 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $82,213
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-10 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10330471

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10330471, AADR Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Research Workforce of the Future - MIND the Future. (5UE5DE029439-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10330471. Licensed CC0.

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