# FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center  to promote inclusive excellence

> **NIH NIH U24** · MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $1,229,873

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The overall objective of the FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center (CEC) at MSM is to
conduct a comprehensive evaluation grounded in realist evaluation theory, by collaborating with
FIRST Cohort awardees to iteratively assess the impact of key institutional culture change
strategies and other innovative approaches implemented at FIRST Cohort sites to promote
inclusive excellence.
Specific Aim 1. Coordinate FIRST program administration and conduct comprehensive
evaluation of the program context, processes, and outcomes
Approach: Utilize the Inclusive Excellence (IE) scorecard, a multidimentional measurement
tool that can simultaneously drive and assess change at the institutional, department, center,
institute and faculty levels. Identify measures for assessing the impact of inclusive excellence on
scientific discovery and quality of research conducted by FIRST faculty cohorts. Implement
common data elements and a logic model with metrics for short, intermediate, and long term
outcomes, including but not limited to research productivity, and collaborative networks.
Specific Aim 2. Coordinate and facilitate the collection of the minimum set of common data
elements from FIRST Cohort awardees.
Approach: Establish processes for data collection and capture, data storage, data
harmonization, quality control standards, data cleaning, data management, data validation and
data analyses with particular attention paid to replication and data privacy.
Specific Aim 3. Coordinate the dissemination and communication of best practices in
Inclusive Excellence (IE) among FIRST Cohort institutions.
Approach: Coordinate and facilitate communication among FIRST Cohort awardee institutions
through regular meetings, committees, and workgroups as needed. Disseminate successful
evidence-based practices, and lessons learned for transforming institutions across FIRST Cohort
sites. Establish two prestigious annual awards: The Louis W. Sullivan Award tand the Donald E.
Wilson Award for Inclusive Excellence.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10397347
- **Project number:** 1U24MD017138-01
- **Recipient organization:** MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth O. Ofili
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,229,873
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10397347

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10397347, FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center  to promote inclusive excellence (1U24MD017138-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10397347. Licensed CC0.

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