# Investigator Development Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE · 2024 · $555,924

## Abstract

The Investigator Development Core (IDC) will address the development of early-career
investigators in basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research through a pilot project
program that allows researchers to generate preliminary data for submission of grant
applications, particularly focusing on research related to diseases that disproportionally
impact minority or other disparity populations, or those that address health disparities.
Professional development opportunities to increase junior faculty and post-doctoral
fellows' participation, advancement, and leadership capabilities will be linked to this core.
The overarching goal of the IDC is to produce the next generation of successful junior
investigators studying basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research focused on
health disparities. Thus, the IDC will enable our junior researchers to successfully apply
for extramural funding and progress in their academic careers as funded investigators.
The IDC will apply innovative strategies to provide robust research career development
resources, leverage technology and data science to address health disparities, mentor
junior faculty and post-doctoral fellows, and create a holistic, individualized, and rigorous
track for each IDC participant. To achieve these goals, the IDC will pursue three specific
aims:
1) Establish a pilot awards program targeted to post-doctoral fellows and junior
 faculty to advance basic, behavioral, and clinical research in health disparities.
2) Mentor the pilot project investigators to enhance their career development,
 publications, and research outcomes derived from pilot research funds.
3) Implement a grant submission timeline for extramural grant funding appropriate to
 the pilot investigator's career stage.
The IDC is envisioned as a magnet and an engine - a magnet that attracts early-stage
investigators into health disparities research and an engine that nurtures them toward
success in NIH grant funding. Findings from the proposed pilot project health disparities
research program will lead to new K, R, and equivalent extramural grants, the outcomes
of which will contribute to healthier communities across the nation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10854846
- **Project number:** 5U54MD007586-38
- **Recipient organization:** MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Fernando Villalta
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $555,924
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-09-30 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10854846

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10854846, Investigator Development Core (5U54MD007586-38). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10854846. Licensed CC0.

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