# Investigator Development

> **NIH NIH U54** · DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $637,442

## Abstract

Investigator Development Core 
Summary 
 As the racial disparities in infections and deaths due to COVID19 highlight, 
health disparities in the US can play a large role in deaths from infectious disease as 
well as the chronic conditions that, until the pandemic, were the most urgent causes 
of disability and death in the US. Significantly reducing health disparities will require 
innovative and effective strategies that increase adoption of health-promoting behaviors among individuals 
from under-represented and low SES communities. Investigators in social and behavioral sciences are 
increasingly working with health science researchers to produce practical research and interventions that 
improve the health of individuals and communities. 
 A recommended strategy for reducing health-related inequities is to increase the number of 
investigators (including those from underrepresented groups) carrying out ground-breaking research on 
both the causes of health disparities and ways to reach health equity. Investigators from socioeconomically 
disadvantaged backgrounds and minority groups bring unique perspectives that can enhance understanding 
of social and structural causes of health disparities. However, these groups are underrepresented in the 
scientific workforce and often lack both the institutional resources and informal support systems to succeed. 
 The mission of our Investigator Development Core is to expand DSU’s institutional capacity to 
conduct health disparities research by preparing a cadre of health equity investigators conducting 
transdisciplinary research projects that can improve health outcomes and reduce disparities, and who are 
actively engaged with community members throughout the lifecycle of their research. The IHER Center 
will carryout its mission by: 1) Establishing a competitive pilot grant program that will allow new and early 
stage investigators at DSU to generate preliminary data to support competitive grant proposals related to 
the social and behavioral determinants of health; 2) Fostering the productivity, advancement, and retention 
of health equity researchers by providing a robust professional development infrastructure to support 
publication of peer-reviewed articles, submission of grant proposals, and development of strong 
professional networks; 3) Working with the Community Engagement & Dissemination Core to empower 
PIs to engage communities in their research and disseminate health research-related information; and 4) 
Providing a robust, interactive educational program to enhance knowledge and awareness of minority health 
and health equity across the DSU community. 
 The core will leverage the R01 and R15 grant experience of ID Core director with the experience 
of the RCMI PIs in leading research centers focused on supporting early stage investigators to establish 
successful research programs and win external funding.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10871704
- **Project number:** 5U54MD015959-03
- **Recipient organization:** DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hakeem O Lawal
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $637,442
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-20 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10871704

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10871704, Investigator Development (5U54MD015959-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10871704. Licensed CC0.

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