# Delaware Clinical and Translational Research ACCEL Program (Professional Development Core)

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2024 · $317,738

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORE 
Primary goals of the Delaware CTR ACCEL program include facilitating clinical and translational research 
(CTR) across disciplines and increasing faculty competitiveness for research funding. The ACCEL PDC has 
sought to reach, connect, and support clinician scientists and junior faculty as they pursue their first grants in- 
cluding pass-through funding (e.g., an ACCEL or other IDeA program pilot award) or external funds (e.g., K 
award, COBRE target project, foundation grant, or R grant). The ACCEL-CTR Professional Development Core 
(PDC) was established to support the development of CTR investigators. The PDC has established successful 
programs, including Mentored Research Development Awards (MRDA), sponsorship of a statewide Junior In- 
vestigators’ Network (JIN), and collaborations with the DE IDeA States Clinical Trials Network and the DE IN- 
BRE. In ACCEL3, we enhance our existing programs and add three key programs: (i) integrated mentor train- 
ing to support emerging investigators, expand our base of clinical research mentors, deploy best practices, and 
assure diversity, equity, and inclusion; (ii) tools to help novice investigators identify and navigate regulatory re- 
quirements, administrative processes, and resources for clinical studies; (iii) a more organized and self-suffi- 
cient JIN to enhance peer support and collaborative program development. The PDC in ACCEL3 has three 
Specific Aims. Aim 1: Provide integrated mentor training and support programs. The PDC will provide re- 
sources and training, and “Mentor Champions” will be installed at ACCEL institutions to support local mentors, 
support the engagement of faculty with ACCEL, and assure diversity and inclusion among ACCEL faculty. Aim 
2: Implement a Pathways to Success program. Resources to overcome common barriers to clinical research 
will be deployed as self-guided tools detailing processes relevant to ACCEL faculty and providing coaching in 
areas of need. Aim 3: Develop peer subgroups within our JIN. The PDC will work with the JIN to identify spe- 
cial interest subgroups, especially groups of underrepresented faculty, and to provide peer programs and edu- 
cational resources. Aim 4: Strengthen existing programs to further increase competitiveness for external fund- 
ing. Existing PDC programs designed to help faculty develop strong grant submissions will be enhanced to 
provide targeted support. The PDC is led by Robert Akins and an accomplished team with representatives 
from multiple disciplines across ACCEL. Execution of PDC aims will advance the professional development of 
ACCEL investigators, increase competitiveness for external funding, and support a more effective clinical and 
translational research mentoring that fully embraces precepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion across ACCEL. 
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10892316
- **Project number:** 5U54GM104941-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert E Akins
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $317,738
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-09-25 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10892316

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10892316, Delaware Clinical and Translational Research ACCEL Program (Professional Development Core) (5U54GM104941-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10892316. Licensed CC0.

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