PROJECT SUMMARY – Investigator Development Core The RCMI@Morgan has established an Investigator Development Core (IDC) that focuses on providing junior- level faculty and postdoctoral fellow investigators with the research resources and training needed to catalyze the scientific growth and professional development of early-stage investigators (ESI) and facilitate their transition to independent biomedical researchers. The IDC will implement strategic initiatives including an effective Pilot Project Program, a Summer Research Partnership Program, hands-on grant writing workshops, grant and manuscript writing support, and a variety of activities to help network investigators with multi-disciplinary professional communities and mentors. The proposed activities are widely recognized as the best practices in research infrastructure enhancement and ESI career development. An innovative aspect of our approach is to foster interdisciplinary conversation and collaboration between social/behavioral scientists and basic biomedical science researchers in STEM disciplines as well as translational researchers. Our aims are designed to equip Morgan State’s investigators with what they need to become successful, technology transfer-minded, funded, and productive biomedical and behavioral health investigators who will advance their research careers in areas related to minority heath and health disparities. Our Aims are 1. To administer an effective Pilot Project Program designed to jump start research projects including potential technology transfer projects that will result in externally funded research grants (K Series, SuRE, R21, R01, etc.) As such, the IDC will continue to promote and implement our program for soliciting, receiving, reviewing, and funding pilot grant proposals that focus on research related to diseases and conditions that disproportionately impact minority and under-represented populations. 2. To build on our infrastructure to support investigators’ efforts to establish robust academic research careers, with special emphasis on ESI. Under this Aim, the IDC will administer hands-on grant writing workshops for new investigators and investigators new to NIH research, provide early-stage investigators with a structured mentoring relationship, including post-review support, to help them build their networks of colleagues and research collaborators, support a Summer Research Partnership Program with faculty at research-intensive regional institutions, and continue to network with MSU’s Office of Research Administration to help devise protocols and procedures to facilitate the grant and patent submission process at MSU. 3. To build on and maintain “Communities of Research” for biomedical and behavioral health researchers at MSU and with partner institutions. The IDC will foster interdisciplinary collaborations among MSU investigators as well as collaborations with investigators at research-partner institutions, including other RCMI institutions, thr...