INVESTIGATOR DEVELOPMENT CORE – Project Summary The SDSU HealthLINK Center (Center) was established in 2018 to augment investigator, partner, and institutional capacity for minority health and health disparities (MHHD) research. The goal of the Investigator Development Core (IDC) is to enhance the career development of junior investigators, especially those under- represented in the sciences, to conduct innovative minority health and health disparities research at SDSU, SDSUIV, and with community partner organizations. To accomplish this goal, we propose the following four specific aims that build on our successful Pilot Project (PP) program: 1) support the career advancement of junior investigators through PP funding and training; 2) foster knowledge and skills transfer between Core Leaders and PP by supporting cross core collaboration activities; 3) support the career advancement of a broader audience of MHHD researchers through workshops; and 4) contribute to the Center’s measures of implementation, engagement, satisfaction, and impact. To accomplish Aim 1, IDC will fund 10 PPs following implementation of a Grant Writing Workshop to PP applicants designed to assist them in preparing a competitive PP application. A Research Management Training Program will be delivered to PP Leaders and is designed to foster successful project initiation and completion. Outreach and recruitment strategies will leverage institutional resources and connections to maximize the recruitment of junior (i.e., post-doctoral fellows, early-stage) investigators and those under-represented in the sciences. In this process, IDC strives to create a diverse community of basic biomedical, behavioral/population, and clinical/health services researchers working toward the common goal of optimizing health outcomes for all people. To accomplish Aim 2, IDC will work closely with AC, RCC, CEC and newly hired RC faculty member to optimize the transfer of knowledge and skills by and between Cores and Pr