Transcript Document 7535928

Biomedical Research, Health
Disparities and the Digital Divide:
Programs at the NCRR
Susan R. Kayar, Ph.D.
[email protected]
Division of Research Infrastructure
National Center for Research Resources
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
www.ncrr.nih.gov/resinfra.htm
Research Centers in Minority
Institutions (RCMI)
Designed to expand the Nation’s capacity
for conducting biomedical and behavioral
research at institutions granting doctoral
degrees to minorities;
 Strengthen research environments and
improve faculty research competitiveness;
 Enhance the clinical research capacity at
minority institutions.
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RCMI International Symposium
on Health Disparities
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A biannual event focusing on global health
disparities that highlights the research at
the 19 RCMI institutions.
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Eighth symposium held in Honolulu,
December 2002, featuring over 250
scientific sessions.
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Calls for the need to reduce health
disparities by 2010.
RCMI Clinical Research Centers
Network
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Theme of treatment of renal disease;
A single protocol will be developed;
Focus will be on specific minority populations;
Involves data sharing among institutions:
 Charles Drew (Los Angeles)
 University of Hawaii
 Morehouse School of Medicine
 Meharry Medical College
 University of Puerto Rico
How is the Internet used at
RCMI Institutions ?
All the usual academic uses
 Research training and faculty development
 Bioinformatics and computational biology
 Research networks on health disparities
 Global collaborations on ethnic-specific
diseases
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Plans to Enhance Technology
Infrastructure at RCMI Institutions
Provide funding supplements in 2003
specifically to enhance tech infrastructure;
 Highlight support for:
 staff in bioinformatics and data
management cores;
 computer hardware and software;
 Internet2 access.
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Institutional Development Award
(IDeA)
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Designed to enhance the competitiveness for
biomedical research funding of institutions
located in states with historically low
funding from NIH.
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Inclusion of underserved populations is a
primary feature.
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Research focus is broad.
Eligibility Criteria
 Less than 20%
success rate for
obtaining NIH grants
(1997 –2001).
 Less than $75M in
NIH funding (19972001).
23 States and Puerto Rico
How is the Internet used at
IDeA-Funded Institutions?
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Communications
 E-mail and basic computer services
 Library access
 Website design and utilization
 Video teleconferencing
Genomics and Proteomics data management
Imaging
Equipment linking and collaboratories
Data Mining
Computing at high speed, high capacity
Archiving of databases
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Hawaii COBRE Research:
Creating a center for cardiovascular biology;
Studying the genetics of vascular tissue
elements;
Using special resident populations, especially
Japanese Hawaiians;
Collaborating with an international support
group for patients with genetic disorder PXE.
Hawaii COBRE Internet uses:
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Biostatistical analysis
Data management for genomic
databases
International collaboration
NCRR and Internet2
We look forward to working with you