GUIDeS Shared Resource

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) Shared Resource, Guiding U54 Investigator Development to Sustainability (GUIDeS), organizes and facilitates a range of services, and career enhancement opportunities, primarily targeted for early-stage investigators (ESIs), junior investigators (JIs), and postdoctoral scholars (jointly referred to as GUIDeS Participants (GPs); however, these resources serve all investigators in NACP. The overall goal is to equip ESI/JIs for submission of successful R01 level cancer-related research grants and achieve rewarding academic careers. GUIDeS has embraced the two-eyed seeing paradigm, which seeks to see from one eye with the strengths of American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) perspectives, and from the other eye with the strengths of contemporary scientific perspectives, and to use both of these eyes together for the benefit of all. GUIDeS adapts this approach to allow the two perspectives of the GPs and GUIDeS Co-Leaders to meld these perspectives to promote positive career trajectories. GUIDeS interacts with the other NACP Cores and research projects to ensure services and expertise across NACP are available to early researchers. Since its beginning in 2019, GUIDeS supported 29 GPs cancer health related grant proposals and seven Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) pipeline submissions, exceeding the NACP 5-year goal to submit six applications to the CURE pipeline. Since GUIDeS is in its early stages, the adaption of the two-eyed seeing approach will be used to improve the Shared Resource for the next grant cycle. Aim 1. Increase the development and submission of cancer research grants and manuscripts by identifying mentors to support GPs in developing a path to successful academic cancer research addressing AIAN cancer health outcomes. Aim 2. Provide enhanced analytical support for cancer research by providing GPs with workshops, and analytical infrastructure to enhance contributions to cancer research. Aim 3. Support extended opportunities for professional and career development by providing academic career planning opportunities for early-stage faculty using a “mapping strategy” to set aside blocks of time for teaching, writing of grants and publications. GUIDeS will assist in navigating the university promotion and tenure process, development of R01-level research, and promoting work-life balance.