Center for Biomedical and Health Research at TSU

Texas Southern University, Houston TX

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Overall The Center for Biomedical and Health Research (CBMHR) at Texas Southern University (TSU) is requesting ~ $26.65 million to renew our U54 RCMI program for the cycle of 2025-2030. Currently, CBMHR has made significant strides in expanding research infrastructure, fostering community engagement, advancing early-stage investigators (ESIs) development, establishing sustainable collaborations and partnerships and tackling variations in health outcomes through impactful research. These efforts have substantially elevated TSU's profile as a premier institution in health research, evidenced by a notable surge in research funding and recognition. TSU has emerged as a highly trusted intermediary, serving as the essential "bridge" between the Texas Medical Center and the city's large lay and rural communities. The expanded CBMHR program will enhance TSU's research capacity in basic biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research with a focus on diseases that disproportionally impact different populations. The overarching goals of the program are to: 1) enhance TSU’s institutional capacity to conduct innovative biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research; 2) provide robust support for investigators, particularly ESIs, to secure NIH and other extramural funding for research targeting health challenges; 3) cultivate environments that facilitate the career development and success of ESIs; 4) drive the development and dissemination of innovative methodologies to address variations in health outcomes, ensuring findings reach both scientific audiences and grassroots communities; and 5) establish and sustain impactful partnerships with community-based organizations to advance collaborative research and community engagement. CBMHR will achieve its goals by continuing and expanding four cores: Administrative Core (ADC), Research Capacity Core (RCC), Investigator Development Core (IDC), and Community Engagement Core (CEC). All cores will work synergistically to fully support three selected high-impact research projects (biomedical, behavioral, and clinical) addressing critical health challenges, including triple-negative breast cancer, hypertension in the elderly, and postpartum hypertension. CBMHR expects to demonstrate outcomes, including substantial increases in publications, grant proposal submissions, NIH R01-type grants awarded, successful ESI professional development outcomes, and long-term partnerships with multiple healthcare providers and community groups. CBMHR will continue to enhance our evaluation plan to monitor all components’ progress and work with the advisors and evaluator for improvement. The proposed renewal of the RCMI program will enhance TSU’s research capabilities and foster collaboration across biomedical, behavioral, and clinical disciplines. By addressing critical health variations like cancer and hypertension, CBMHR will improve healthcare outcomes for various populations in Greater Houston and beyond.