MINORITY BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT PROGRAM AT NCCU

North Carolina Central University, Durham NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The overall objectives for the proposed MBRS program at North Carolina Central University are: 1)to substantially improve and strengthen the research capabilities and competitiveness of science faculty; and, 2) to increase the number of underrepresented minorities seeking careers in biomedical research. To fulfill the first objective, NCCU's MBRS program seeks to build upon existing and emerging research strengths of the University. In this renewal, five subprojects are submitted from the Department of Biology, and one subproject is submitted from the Department of Chemistry. The request includes support for 6 Principal Investigators, 17 students, 8 research technicians, and 1 secretary. Among these projects are common threads of health related research problems which will foster collaborations and sharing of biomedical research ideas and technologies. The cover areas of cancer biology, molecular biology, microbiology, mycology, environmental health and bio organic chemistry. Four of the six subprojects are new MBRS projects and two are competitive continuations of existing MBRS projects. This program continues to be enriched by interdepartmental and interinstitutional collaborations that foster research productivity and assist in alleviating isolation often felt by researchers at minority and/or non research-intensive institutions. Improved productivity will be made evident y measurable increases in faculty/student publications, presentations at seminars and meetings, in patents, faculty research honors, and the acquisition of additional non-MBRS funding to support research and research training activities. This program will be enriched by the proposed MBRS seminar series. The second broad objective involves enhancing the student participation program. By insuring appropriate mentoring and guidance, students should improve their productivity, visibility, and accountability. Students will be involved in state-of-the-are research projects, in presenting their data in seminars and at meetings, in co-authoring publications, and in establishing linkages with students and faculty involved in other research programs at NCCU and at collaborating institutions and expected outcome is that this program will continue to motivate more minority students to pursue terminal degrees and careers in biomedical research.