University of MN Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA’S (UMN) BUILDING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CAREERS IN WOMEN’S HEALTH (BIRCWH) PROGRAM ABSTRACT This UMN BIRCWH application is a competitive renewal. We have been continuously funded for 14 years. The UMN BIRCWH is a three-year competency-based and interdisciplinary team-mentored research career development program for junior faculty, or “Scholars” built on the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) strategic goals. The main objective and vision of the UMN BIRCWH program is to improve the health of all women across the lifespan and, by extension, to improve the health of their families and communities in Minnesota, the nation, and the world. Our short-term objective to achieve the UMN BIRCWH vision is to facilitate the research careers and independence of our Scholars by expanding their research skills, their experience in team science, their research networks and leadership abilities, and increasing their scholarly productivity. We will accomplish this objective by having each Scholar go through our career development program or “pathway” which includes the following components: (1) an independent research project; (2) interdisciplinary mentoring teams; (3) competency-based core curriculum delivered through seminars, trainings, workshops, and conferences and (4) optional additional networking and training opportunities. Our long-term objectives to achieve the UMN BIRCWH vision, are to: 1. Increase scholarly publications and funding on women’s health and sex/gender differences research. 2. Increase the number of interdisciplinary research leaders who advance scientific knowledge in women’s health across the lifespan and in sex/gender differences in health and disease. 3. Foster new cross-disciplinary collaborations within the University and broader community to increase the impact of women’s health research. 4. Transform the academic environment by increasing the visibility of interdisciplinary women’s health and sex/gender differences research. 5. Effect the timely translation of women’s health and sex/gender differences research findings to clinical practice, public health, and policy. Over the last 14 years, our 16 Scholars have successfully published a total of 1,017 (367 first author) manuscripts and received 22 NIH grants as PI (total funding $48,239,932). Additionally, 13 alumni (81%) have been promoted to associate professor or higher and 10 are in leadership positions. In the current application, we will build on this strong track record of developing successful and highly productive Scholars and add new innovative and timely elements including a focus on: (1) health equity and antiracism; (2) community-engaged scholarship; and (3) academic leadership. These innovations, in addition to the strong multiple-PI team, rigorous evaluation plan, and highly interdisciplinary mentors will allow for the UMN BIRCWH to continue to set the standard for training Scholars in women’s health and sex/gender differences that meet and exceed the ORWH strategic goals.