UK ASCEND (Achieving Success in Community-Engaged research to elimiNate Disparities): ID CORE

PROJECT SUMMARY– OVERALL The University of Kentucky will establish Achieving Success in Community-Engaged research to elimiNate Disparities (UK ASCEND), driven by one overarching objective-- to attain success in community-engaged health equity research among diverse early-stage investigators (ESIs) through a new, novel, and comprehensive research training program, the ASCEND Scholars Program (ASP), embedded within rich and collaborative Research Priority Areas (RPAs); a rigorous pilot project program; and bi-directional engagement with community stakeholders. Informed by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework and the Institutional Model for Faculty Diversity Framework, UK ASCEND takes a comprehensive and inclusive orientation to mitigating health disparities by fostering authentic exchanges among community stakeholders, researchers, providers and policymakers. Ultimately, these collaborations will support contextually appropriate and grounded research capable of impactful and sustained community and system-level changes to achieve health equity. Led by three MPIs, a diverse Community Advisory Board, and core Co-Directors with complementing expertise and experience, the proposed P50 is scaffolded by a well-resourced and committed university structure and leadership, centered within a strong community-engaged theoretical orientation, infused with productive partnerships, and motivated by our location in a state leading the nation in health disparities. To achieve our objective, UK ASCEND proposes the following aims: (1) Coordinate bold and effective scientific leadership and governance, fiscal and regulatory management, communication and dissemination strategies, and tracking and evaluation to assess key outcomes of community-engaged health equity research training and success (Administrative Core); (2) Cultivate community-engaged health equity research success among diverse ESIs by immersing them into a productive research career advancement environment infused with strong community engagement, the ASCEND Scholars Program (ASP), and a community-engaged research pilot project program, supported by institutional strengths including six RPAs (Investigator Development Core); (3) Catalyze and sustain long term community-research partnerships through bi-directional engagement and dissemination and translation of research findings (Community Engagement and Dissemination Core). UK’s momentum of research success and commitment to a more inclusive research workforce has begun to transform our environment and has the potential to erode longstanding health and social inequities. UK ASCEND has the motivation, vision, and capacity to improve health by providing the comprehensive, rigorous and inclusive community- engaged research training essential for impactful scientific discovery.