Biomedical Research, Health Disparities and the Digital Divide:

Programs at the NCRR

Susan R. Kayar, Ph.D.Susan R. Kayar, Ph.D.KayarS@mail.nih.govKayarS@mail.nih.gov

Division of Research Infrastructure Division of Research Infrastructure

National Center for Research ResourcesNational Center for Research Resources

National Institutes of Health, DHHSNational Institutes of Health, DHHS

www.ncrr.nih.gov/resinfra.htmwww.ncrr.nih.gov/resinfra.htm

Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI)

Designed to expand the Nation’s capacity Designed to expand the Nation’s capacity for conducting biomedical and behavioral for conducting biomedical and behavioral research at institutions granting doctoral research at institutions granting doctoral degrees to minorities;degrees to minorities;

Strengthen research environments and Strengthen research environments and improve faculty research competitiveness;improve faculty research competitiveness;

Enhance the clinical research capacity at Enhance the clinical research capacity at minority institutions.minority institutions.

RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities

A biannual event focusing on global health A biannual event focusing on global health disparities that highlights the research at disparities that highlights the research at the 19 RCMI institutions. the 19 RCMI institutions.

Eighth symposium held in Honolulu, Eighth symposium held in Honolulu, December 2002, featuring over 250 December 2002, featuring over 250 scientific sessions.scientific sessions.

Calls for the need to reduce health Calls for the need to reduce health disparities by 2010. disparities by 2010.

RCMI Clinical Research CentersNetwork

Theme of treatment of renal disease;Theme of treatment of renal disease; A single protocol will be developed;A single protocol will be developed; Focus will be on specific minority populations;Focus will be on specific minority populations; Involves data sharing among institutions:Involves data sharing among institutions:

Charles Drew (Los Angeles)Charles Drew (Los Angeles) University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii Morehouse School of MedicineMorehouse School of Medicine Meharry Medical CollegeMeharry Medical College University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico

How is the Internet used at RCMI Institutions ?

All the usual academic usesAll the usual academic uses Research training and faculty developmentResearch training and faculty development Bioinformatics and computational biologyBioinformatics and computational biology Research networks on health disparitiesResearch networks on health disparities Global collaborations on ethnic-specific Global collaborations on ethnic-specific

diseasesdiseases

Plans to Enhance Technology Infrastructure at RCMI Institutions

Provide funding supplements in 2003 Provide funding supplements in 2003 specifically to enhance tech infrastructure;specifically to enhance tech infrastructure;

Highlight support for:Highlight support for: staff in bioinformatics and data staff in bioinformatics and data

management cores;management cores; computer hardware and software;computer hardware and software; Internet2 access.Internet2 access.

Institutional Development Award (IDeA)

Designed to enhance the competitiveness for Designed to enhance the competitiveness for biomedical research funding of institutions biomedical research funding of institutions located in states with historically low located in states with historically low funding from NIH. funding from NIH.

Inclusion of underserved populations is a Inclusion of underserved populations is a primary feature. primary feature.

Research focus is broad.Research focus is broad.

Eligibility Criteria

Less than 20% Less than 20% success ratesuccess rate for for obtaining NIH grants obtaining NIH grants (1997 –2001).(1997 –2001).

Less thanLess than $75M in $75M in NIH funding (1997-NIH funding (1997-2001).2001).

23 States and Puerto Rico

How is the Internet used at IDeA-Funded Institutions?

CommunicationsCommunications E-mail and basic computer servicesE-mail and basic computer services Library accessLibrary access Website design and utilizationWebsite design and utilization Video teleconferencingVideo teleconferencing

Genomics and Proteomics data managementGenomics and Proteomics data management ImagingImaging Equipment linking and collaboratoriesEquipment linking and collaboratories Data MiningData Mining Computing at high speed, high capacityComputing at high speed, high capacity Archiving of databasesArchiving of databases

Hawaii COBRE Research:Hawaii COBRE Research: Creating a center for cardiovascular biology;Creating a center for cardiovascular biology; Studying the genetics of vascular tissue Studying the genetics of vascular tissue

elements;elements; Using special resident populations, especially Using special resident populations, especially

Japanese Hawaiians; Japanese Hawaiians; Collaborating with an international support Collaborating with an international support

group for patients with genetic disorder PXE.group for patients with genetic disorder PXE.

Hawaii COBRE Internet uses:Hawaii COBRE Internet uses:

Biostatistical analysis Biostatistical analysis Data management for genomic Data management for genomic

databasesdatabases International collaborationInternational collaboration

NCRR and Internet2

We look forward to working with you