The National Institute on Minority Health and Health
Disparities (NIMHD) invites applications from eligible institutions to
establish a national coordinating center (CC) for the Research Centers in
Minority Institutions (RCMIs) initiative. The RCMI CC will coordinate
activities across funded RCMI U54 Centers, prospectively evaluate the overall
RCMI program, and serve as a national resource to help these centers achieve
their primary goals.
The RCMI CC will be responsive to requests generated by RCMI site key
personnel, NIMHD, NIH, the scientific community, and the general public.
NIMHD mission is to lead scientific research to improve minority health and
reduce health disparities. To accomplish this, NIMHD plans, coordinates,
reviews, and evaluates NIH minority health and health disparities research and
activities, conducts and supports research in minority health and health
disparities, promotes and supports the training of a strong research workforce,
translates and disseminates research information and fosters innovative
collaborations and partnerships.
Programmatic Objectives and Core Activities
The RCMI Coordinating Center (CC) will coordinate activities
across funded RCMI U54 Centers, prospectively evaluate the overall RCMI
program, and serve as a national resource to help these centers achieve their
primary goals.
RCMI-CC Core Activities (selected examples)*:
Data and Evaluation
- Develop common metrics and data elements to support program
evaluation, data collection, analysis, and reporting across RCMI U54 centers.
Establish standardized agreements and standard operating
procedures (SOPs) for data sharing, evaluation, and multi-site research
practices.
Maintain a centralized, standardized database to track RCMI
investigator recruitment, retention, career trajectories, pilot projects,
publications, and grant outcomes.
Monitor community engagement and development of sustainable
partnerships with community-based organizations, participation of understudied
populations in clinical trials, and dissemination of research findings into
communities.
Generate periodic and annual reports for NIH highlighting
RCMI program achievements at individual and national levels.
Scientific Collaboration and Communication
- Organize and convene an annual grantees meeting for RCMI U54
PDs/PIs, scientists, and NIH staff to exchange information and foster
collaboration.
Hold monthly video conferences with RCMI U54 PDs/PIs to
discuss consortium strategies and shared challenges.
Facilitate collaboration and resource sharing among RCMI U54
Centers, academic institutions, community organizations, federal agencies, and
industry partners.
Connect RCMI investigators to broader networks of scientists
and community partners to promote research collaborations and best practices.
Investigator Development and Support
- Support a Clinical Research Pilot Project Program for
postdoctoral fellows, early-career faculty, and other early-stage investigators
(https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm#definition),
conducting biomedical, behavioral, and/or clinical research. Pilot projects
will range from $100,000–$150,000 per year in direct costs over one to two
years.
Provide access to research mentors and resources to support
career development for both early-stage and established investigators.
Outreach and Dissemination
- Coordinate communication, and outreach via a public website,
and newsletters.
Promote RCMI activities, research resources, and scientific
advances nationwide to enhance visibility and impact.
* Additional activities, projects or reports could be
requested by NIH Awards (upper): $3,500,000 |