Mentoring/Development Core "Mechanisms of alcohol pathology: a collaborative partnership between NCCU and UNC"

Univ Of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

This U54 Mentoring/Development Core: Mechanisms of alcohol pathology proposal will continue and expand mentoring and collaborative partnerships between the UNC-Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies (UNC-BCAS) and NCCU faculty and students that over the past 4 years has involved 8 NCCU Biomedical faculty, as many as 15 students each year, 12 manuscripts, and multiple alcohol NIH grant applications, none of which occurred prior to this partnership. This partnership has been extremely productive in initiating alcohol research at NCCU, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) where 81% of students are underrepresented minorities (African-American or Hispanic). It continues to expose large numbers of underrepresented minority students to alcohol research to inform them regarding alcohol related pathology. The Mentoring and Research Development Core will support UNC faculty mentors providing research expertise to educate, involve and develop faculty and student researchers from NCCU through productive research collaboration and mentoring. The Mentoring/Development Core will provide funds for two years to maintain NCCU essential research staff in the 3 active laboratories with the goal of obtaining independent research support within this period. UNC mentors are supported for active NCCU programs as well as future new programs. By conducting an integrated and focused investigation into the genetic and molecular mechanisms of alcohol pathology this proposal will make important contributions to understanding alcohol morbidity and will create successful research programs exposing large numbers of NCCU students to alcohol research and alcohol pathology. Blacks are at high risk for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), alcoholic liver disease, and mortality from cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. Undergraduate research internships and alcohol curriculum development will help identify and involve individuals in learning about and reducing alcohol-related health issues. Active NCCU alcohol research laboratories are training students from diverse backgrounds and are uniquely positioned to engage in research and in the translation of research advances into culturally appropriate education and health care.