Work

Summary of Year-One Effort of the RCMI Consortium to Enhance Research Capacity and Diversity with Data Science

Year: 2022

Type: article

Study design: Observational Study

Abstract: Despite being disproportionately impacted by health disparities, Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and other underrepresented populations account for a significant minority of graduates in biomedical data science-related disciplines. Given their commitment to educating underrepresented students and trainees, minority serving institutions (MSIs) can play a significant role in enhancing diversity in the biomedical data science workforce. Little has been published about the reach, curricular breadth, and best practices for delivering these data science training programs. The purpose of this paper is to summarize six Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMIs) awarded funding from the National Institute of Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD) to develop new data science training programs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to better understand the demographics of learners served, curricular topics covered, methods of instruction and assessment, challenges, and recommendations by program directors. Programs demonstrated overall success in reach and curricular diversity, serving a broad range of students and faculty, while also covering a broad range of topics. The main challenges highlighted were a lack of resources and infrastructure and teaching learners with varying levels of experience and knowledge. Further investments in MSIs are needed to sustain training efforts and develop pathways for diversifying the biomedical data science workforce.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010279

Authors: Christopher S. Awad, Youping Deng, John Kwagyan, Abiel Roche-Lima, Paul B. Tchounwou, Qingguo Wang, Muhammed Y. Idris

Institutions: Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Howard University, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico System, Jackson State University, Meharry Medical College

Language: English

Topic: Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,618

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Awards: G1316785648, Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science (GHUCCTS), G2645576209, G3128235846, G4819939626, G6547928836, Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Coordinating Center, G7012544114, Circulating lipid and miRNA markers for early detection of breast cancer among women with abnormal mammograms, A Randomized Controlled Study to Test the Effectiveness of Developmental Network Coaching in the Career Advancement of Diverse Early Stage Investigators, G7579854890, RCMI Center for Health Disparities Research, G8568809525, Profiling genome-wide circulating ncRNAs for the early detection of lung cancer, G8776904270, The RCMI Program in Health Disparities Research at Meharry Medical College, Ola HAWAII, University of Hawaii Cancer Center CCSG, Howard University Research Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, Integrative Center for Precision Nutrition and Human Health, Center for Pacific Innovations, Knowledge, and Opportunities (PIKO), HAWAII INBRE V PROGRAM, Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities, MRI: Acquisition of a High-Performance Computer System to Support Research and Training in Computational Biology and Data Science at Meharry Medical College, G96042073

OpenAlex ID: W4313245140

FWCI: 0.979

Cites: 14

Cited by: 12

Related to: 10