Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

Overview

Obesity Health Disparities PRIDE is an evidence-based, culturally- and environmentally-relevant research training and mentoring program focused on obesity prevention and treatment, including community-based interventions. The program includes outreach to early-career faculty or transitioning postdoctoral fellows who hold appointments at, or earned degrees from, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

OHD PRIDE is a partnership between the University of Houston, University of California (UCLA), Johns Hopkins University, and University of Texas Southwestern.

OHD PRIDE is funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to University of Houston. Grant # 1R25HL126145-01

OHD PRIDE Program Components

OHD PRIDE is a two-year program consisting of four phases.

• Phase I – Summer Institute I
  A 10-day, intensive and interactive program in Houston, Texas focusing on research methods, data analysis and intervention development to generate a small research proposal to NHLBI.
• Phase II – Mid-year Meeting
  A two-day, in-person meeting in which mentees receive critical feedback on analysis, manuscript drafts, and conference abstracts to be presented at the PRIDE Annual Meeting.
• Phase III - PRIDE Annual Meeting
  A three-day, scientific conference in Bethesda Maryland where mentees will present results from their small research projects, meet NHLBI program officers, and network with mentees from other PRIDE sites.
• Phase IV – Summer Institute II
  A five-day, interactive program in Houston, Texas where mentees will participate intensive writing accountability groups, receive crtitical reviews of manuscripts, and finalize plans for future federal grant applications. 
• Phase V – The OHD PRIDE Alumni Network
  Professional development seminars focusing on topics including developments in obesity research, grants management, and promotion and tenure.

OHD PRIDE Participant Details:

Each year OHD PRIDE accepts eight (8) research-oriented individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

Eligibility:

• A transitioning postdoctoral fellow OR an early-career faculty member with a discernible interest in obesity research
• An individual from a group identified by the National Science Foundation as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences (See NIH Notice NOT OD-20-031)
• A citizen of the United States OR a permanent resident of the U.S.

We encourage applications from persons with appointments at or past education/training from HBCUs for consideration as part of the OHD PRIDE program annual competitive review process.

 OHD PRIDE Fellows Receive:

• Training in the interdisciplinary research skills needed to develop successful careers in obesity health disparities research.
• Mentoring from faculty who have extensive experience in obesity and obesity health disparities research.
• Support for research project development through critical review of early proposal drafts, mock study sections, and acquisition of pilot data and funds through the PRIDE small grants program.
• Networking opportunities to build professional relationships with a diverse group of researchers, scholars, and NIH program officials at scientific meeting, including an annual conference in Bethesda, Maryland hosted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the PRIDE program.
• Ongoing support through the OHD PRIDE Alumni Network that provides additional research support, online training sessions, and continuous monitoring of career objectives.

About PRIDE

The Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research, collectively referred to as PRIDE, were established to mentor early-career faculty and transitioning postdoctoral fellows whose backgrounds are currently underrepresented in biomedical research. PRIDE helps these young investigators gain the knowledge and tools they need to carry out independent and meaningful research and advance their careers. This initiative is funded by NHLBI.

Application Process

The application process for the OHD PRIDE program will be managed through the Coordination Core of the NHLBI-sponsored PRIDE programs.
Applicants should complete and submit a PRIDE pre-application form (and a full application, if invited) through the PRIDE Coordination Core website.
To submit a pre-application form, please visit PRIDE Coordination Core (wustl.edu) application page.

The target for application submission is March 31, 2022, with a rolling deadline until all positions are filled.