496 Transforming the pipeline towards independence in Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) through opportunities in research environments for underrepresented health professions faculty and students: The Title V Cooperative Project between University Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus and Universidad Central del Caribe (Title V Coop)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Diversity and interdisciplinarity are required for successful and transformational CTR. The Title V Coop developed a training curriculum for underrepresented in CTR health professions faculty and students, successfully integrating them in CTR teams. The curriculum exposed students to theory and then a practicum. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The curriculum and practicum included basic aspects of training in research including responsible conduct of research and the design of a proposal. The practicum focused on the organizing of a research team identified as a Clinical and Translational Mentoring Team (CTMT) and the implementation of the proposed project. Emphasis was placed on the importance of the mentor-mentee relationship, including peer mentoring. Participants were recruited from across all post-secondary institutions in Puerto Rico emphasizing the participation of faculty(UgF) and students (UgS) from undergraduate programs in health professions and the participation of graduate students GS) as peer mentors. Research mentors for each of the CTMTs were selected from faculty members that are established researchers. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Twenty-seven (27) proposals from the CTMTs were approved. A total of one hundred and eight (108) participants were or are still engaged in the proposed research. Thirty-four faculty (34) members participated as mentors and three (3) peer reviewed publications have been done. Health professions and science fields represented by the participants include: Nursing, radiology technician, audiologist, medical students, basic science in biology or chemistry, public health and industrial microbiology among others. We will showcase the diversity in research topics and teams composition and their accomplishments. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The Title V Coop has been successful in integrating individuals from academic programs underrepresented in research into interdisciplinary and interprofessional research teams, launching a model for diversity and interdisciplinarity and representation of health professionals at all levels of research.