Statement_of_Work.pdf

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Statement of Work

Project Title: The Cobb Scholars Initiative to enhance and strengthen the pipeline for the training of diverse biomedical professionals

Introduction and Background:

The Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD) leads and oversees NIH efforts to improve biomedical research and the Nation’s health through a more diverse scientific workforce.

Workforce diversity and inclusion is imperative to optimize the strength of the NIH research enterprise. Therefore, the purpose of the office of Scientific Workforce Diversity is to develop and implement initiatives enhancing diversity and promoting equity throughout the biomedical research workforce, including the extramural and intramural components of the NIH.

In 2004, the National Medical Association (NMA), a leading force for parity in medicine, increasing access to treatment and care for African Americans, and the promotion of optimal health, launched the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute (Cobb Institute) to examine underlying causes of existing disparities and offer strategies informed by research and policy analysis. The Cobb Institute was named after the late William Montague Cobb M.D., Ph.D., SC.D., a distinguished Physician, Anthropologist, and Professor of Medicine and Anatomy at Howard University. Thus, it is the intention of the Cobb Institute to change the landscape of population through pioneering frameworks and models that will lead to progressive solutions to eliminating health disparities.

In recent years, there has become an urgent and compelling need to develop a program for early career scientists and faculty, who have an interest in participating with the scientific community and who could benefit from the Cobb Senior Fellows. COSWD/NIH would like to seek the services of a contractor, to develop the Cobb Scholars Initiative, which will provide opportunities for graduate fellows, clinical residents and fellows and young faculty and scientist to collaborate with others in the field. A qualified contractor uniquely positioned to successfully run the Cobb Scholars Initiative and its mentoring program for young scientists should be tightly connected with key diverse organizations, like the Student National Medical Association, the National Medical Association Post- Graduate Section, and the NMA-NIH Research Fellows to name a few. These institutions are already committed to work with the Cobb Institute to make this initiative a success.

An important goal of the Cobb Institute is to establish a sustainable and meaningful group of leaders in the field of minority health and health disparities by enhancing the number and quality of minority investigators and provide career pathways for those that may not have the opportunity to grow and contribute to the community. This collaboration between COSWD/NIH and NMA – Cobb Institute will help support this mission to enhance the diversity of the scientific and biomedical workforce and build a bridge between the institutions.

The Cobb Scholars will be an important resource to the NIH as it fulfills its mandate to develop a diverse group of scientists for our nation’s workforce. In particular the Cobb Scholars will be a networking resource for the NIH Intramural program. It is expected that scientists will be recruited through the Cobb Scholars to the intramural summer research programs, and recruited to scientist and principal investigator positions at the NIH. In future years it is hoped that joint meetings between Cobb Scholars and NIH would occur to further the ability of scholars to network with NIH.

Scope of Work Contractor shall be responsible for

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Planning and implementing the Cobb Scholars Initiative Sharing the Cobb Scholars database with COSWD/NIH for recruitment and networking opportunities Developing a biannual e-newsletter for Cobb Scholars with opportunities for information from NIH to be included.

Developing an end of year summary report (1st report by July 31, 2017)

Task 1: Cobb Scholars

Task 1.1 The Cobb Scholars Initiative shall target the trainee/fellows level that will have the most impact for enhancing the diversity, the transition from Postdoctoral/Clinical Fellow through to the first independent career position. The Criteria selection of the Cobb Scholars shall include but not be limited to:

1. Post-Doctoral fellows in multiple disciplines

2. Within the first 15 years of completion of the terminal degree of study

3. Early Career researchers and faculty

4. Interest in becoming a part of a network of young research scholars

Task 1.2 The Cobb Institute shall share with COSWD/NIH their Cobb Scholars database for scientific outreach/recruitment and networking opportunities.

Task 1.3 The Cobb Institute will develop programs to enhance the scientific achievements of the participants and will include but not limited to the following:

1. Joint membership of the Cobb Scholars and the NMA at appropriate level

2. Access to the Cobb Senior Fellows

3. Access to seasoned faculty and research specialists to enhance grant preparation and submission skills

4. Participation in a planned summer workshop for young researchers on academic and scientific development

5. Networking Newsletter providing information on grants and other academic opportunities

6. Admission to W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute Mid-Winter meeting, Cobb/NMA ticketed sessions at National Medical Association Meeting, and receptions/events at national meetings

Period of Performance:

September 29, 2016 to September 28, 2017.

Deliverables:

1. Access to the Cobb Scholars database

2. Biannual Newsletter where NIH and the Intramural Research Program can contribute with announcements and general opportunities.

3. Year-end summary report (by July 31, 2017). Preliminary outcomes will be reported in the summary to provide information on the Cobb Scholars Initiative with details on how the Cobb Scholars Initiative enhanced the scientific achievements for the participants. The details may include:

a. Numbers of Cobb Scholars and their demographics

b. List/number of scientific publications of Cobb Scholars

c. Leadership and community experience

d. Involvement in Cobb/NMA activities