A Research Foundation With a Mission

RCMI Mission, Goals, and Values

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The Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI)'s primary mission at the University of Houston (UH) is to strategically enhance UH's research infrastructure. We accelerate scientists' capacity to conduct cutting-edge research that informs novel prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and intervention strategies that mitigate a broad range of disparities in addictions and cancer prevention research. Through generating equitable and sustainable partnerships through a broad-based community coalition framework that supports public health initiatives, implementation, and outreach activities, we address a public health crisis through a multilevel platform embedded in the communities served.

The primary goals of the RCMI at UH are to:

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1. Nurture and accelerate NIH funding portfolios for scientists underrepresented in the health sciences generally, and underrepresented minorities (URM);

2. Provide evidence-based group mentoring and career development opportunities for URM postdocs and assistant professors; and

3. Eliminate the translational gap by rapidly ushering scientific breakthroughs into culturally-informed dissemination products (e.g., health education materials, workshops) and community-embedded interventions (e.g., health screenings, patient navigation, in-service training of paraprofessionals, prevention strategies, cost-effective treatments).

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Translating Innovative Science into Health Services that Save Lives and Reduce Disparities,

UH has committed financial support, personnel, partnerships, physical buildings, and faculty to make a collective impact on the health disparities affecting our neighboring communities. This is exemplified in three high-profile initiatives:

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1. UH Health;

2. UH Third Ward Initiative; and

3. Integrative Healthcare Services for underserved communities.

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Institutional support and investments to make a measurable and sustainable impact on our local Black and Latinx communities are evident.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE