The Training Core of the Center has two specific aims. The first aim is to develop a cadre of graduate student researchers at FIU conducting behavioral research on the nature and extent of the HIV/AIDS and substance abuse epidemic among the Latino population. The second aim is to support the career development of junior faculty at FIU conducting behavioral research on the nature and extent of the HIV/AIDS and substance abuse epidemic among the Latino population.

The principal activity of the Training Core is mentoring Ph.D. student and faculty participants in the development of research grant applications for submission to various NIH institutes. An important component of the training mechanism for students is the grant-writing seminar course IHS 6937 called Producing an Investigator Initiated NIH Grant Applications. Participants in the course are assigned a mentor who works with the trainee one-on-one. Students present their research plans at weekly discussion group meetings where they receive analysis and feedback on their proposals as they are developed. Each component of the research proposal is reviewed and critiqued by grant-writing seminar leaders, and the student’s individual faculty mentor.

The Training Core of the Center also organizes conferences and brown-bag presentations on HIV/AIDS and substance abuse.

Some accomplishments of the Training Core of the Center include:

• To date, 17 students and 9 faculty trainees have participated in the Center’s training program. Of the 17 students, 12 were minorities (6 Latinos), and of the 9 faculty trainees, 6 were minorities (2 Latinos).
• Since 2003, doctoral student trainees of the Center have published 5 scientific articles and made 55 conference presentations.
• Three doctoral student trainees of the Center received F31 Awards (Predoctoral Fellowship Awards For Minority Students) from the NIH:
  • Rafie, Carlin. F31DA020371. Mechanisms of Action of Zinc on Immune Parameters in HIV: The relationship of Activated Thymulin of an HIV+ Drug Using Cohort with CD4+ Cell Count and Cd4+/Cd8+ ratio. Priority Score: 168. Funded by NIDA September 2006.
  • Engle, Bretton. F31DA020233. Commitment Language as a Predictor of Substance Use Outcomes in Adolescent Group Treatment. Priority Score: 164. Funded by NIDA September 2006.
  • Pinto, Elsa. F31DA020205. Dietary patterns and substance abuse among Latino women. Priority Score: 158. Funded by NIDA September 2006.
• Dr. Christopher Rice, a faculty trainee of the Center, received an R21 award from the NIAAA entitled, Predicting the Trajectories of Abstinence-Drinking Dyads, for the period of July 2005 – June 2007 ($280,062).
• Dr. David Cohen, a faculty trainee of the Center, received funding from the Attorney General Consumer & Prescriber Grant Program for undertaking a research project called Critical Skills Curriculum on Psychotropic Medications for Social Workers, for the period of January 2007 – December 2008 ($372,541).