RESEARCH ANALYTICS CORE SPECIFIC AIMS

The Research Analytics Core (RAC) is a newly proposed core with an overarching mission of developing analytical applications of biomedical research capacities, cross-cutting research, and instrumental techniques. Analytical operations at three laboratory facilities at the University of Alaska would be augmented to grow capacity for data acquisition and training activities. This will enable acquisition of new analytical data that supports research projects across the AK INBRE 5 network and Regional Alliance of INBRE Network (RAIN) partners. The three facilities (and respective campus locations) are: Alaska Genomics Facility (UAF), Alaska Center for Chemical Analysis (UAA), and Alaska Stable Isotope Facility (UAF). AK INBRE 4 supported the development of each of these facilities in numerous ways, such as instrument acquisition, personnel support, service contracts, and funding for capacity-building projects that utilize each facility; AK INBRE 5 seeks to further utilize and expand upon these analytical laboratory resources. The RAC will prioritize the integration of research and undergraduate/graduate student experience, with accessibility to cutting-edge analytical instrumentation and access to trained support personnel. It will also provide in-network analytical support to the AK INBRE 5 network. These activities allow AK INBRE 5 to support the development of high-demand job skills for students in quantitative analytical methods and engage biomedical researchers in Alaska to establish interdisciplinary collaborations within their professional fields. To pursue the RAC mission, we propose three specific aims:

Specific Aim 1. Support analytical data acquisition and analysis through core laboratory facility function. The RAC will provide financial support to the three analytical laboratories for purposes of building and developing new biomedical research projects that involve analytical data collection. This includes funds that can be utilized for personnel time, instrument service packages, and commodities/consumables associated with the respective analyses.

Specific Aim 2. Increase the opportunities for training in the focus areas of each laboratory facility. The RAC will develop a series of training modules, workshops, and certificate programs of study to ensure students and investigators alike are aware of the utility of the analytical data they collect. 

Specific Aim 3. Develop and expand upon undergraduate research mentorship involving acquisition of analytical data. Special opportunities will be provided for undergraduate students to gain access and involvement in analytical data collection at each of the supported laboratories. A supplemental technology access grant opportunity will be offered by RAC with the assistance of the administrative core. At the same time, opportunities are not exclusive to this program and are available to undergraduate students in-network who are at the early stages of their research projects.

The proposed core will broadly impact and significantly advance research at AK INBRE 5 network partners, without duplicating services that already exist at the University of Alaska, utilizing and augmenting existing resources to accomplish the goals of proposed research. Training events will provide both knowledge on the respective instrumental techniques and segue into user-operator accessibility for students and researchers. These training events will help prepare students for careers and/or graduate programs in biomedical research fields, and it will help investigators in the AK INBRE 5 network better compete for NIH and other independent awards. In each of these facilities, accessibility of instrumentation and expert staff consultation will remain a high priority for users, as this has been one of the most successful aspects of these laboratories. The RAC will allow each of these facilities to grow, expand, and enhance the successful aspects in new ways, including the development of new resources to become trained on the equipment and understand the operational capacity inherent with new cutting-edge technologies, many of which were supported by prior funding from AK INBRE. Marketing of the RAC will occur through presentations at the annual research conference, as well as regional INBRE meetings such as the Regional Alliance of INBRE Networks (RAIN), demonstrating the new in-network capacities available to others from outside of Alaska.