K23 Award given to HIPRC Associate Member

K23 Award given to HIPRC Associate Member

By: Alexandra de Leon Date: October 14th, 2020

HIRPC associate member Molly Fuentes, MD, received a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) for her project titled, “A New Model of Rehabilitation to Meet the Cultural Needs of American Indian/Alaska Native Children with Disabilities”.

Fuentes’ preliminary studies found that AI/AN children with disabilities experienced barriers to participation in traditional cultural and community activities, but these barriers were not addressed during rehabilitation services. In this five-year study, Dr. Fuentes will focus on addressing barriers American Indian and Alaska Native Children with disabilities face during rehabilitation.

“The goal of my project will be to develop culturally appropriate rehabilitation services to help these children, families, and communities break down these barriers,” HIPRC associate member Fuentes says.

The study will have a community-based advisory committee which will work with the investigators to create a culturally-centered rehabilitation model. Once developed, the model will be pilot tested during rehabilitation services for AI/AN children with neurological impairments.

 

Award details:

  • Five years
  • K23 awards provide $100,000 per year of salary support (plus fringe benefits) and $25,000 per year for research activities.
  • K23 Mentors: Tumaini Coker (primary mentor), Fred Rivara, Bonnie Duran, and Michelle Garrison.

About K23:

The Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) is designed to provide “protected time” for clinically trained individuals to receive intensive, supervised research training in biomedical research. The award supports a period of supervised research and research career development to prepare the candidate to successfully obtain an NIH R01 or equivalent major research award by the end of the K award period.

For more on this award, visit NIH website