The University of Kentucky Achieving Success in Community-Engaged research to elimiNate Disparities (UK ASCEND) program is driven by one overarching objective-- to attain success in community-engaged health equity research among diverse early-stage investigators (ESIs) through a comprehensive research training program, Research Scholars Program (RSP), embedded within rich and collaborative Research Priority Areas (RPA); a rigorous pilot project program; and bi-directional engagement with community stakeholders. 

Informed by the NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework and the Institutional Model for Faculty Diversity frameworks, UK ASCEND takes a comprehensive and inclusive orientation to mitigating the most pernicious diseases and health conditions by fostering authentic exchanges among community stakeholders, researchers, providers, and policymakers. Ultimately, these collaborations will support contextually appropriate and grounded research capable of impactful and sustained community and system-level changes to achieve health equity.  Led by three MPIs, Advisory Boards, and core Co-Directors with complementing expertise and experience, the P50 is scaffolded by a well-resourced and committed university structure and leadership, centered within a strong community-engaged theoretical orientation, and infused with collaborative and productive partnerships. 

To achieve our objective, UK ASCEND proposes the following aims: (1) Provide bold and effective scientific leadership and governance, fiscal and regulatory management, communication and dissemination strategies, and tracking and evaluation to assess key outcomes of stellar community-engaged health equity research training and success; (2) Foster community-engaged health equity research success among diverse ESIs by immersing them into a productive research career advancement environment, including strong community engagement, the Research Scholars Program (RSP), and a pilot project program, supported by institutional strengths including six RPAs; (3) Build, sustain, and enrich community-research partnerships through bi-directional engagement and dissemination and translation of research findings. 

UK’s momentum of research success and commitment to a more inclusive research workforce has begun to transform our environment and has the potential to erode longstanding health and social inequities. As a testable and exportable model, UK ASCEND has the capacity to transform health through the inclusive talent development essential for the most impactful scientific discovery.