Atlanta Network for Training In KUH Scientific Research (ATLANTIS)

The ATLANTIS Network Core is structured to optimize Kidney, Urology, and Hematology (KUH) focused research trainee success through technologically innovative and purposeful networking and interactions. A newly created digital platform named ATLANTIS-Connect will be designed as a centralized hub to bring together a

community of established, emerging, and future KUH health researchers from Emory, Georgia Tech, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the Atlanta metro region, including from the local Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Our goal is to establish an environment conducive to cultivating a scientific community that

is able to effectively network, communicate, and collaborate across a variety of scientific settings using modern communication tools. We will accomplish this goal through three specific aims. The first aim will develop and maintain a peer network providing an open forum for all trainees to interact, exchange ideas, and troubleshoot

scientific and professional issues. We will accomplish this through the deployment of the newly created digital platform designed to foster peer and near-peer communication and provide opportunities for effective peer, near- peer, and cascading mentorship experiences. The environment we will build will promote trainee-led production

of shared content and resources and will engage emerging KUH scientists in an innovative way designed to self- sustain the ATLANTIS peer network. In the second aim, we will promote inter-disciplinary collaborations and team science through existing events and newly planned activities by leveraging these existing and new

platforms to cultivate interest and increase visibility to KUH-mission focused research. The environment fostered through these actions will support networked research communities thus presenting unique opportunities to pursue novel research projects addressing KUH-mission areas using design-thinking approaches. For the third

aim, we will foster a robust research pipeline by developing community outreach programs to increase early exposure to biomedical careers in KUH disciplines to high school and undergraduate students and promote KUH-related research opportunities to trainees in undergraduate, graduate, medical school, and residency

programs. We will also invite emerging and aspiring scientists from diverse career pathways and backgrounds at partner institutions, including through existing partnerships with Atlanta-area HBCU, to engage in ATLANTIS- Connect thus providing them with support, near-peer mentoring, and career development resources. Trainees

in the ATLANTIS network will also serve as ambassadors to promote the merits and value of our networked learning communities to peers in their training programs. Through these aims and objectives, the proposed ATLANTIS Network Core will enhance engagement and training experience for KUH researchers across the

educational spectrum (high school to junior faculty). This will result in KUH trainees being better equipped to collaborate, publish, communicate, and succeed in research-intensive and research-related careers, which will be key to achieving success in growing this scientific workforce in generations to come.