ABSTRACT The Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine (KIPM) fosters medical advancements by facilitating the next generation of basic and physician-scientists, shaping their research ideas with a precision medicine focus, and making them highly competitive for national peer-reviewed funding. The KIPM Phase 2 COBRE will continue our successful efforts to train the next generation of translational research leaders in areas such as education, research, and healthcare. The KIPM has become a major pillar of the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) and region by raising awareness and advancing precision medicine efforts to transform healthcare for patients suffering from various disease states. To continue our mission, we propose the following Specific Aims: 1. Recruit and mentor outstanding junior investigators in diverse research disciplines focused on advancing precision medicine to improve patient outcomes. In a rigorous pre-selection process, four promising junior investigators, i.e., Research Project Leaders (RPLs), were selected from over a dozen applicants all of which had a research theme directly related to precision medicine. Decisions were based on the content of research proposals and training potential that were evaluated by our leadership team, including the three PIs of the proposed COBRE and current External Advisory Committee members. Each applicant has identified at least two internal and one external mentor with expertise related to their area of study. All Phase 2 COBRE RPL candidates contributed to discussions regarding infrastructure necessary to enhance their projects via one-on-one meetings with the PIs and Research Core leaders to help shape infrastructure needs to enhance their research capacity. 2. Evolve the established organizational structure and institutional support to realize a cohesive and sustainable program in precision medicine at KUMC. The administrative structure for the KIPM Phase 2 COBRE will be facilitated by a multi-PI leadership of 3 seasoned researchers with complementary expertise and the additional expertise afforded by a newly formed Advisory Committee. Continued institutional support of over $1M annually, including expanded pilot grant funding, will help sustain and advance the KIPM’s mission to improve patient outcomes by training physicians/scientists in precision medicine. 3. Enhance basic and translational research with a precision medicine theme through a strong research core infrastructure. Three research cores, i.e., Biomedical Engineering (BME), Biobanking and Biomarker Validation (BBV), and Quantitative ‘OmiCs’ (QOC) Cores, will support RPLs and the Pilot Projects Program (PPP) as well as serve the extended research community in Kansas and beyond. Unique to the KIPM is patient engagement through our established Patient and Community Engagement (PACE) resource, which provides ‘just-in-time’ mentorship to COBRE RPLs and a broad range of researchers, emphasizing how to partner and communicate key features of precision medicine to patients and community members from diverse backgrounds. Together the KIPM Phase 2 COBRE will “advance education and support discoveries that will transform healthcare in our region and beyond.”

RELEVANCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH Precision medicine holds promise for enhancing best care options at the patient level, thereby closing disparity gaps (caused by inefficient or non-tailored, “one size fits all” therapies) leading to immediate and meaningful impact on population health. The Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine through Phase 2 COBRE funding will provide promising junior investigators with a focused mentoring experience that will help them mature into independently-funded investigators who will contribute to the advancement and clinical realization of precision medicine.