The mission of the Research Education and Training Core (RETC) is to develop the next generation of health disparities researchers and scholars through research training and education by supporting the overall mission of the Center, which is to contribute to the reduction and ultimate elimination of health disparities among the ethnic minority populations of the Southwest Border: Mexican-Americans, American Indians, African Americans, and Asian Americans. The training of early career faculty and students will support knowledge development to better understand the social, psychological, and biological determinants of health disparities and the intersections of cultural processes such as immigration and acculturation in affecting health disparities. The focus on cultural processes involves the analysis of the influences imposed by two cultures: the ethnic culture of origin and the mainstream culture, as these can present strengths and also barriers to the achievement of positive health status and the conduct of positive health behaviors. The effects of specific cultural strengths in promoting resilience and prosocial survival skills will be examined and clarified by promoting cultural competence and cultural proficiency in the conceptualization and skills of early career faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students. We propose to deliver distinct interconnected education/ training programs to early career faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students. The senior faculty of the Center will participate as Senior Mentors in guiding this research education and training. The director of RETC will direct, coordinate, and facilitate this effort.