The Virginia Commonwealth University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (VCU-PREP) will prepare underrepresented students for highly competitive doctoral programs in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, through specific aims and measurable objectives.
In Aim 1, 5 qualified applicants (with an undergraduate GPA greater than 3.0) will be recruited annually for each of 7 positions in VCU-PREP. Acceptable candidates will be academically competent, but may lack the research preparation and/or rigorous academic coursework for admission to the nation's most competitive PhD programs. VCU-PREP candidates will be recruited through our website and through interactions with faculty at partner Minority Serving Institutions, where academically qualified students are less likely to have extensive research experience. Additionally, recruitment will be achieved from the applicant pools of VCU PhD programs. These direct outreach activities will be complemented by recruitment through the dissemination of program information at national meetings, such as the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS).
In Aim 2, VCU-PREP Scholars will participate in an intensive, positive mentored research experience. Each VCU- PREP Scholar will be matched with a highly qualified VCU faculty mentor, based on the Scholar's research interests. Selection of VCU-PREP Mentors is based on their peer-reviewed external funding and publication records, and an excellent record of training and mentoring success. Expected outcomes for VCU-PREP Scholars include presentations at VCU research symposia and national scientific meetings, with a published manuscript as an ultimate goal.
In Aim 3, VCU-PREP Scholars will be provided with an individualized program for academic enhancement. They will have one-on-one training in oral communication and scientific writing. VCU-PREP students will have formal instruction in GRE test-taking, and participate in workshops on Quantitative Skills, Graduate School Admission, and Career/Professional Development. Students will participate in an interactive journal club to develop Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills. VCU-PREP Scholars will take courses to prepare them for graduate school, selected by the Scholar, Program Directors, and Research Mentor, and will have training in the responsible conduct of research.
In Aim 4, a rigorous evaluation and tracking system will be implemented for longitudinal follow-up of VCU-PREP Scholars and VCU URM doctoral students. We expect VCU PREP training to result in the transition of 75% of scholars to highly competitive doctoral programs, and at least 80% persistence to degree.

Public Health Relevance

Biomedical research drives the future of medicine, as new discoveries provide understanding of and treatments for disease. There are clear disparities in the number of underrepresented individuals who become biomedical researchers. The Virginia Commonwealth University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (VCU-PREP) will prepare underrepresented minority scholars for highly competitive doctoral programs in the biomedical sciences, providing a pipeline for increased numbers of underrepresented researchers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
5R25GM089614-06
Application #
8926450
Study Section
Training and Workforce Development Subcommittee - D (TWD)
Program Officer
Bender, Michael T
Project Start
2010-08-15
Project End
2019-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
105300446
City
Richmond
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23298
Radcliff, Zach; Weaver, Patrick; Chen, Rusan et al. (2018) The Role of Authoritative Parenting in Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Management. J Pediatr Psychol 43:185-194
Martin, Rebecca K; Damle, Sheela R; Valentine, Yolander A et al. (2018) B1 Cell IgE Impedes Mast Cell-Mediated Enhancement of Parasite Expulsion through B2 IgE Blockade. Cell Rep 22:1824-1834
Pagare, Piyusha P; Ghatge, Mohini S; Musayev, Faik N et al. (2018) Rational design of pyridyl derivatives of vanillin for the treatment of sickle cell disease. Bioorg Med Chem 26:2530-2538
Montgomery, Joshua; Lu, Juan; Ratliff, Scott et al. (2017) Food Insecurity and Depression Among Adults With Diabetes: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Diabetes Educ 43:260-271
Beckta, Jason M; Dever, Seth M; Gnawali, Nisha et al. (2015) Mutation of the BRCA1 SQ-cluster results in aberrant mitosis, reduced homologous recombination, and a compensatory increase in non-homologous end joining. Oncotarget 6:27674-87
Caccavale, Laura J; Weaver, Patrick; Chen, Rusan et al. (2015) Family Density and SES Related to Diabetes Management and Glycemic Control in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes. J Pediatr Psychol 40:500-8
Allen-Daniels, Matthew Josiah; Serrano, Myrna G; Pflugner, Lindsey P et al. (2015) Identification of a gene in Mycoplasma hominis associated with preterm birth and microbial burden in intraamniotic infection. Am J Obstet Gynecol 212:779.e1-779.e13
Rahmani, Mohamed; Aust, Mandy Mayo; Benson, Elisa C et al. (2014) PI3K/mTOR inhibition markedly potentiates HDAC inhibitor activity in NHL cells through BIM- and MCL-1-dependent mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. Clin Cancer Res 20:4849-60
White, Simone; Acierno, Ron; Ruggiero, Kenneth J et al. (2013) Association of CRHR1 variants and posttraumatic stress symptoms in hurricane exposed adults. J Anxiety Disord 27:678-83
Engeda, J; Mezuk, B; Ratliff, S et al. (2013) Association between duration and quality of sleep and the risk of pre-diabetes: evidence from NHANES. Diabet Med 30:676-80

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications