Individuals from diverse backgrounds are under-represented in biomedical and behavioral sciences. While the underpinnings of this are complex, the problem has been perpetuated in no small part due to major limitations in the """"""""pipeline"""""""" of trainees from diverse backgrounds. As a reflection of our commitment to this issue, the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine has been running an NHLBI-funded T35 program for under-represented minority students for the past five years. We wish to build on this foundation, and sustain this initiative, through the current R25 mechanism. Our program was developed on the premise that the principal barrier to diversity in science is not a lack of talent, but rather a lack of opportunity. The program was built around an intensive research experience with an individual mentor, complemented by activities important to building communication and networking skills, such as making presentations in journal club or at a closing poster session, as well as seminars that describe issues relevant to career-building in biomedical sciences. To date we have trained 85 students in our program. Of the 63 students in our program eligible for medical or graduate school, 42 (67%) have been accepted. In addition, 2 students were accepted into post-baccalaureate programs and 5 are working full time in research labs. In pursuing funding through this R25 program, we have three principal goals. The first is to provide a high quality scientific experience to students of diverse backgrounds as a means of exposing them to, and persuading them of, the excitement of careers in biomedical sciences. The second goal is to provide students exposure to activities that will enhance their chances for success in biomedical careers, such as organizing material for presentations and seminars on the mentee-mentor relationship. Finally we hope to facilitate development of a network for contacts and information that will help these individuals surmount historical issues of access that have limited entry and success. Through our participation in the prior T25 program, we have demonstrated our commitment to enhancing diversity in the biomedical sciences. We look forward to extending this commitment through the current R25 mechanism.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
5R25HL084762-03
Application #
7532792
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-B (F1))
Program Officer
Rothgeb, Ann E
Project Start
2006-05-01
Project End
2011-11-30
Budget Start
2008-12-01
Budget End
2009-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$113,202
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Suresh, Karthik; Servinsky, Laura; Jiang, Haiyang et al. (2018) Reactive oxygen species induced Ca2+ influx via TRPV4 and microvascular endothelial dysfunction in the SU5416/hypoxia model of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 314:L893-L907
Suresh, Karthik; Servinsky, Laura; Reyes, Jose et al. (2017) CD36 mediates H2O2-induced calcium influx in lung microvascular endothelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 312:L143-L153
Hager, David N; Chandrashekar, Pranav; Bradsher 3rd, Robert W et al. (2017) Intermediate care to intensive care triage: A quality improvement project to reduce mortality. J Crit Care 42:282-288
Walker, Jasmine; Undem, Clark; Yun, Xin et al. (2016) Role of Rho kinase and Na+/H+ exchange in hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. Physiol Rep 4:
Kolb, Todd M; Peabody, Jacelyn; Baddoura, Philip et al. (2015) Right Ventricular Angiogenesis is an Early Adaptive Response to Chronic Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension. Microcirculation 22:724-36
Abud, Edsel M; Maylor, Julie; Undem, Clark et al. (2012) Digoxin inhibits development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:1239-44