The STAR Program completed its fifth year of funding in 2014 and we are resubmitting the grant for consideration. The Program has been an integral contributor in effectively training underrepresented minority, first generation, economically disadvantaged, and disabled students to pursue health, biomedical, and biobehavioral research pathways. The long-term objective of the Program's next five years is to expand its initiatives to increase from 71% to 75% the number of participants, entering and completing biomedical and behavioral majors and eventually matriculating into professional/graduate programs. To fulfill this objective, the UW STAR Program team proposes to bring together an expanded set of activities and a collaborative team of faculty and staff to implement its initiative. While continung to strengthen students' academic and technical skills, the Program will also focus on helping participants understand the role of heart, lung, and blood-related research and the subsequent impact of this research in addressing health disparities in underrepresented communities.

Public Health Relevance

UW STAR PROGRAM ? PROJECT NARRATIVE (RESUBMISSION) The 2015 ? 2020 STAR Program presents a novel approach to research training for undergraduates with the intent of expanding the numbers of students from underrepresented minority (URM) first generation, economically disadvantaged backgrounds; and students with disabilities, participating in and excited about health, biomedical, and behavioral research. The expressed purpose is to interest individuals from these populations to pursue graduate and professional educational pathways (i.e., MD, MD/PhD, PhD, and Masters degree tracks). Subsequently, this will lead to the diversification of methodologies applied to researching, diagnosing, treating and eventually eradicating health disparities in underserved communities in the U.S. and globally.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
5R25HL103180-08
Application #
9547915
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1)
Program Officer
Meadows, Tawanna
Project Start
2010-06-01
Project End
2021-08-31
Budget Start
2018-09-01
Budget End
2019-08-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Levin-Edens, Emily; Soge, Olusegun O; No, David et al. (2012) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Northwest marine and freshwater recreational beaches. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 79:412-20