This is a new application for the Tulane StARR Program with a long-term goal to increase the number and diversity of highly trained, independent, interdisciplinary board-certified physician scientists engaging in heart, lung, and blood diseases research. The program focuses on heart, lung, and blood diseases because of the impacts of these diseases on human health, the existing knowledge gaps for these diseases across the re- search spectrum, and the strength of these areas of focus at Tulane. Key components of our successful men- tored research and career development StARR program include: 1) Boot Camps and didactics tailored to specific Scholar needs; 2) individualized career development training; 3) StARR Physician Scientists seminar series; 4) Work-in-Progress sessions; 5) required grant writing and project management workshops; 6) men- tored interdisciplinary research; 7) responsible conduct in research training; 8) institutional resources; and 9) a planned transition for StARR Scholars to fellowship training, K38, K12, K-like programs, and Centers of Bio- medical Research Excellence (COBRE). The innovative approach involves tailoring the program to Scholars needs using self-efficacy assessment and individual development plans (IDP), and using a network mentoring model for each Scholar Oversight Committee (SOC) which will include expertise in both basic and clinical sci- ence and clinical care, as well as participation by the relevant Residency Program Director to ensure appropri- ate integration of clinical and research rotations. Scholars are immediately exposed to research and are guided to establish a scholarly track record early, and gain presentation and organization skills by active participation in the Health Sciences Research days, national scientific meetings, and the annual NIH StARR meeting. The Scholars will learn cutting-edge research methods and skills from Bench (cellular, molecular, and genetics), to Bedside (clinical research and clinical trials) to Population (epidemiology, prevention, and implementation research) and conduct their own research projects in established laboratories/research groups led by 32 out- standing NIH-funded preceptors in a mentored, interdisciplinary environment that addresses NHLBI priorities. Scholars' interdisciplinary research will focus on heart, lung, and blood diseases and address overarching themes (lifespan and interdisciplinary research). With strong institutional support from Tulane and approval of the training by the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Pediatrics, we propose to train 6 resident StARR Scholars (3 medicine residents and 3 pediatric residents; 50% women and 25% URM) for 18 months (in 6-month Research Blocks in PGY 2, PGY3, and PGY4 with 80% effort dedicated to research) over the 4-year residency program while maintaining Continuity Clinics. Ongoing and comprehensive evaluation will assess and guide improvements to the StARR Program's effectiveness in 1) bridging research training and re- search independence; 2) ensuring board eligibility for medicine and pediatrics residents; and 3) increasing the number and diversity of physician scientists translating science to improve human health across the lifespan.
Program Narrative There is a pressing need for a diverse workforce of physician scientists who have the skillsets to conduct rigorous interdisciplinary scientific research and develop novel approaches for improving diagnosis and treatment of human disease. To this end, the Tulane StARR program will provide a mentored research and career development program for medicine and pediatric residents to increase the number and diversity of highly trained physician scientists in heart, lung, and blood diseases research. The program engages outstanding preceptors with an established track record of mentoring and conducting highly meritorious research, and will foster the next generation of physician scientists able to make discoveries and translate discoveries into improved human health.
