This proposal for a Research and Academic Enrichment Training Program (RACE TP) is designed to promote the entry of outstanding underrepresented and disadvantaged minority students into biomedical research careers. This innovative research and academic enrichment program represents a creative approach that provides an exposure to biomedical concepts, modern biomedical research areas, and an intensive """"""""hand-on"""""""" 10-week research experience. RACE TP matches individual students with research faculty mentors, and the program couples the daily research experience with an ongoing series of minicourses, workshops, roundtable discussions and weekly evening social events. An additional component of academic enrichment consisting of intensive study skills and GRE/MCAT prep courses is designed to increase the level of academic competitiveness in order to facilitate the trainees matriculation into graduate or medical school. The specific objectives are: 1) To provide an intensive, short-term research opportunity so that minority students will develop an interest in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematological, and sleep disorders research; 2) To provide mentoring for minority students at a critical time of career decision making in order to bolster the already short supply of minority biomedical investigators; 3) To encourage the development of participants investigative skills which may stimulate an increased level of interest and enthusiasm for a career in research; 4) To expose minority students to the medical school environment and provide these students with study skills and GRE/MCAT courses to enhance their prospects for matriculation and academic success; 5) To provide targeted, intensive mini courses for minority students in order to improve their basic biomedical concepts and skills; and 6) To recruit these talented students into the MD, PhD, or combined MD/PhD programs at UTMB or other universities. These objectives will be met by using our existing network of partnering institutions, pre-health advisors, faculty, alumni, and current students to help identify and recruit these students so that they can experience biomedical research first-hand in laboratories where outstanding faculty mentors bring the excitement of scientific inquiry to life. The subsequent entry of these students into professional careers will be tracked to determine outcomes and evaluate the success of the program.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
NRSA Short -Term Research Training (T35)
Project #
5T35HL076634-03
Application #
7032245
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-B (F1))
Program Officer
Commarato, Michael
Project Start
2004-05-01
Project End
2009-04-30
Budget Start
2006-05-01
Budget End
2007-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$85,633
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Medical Br Galveston
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771149
City
Galveston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77555