Texas A&M College of Medicine Developing and Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers (DRUMR) Summer Research Program Texas ranks 2nd behind California in the percentage of its minority population (55%) as well as in the size of its Hispanic population (11.7 million as of 2017). Texas is also 2nd in terms of the size of its rural area, only behind Alaska. Since NIDDK-related diseases affect minorities and rural populations at a significantly greater rate, it is not surprising that Texas sits near the top for deaths (CDC). One important step to rectify these disparities involves an increase in minority representation of Texas? biomedical research workforce, such that it more adequately reflects the state?s population diversity. This program will provide research opportunities to the best minority undergraduate students of the Texas A&M University System. The Texas A&M University System is a statewide network of 11 university campuses with an enrollment of over 152,000 students. Aside from the flagship campus located in College Station, the majority of students at the other 10 campuses are mainly Hispanic, Black, disadvantaged, and/or underprivileged students from mostly rural and remote areas of Texas. The Texas A&M?s College of Medicine (TAMCOM) Developing and Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers (DRUMR) Summer Research Program (SRP) will offer disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students the opportunity to work with TAMCOM faculty in Bryan/College Station on research projects in NIDDK-related biomedical research areas. This 10-week program will also feature the nationally recognized Southwest Rural Health Research Center, 1 of only 7 in the country, and the A&M Rural and Community Health Institute. The 50 total students, 1 from each of the 10 sister schools each year for 5 years, will be selected by their institution based on eligibility, academics, and career goals, and then matched with College of Medicine faculty mentors in Bryan/College Station based on their NIDDK-related area of research interest. TAMCOM has been operating a SRP for 12 years and on average about 30% of participants each year are underrepresented minorities or disadvantaged. Over this time, 78% of participants enter graduate and/or medical school, which is higher than the 54% national average for other SRPs (National Science Foundation). The overall objective of the TAMCOM DRUMR SRP is to prepare disadvantaged and underrepresented Texas A&M University System students for careers in NIDDK-related biomedical research. The TAMCOM DRUMR SRP has 3 aims: (1) Provide integrative training and mentoring to participants in NIDDK-related biomedical research, (2) Provide laboratory skills to prepare participants for a career in biomedical research, and (3) Develop a network of students (?DRUMRs?) that will increase the diversity of the biomedical research workforce.
/RELEVANCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH The proposed program (Developing and Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers) will provide 10 disadvantaged and underrepresented minority Texas A&M University System students each year the opportunity to participate in the Texas A&M College of Medicine's Summer Research Program (SRP). We have operated a very competitive and highly successful SRP for the past 12 years and our 10-week program offers various seminars on biomedical research as well as training in the responsible conduct of research while providing the 50 ?DRUMRs? the opportunity to choose from a number of invested mentors. Increasing the number of and training the next generation of disadvantaged and underrepresented minority researchers in NIDDK-related biomedical research areas is critical to ensure future discoveries that will improve the health and well-being of millions of Americans.
