The overall goal of this competitive continuation proposal for the SDSU MARC-U*STAR is to continue to offer a strong program of graduate school preparation that includes hands on research experiences, mentoring, test-taking and writing skills improvement, financial support, and a strong academic curriculum. We propose to build upon the success of our program by working collaboratively with other student training programs at SDSU in developing a unified student database, implementing measurable goals and objectives to compare student and program outcomes against ambitious but attainable standards. By identifying new strategies to increase the numbers of applicants to the MARC program and taking advantage of opportunities to partner with programs that have similar or synergistic objectives, we expect the SDSU MARC program will continue to further the goal of increasing the numbers of underrepresented scientists who are competitively trained to pursue careers in biomedical or behavioral research. SDSU MARC supports 12 honors undergraduate students (GPA>3.0) per year. The program embraces the wide spectrum of biomedical research opportunities emphasized by the NIH and students are selected from those majoring in biology, chemistry, math and computer sciences and psychology. Currently 319 junior and senior level students met these criteria. The fellowship program is strongly research oriented, providing intramural and extramural research opportunities. MARC scholars are required to participate in research with faculty who will work closely with the trainees to encourage and facilitate their ability to pursue doctoral training. The curriculum is enhanced by courses designed to improve writing skills, research presentation skills, and GRE performance and to help in the graduate schools and fellowship application process. Students are required to complete a course on the Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research and a Biomedical Research colloquium. The college is well equipped to conduct research and students have access to modern research laboratories, computer facilities, library facilities, animal care facilities. Since 1990, 75 students have been selected as MARC Scholars, 12 are current scholars, 4 are continuing students and 7 dropped out of the program before completion. Of the 52 students who have completed the MARC training program and have graduated from SDSU: 23 (44.2%) are enrolled in or have completed a Ph.D. program, 13 (25%) are enrolled in or completed a master's program, and 6 (11.5%) are enrolled in or completed an MD degree. Our students have presented 174 research papers or posters before professional audiences and are authors on 28 peer-reviewed publications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
MARC Undergraduate NRSA Institutional Grants (T34)
Project #
2T34GM008303-16
Application #
6748761
Study Section
Minority Programs Review Committee (MPRC)
Program Officer
Singh, Shiva P
Project Start
1989-06-01
Project End
2009-05-31
Budget Start
2004-06-10
Budget End
2005-05-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$222,109
Indirect Cost
Name
San Diego State University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073371346
City
San Diego
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92182
Affan, Rifqi O; Huang, Siyuan; Cruz, Stephen M et al. (2018) High-intensity binge drinking is associated with alterations in spontaneous neural oscillations in young adults. Alcohol 70:51-60
Avellaneda Matteo, Diego; Grunseth, Adam J; Gonzalez, Eric R et al. (2017) Molecular mechanisms of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations identified in tumors: The role of size and hydrophobicity at residue 132 on catalytic efficiency. J Biol Chem 292:7971-7983
Graves, Lisa V; Moreno, Charles C; Seewald, Michelle et al. (2017) Effects of Age and Gender on Recall and Recognition Discriminability. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 32:972-979
Basa, Ranor C B; Davies, Vince; Li, Xiaoxiao et al. (2016) Decreased Anti-Tumor Cytotoxic Immunity among Microsatellite-Stable Colon Cancers from African Americans. PLoS One 11:e0156660
Mu, Rong; Kim, Brandon J; Paco, Czarinah et al. (2014) Identification of a group B streptococcal fibronectin binding protein, SfbA, that contributes to invasion of brain endothelium and development of meningitis. Infect Immun 82:2276-86
Banerjee, Anirban; Thamphiwatana, Soracha; Carmona, Ellese M et al. (2014) Deficiency of the myeloid differentiation primary response molecule MyD88 leads to an early and rapid development of Helicobacter-induced gastric malignancy. Infect Immun 82:356-63
Cowles, Martis W; Omuro, Kerilyn C; Stanley, Brianna N et al. (2014) COE loss-of-function analysis reveals a genetic program underlying maintenance and regeneration of the nervous system in planarians. PLoS Genet 10:e1004746
Murray, Kate E; Barbour, Lynda; Morlett, Alejandra et al. (2014) Latinos and political advocacy for cancer control in a United States-Mexico border community. Hisp Health Care Int 12:198-206
Melkani, Girish C; Trujillo, Adriana S; Ramos, Raul et al. (2013) Huntington's disease induced cardiac amyloidosis is reversed by modulating protein folding and oxidative stress pathways in the Drosophila heart. PLoS Genet 9:e1004024
Konstandin, Mathias H; Völkers, Mirko; Collins, Brett et al. (2013) Fibronectin contributes to pathological cardiac hypertrophy but not physiological growth. Basic Res Cardiol 108:375

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