# Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

> **NIH NIH T34** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY · 2020 · $259,346

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
A diverse biomedical science research workforce is vital to the nation in remaining globally
competitive in scientific discovery and innovation. One of the leaky pipelines in the pathway to
research science careers is the matriculation of students at community college (CC) institutions
and subsequently to baccalaureate programs at four-year institutions. Thus, this proposal aims
to develop a program, which will support this pipeline between the University of Texas Rio
Grande Valley and our partnering CCs, Texas Southmost College (TSC) and South Texas
College (STC). These three institutions are in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of South Texas,
which bears the disproportionate burden of health disparities such as obesity, diabetes and
mental health issues which are exacerbated by poverty and illiteracy and are underserved in
healthcare. These academic institutions are located in Cameron and Hidalgo County, which is
characterized by a large Hispanic population (89.8 and 92.3%, respectively) and a high poverty
rate (27.7 and 29.5%, respectively of the population living below the federal poverty line).
Although UTRGV has memorandum of understanding with both TSC and STC to facilitate
seamless transfer from the community colleges to, transfer rates to a BS degree program and
specifically to the BS in Biomedical Sciences (BMED) at UTRGV are very low or vary between
years. The impediments in transfer rates may be associated with a lack of awareness of the
BMED degree program and career opportunities in biomedical sciences, specific academic
preparation and adequate advising and support services for transfer and success in a 4-year
college. Currently, we do not have a formal program that supports successful transfer
from TSC or STC to UTRGV and successful completion of a BMED degree. In an effort to
fulfill the long-term goal of the Bridges to Baccalaureate program to increase diversity in the
biomedical research workforce, UTRGV, TSC and STC are committed to increase the number
of underrepresented students who: 1) successfully complete their Associate degrees and
transfer to the UTRGV BMED program, 2) complete the BMED program and 3) apply to
graduate school and/or enter the biomedical science research workforce. Through self-
assessment of areas that need to be improved and strengthened to achieve this goal, the
following specific aims have been proposed: 1) Establish Partnership with community colleges
to Recruit Potential Students who are Interested in Biomedical Sciences, 2) Develop Advanced
Courses for Research Skills Development, 3) Provide Mentored-Research Experience
Supplemented with Activities to Develop Research Competencies and 4) Develop Methods to
Improve Biomedical Science Education.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10025129
- **Project number:** 1T34GM137854-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Shima Chaudhary
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $259,346
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10025129

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10025129, Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (1T34GM137854-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10025129. Licensed CC0.

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