# Kids Seek Cure for Kids

> **NIH NIH R25** · CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $260,712

## Abstract

Abstract
 A prosperous 21st Century society requires a highly skilled workforce in areas that drive
economic growth particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). While America
has for decades been able to attract some of the best and brightest foreign STEM talents, the
nation has neglected to build a strong homegrown STEM workforce. Now a rapid demographic
change is underway where individuals that are currently labeled as minorities and are
underrepresented in the STEM workforce will soon be in the majority. Additionally, fierce
competition for international STEM talents will increase and will leave America at risk to loose its
leadership in scientific research and technological innovation. Thus, building the American STEM
workforce of the future should be a priority! Effective training opportunities must be developed to
specifically engage individuals from groups currently underrepresented in the STEM workforce.
 We established such a research-training program in 2007 and recruited undergraduate
students from underrepresented minority (URM) and socioeconomically disadvantaged
communities nation-wide. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK) supported our efforts and 213 students were trained in biomedical research relevant to
the mission of NIDDK. Close to 90% of our alumni majored with a STEM degree and 75% of them
entered graduate school. The majority (69%) entered or has since completed a doctoral degree
program (MD, PhD, MD/PhD or equivalent). Fifteen percent of graduates are in a gap year (i.e.,
post-bac program, employment etc.). We consider this a highly successful program outcome!
 We propose to continue our effective recruitment and research-training strategy, but we will
build a more comprehensive career development and mentoring component in order to provide our
alumni with stronger support to navigate their career paths. We will organize a Pre-Internship
Conference to hold interactive career development workshops. Students will complete an
Individual Development Plan (IDP) to develop achievable scientific, academic and professional
goals. Interns and their research mentors will join the National Research Mentoring Network
(NRMN) to foment a long-term mentor – mentee relationship. A series of interactive video focused
on the diversity of STEM career paths will be created. Finally, the impact of these new activities on
student outcomes will be evaluated.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10105321
- **Project number:** 5R25DK078385-15
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** EMIL BOGENMANN
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $260,712
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-06-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10105321

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10105321, Kids Seek Cure for Kids (5R25DK078385-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10105321. Licensed CC0.

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