# USC Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (USC-StARR) Program

> **NIH NIH R38** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2021 · $363,556

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
To address the widely recognized decline in the physician-scientist workforce, new approaches are needed to
recruit talented physicians to pursue research as an integral part of their medical training and future careers. The
Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) initiative provides a new point of access to research by
accelerating the entry of residents into meaningful research pursuits during residency. The USC-StARR Program
will draw the most promising Resident Investigators from the General Surgery, Integrated Vascular Surgery, and
Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programs. We have designed an intensive, 24-month, contiguous
StARR program. The goal of the USC-StARR program is to recruit, train, and mentor a group of exceptional
Resident Investigators in acquiring rigorous research skills, conducting high-impact, clinically relevant research
projects, and launching promising careers as surgeon-scientists in cardiovascular and pulmonary science. Our
program will include two research tracks: 1) Basic and Translational Research and 2) Health Outcomes,
Community Engagement, and Dissemination and Implementation Research. Our goals will be accomplished
through the following specific aims: 1) recruit and train three Resident Investigators annually with the potential
and commitment to become successful surgeon-scientists in cardiovascular or pulmonary science; 2) guide
these Resident Investigators in obtaining more advanced methodological, analytic, and collaborative research
skills appropriate for their level of training; 3) create and support effective, influential, and long-lasting mentor
relationships during and after residency; and 4) guide Resident Investigators in successfully competing for other
forms of clinical and translational research support that will pave the way for them to pursue long-term careers
as surgeon-scientists. A Multi-Program Director structure will provide Administrative and Scientific leadership for
the program. The Resident Investigators will have access to a cadre of carefully selected Research Preceptors
with sustained NIH funding coupled with successful track records of mentoring early career scholars. A group
of four highly dedicated and accomplished senior scientists will serve on the Advisory Committee of the program.
Each Resident Investigator will work with their Research Preceptor, Advisory Committee, and the Scientific
Director to achieve their individual and program goals, to provide independent evaluation of their progress, and
to develop, advise on, and track their Independent Career Development Plan. The impact of this innovative
proposal will be to increase the ability and capacity of the USC General Surgery, Integrated Vascular Surgery,
and Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery residency training programs to foster the development of surgeon-
scientists in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary science. Through this program, we will increase the ability
of these surge...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10107059
- **Project number:** 1R38HL155773-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Eugene Bowdish
- **Activity code:** R38 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $363,556
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10107059

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10107059, USC Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (USC-StARR) Program (1R38HL155773-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10107059. Licensed CC0.

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