# Synergistic Network to Enhance Research that Grows Innovation

> **NIH NIH R25** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $533,861

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The goal of this proposal is to increase the preparedness and competitiveness of diverse scholars as they train
for and enter research careers in the biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences. To accomplish this goal, we
have already leveraged the expertise and infrastructure of the national Leadership Alliance partnership to pilot
new educational and professional development activities that will strengthen existing activities, increase
opportunities for underrepresented (UR) scholars at all academic levels, and produce scalable and exportable
products for the biomedical research community. We propose a new model entitled, SYnergistic Network to
Enhance Research that Grows Innovation (SYNERGI), which will build on the strengths of the pilot project and
the extant Leadership Alliance National Symposium (LANS). The new model will do so by combining the
educational and mentoring activities developed in the pilot project with the LANS.
With this proposal, we seek support for the renewal and expansion of the pilot project to create a
comprehensive mentoring and training model that provides skill development, mentoring, and outreach
activities for a national community of UR scholars at each stage of the academic pathway. The SYNERGI
model includes the following activities:
1. New skill development academic year workshops for undergraduates, starting in their first year, which will
 prepare students for participating in the SR-EIP and presenting their results at the national symposium
2. Enhanced professional development mentoring at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium (LANS)
 that offers:
 a. Skill development and mentoring for undergraduates
 b. New career development workshops for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
 c. New grant writing coaching groups for faculty from minority-serving institutions
 d. Networking with research professionals, faculty, and administrators
3. Continuity of mentorship through The Leadership Alliance Connect (TLA Connect), an online mentoring
 and networking platform as well as in person opportunities for alumni and faculty from Alliance institutions
 to share their research or program activities through a Speaker Series.
Program participants will include undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career
faculty or professionals within and external to the Leadership Alliance network.
By continuing our efforts, we will have the capacity to provide the educational resources and career-affirming
mentoring at the critical transitions along the academic pathway within a national network of UR scholars
poised to serve as mentors and role models. The synergy of the combined activities will help to motivate
trainees to persist and pursue research careers in the biomedical workforce.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10112918
- **Project number:** 5R25GM125707-03
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Taiese Crystal Bingham-Hickman
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $533,861
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10112918

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10112918, Synergistic Network to Enhance Research that Grows Innovation (5R25GM125707-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10112918. Licensed CC0.

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