# Training Medical Students in NIDDK Research

> **NIH NIH T35** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $68,361

## Abstract

Abstract
Research during the early years of medical education trains medical students in quantitative reasoning, and
scientific literacy as well as expose them to a mentors who have devoted their careers to investigation. It thus
sharpens their understanding of the processes by which the practice of medicine develops and improves as
well as stimulating their interests in research careers. The curriculum at the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Columbia University now requires that all medical students produce a “Scholarly Effort” before
graduation expanding our pool of applicants. Research in basic and clinical aspects of Diabetes,
Endocrinology, Obesity, Kidney, Urology and Digestive Diseases is particularly strong at our medical school
with more than 60 investigators having current RO1 grants. Over the past 4 years, 70 of our students applied
each year to enter the T35 training program. While we had initially asked for an annual support of 8-12
students, there were many more qualified applicants and through re-budgeting of our non-training funds we
were able to fund 52 students working in these areas (~13/year). The students attended weekly seminars in
important topics including career development and the responsible conduct of research. In addition, we hosted
a weekly journal club specific for NIDDK trainees where mentors discussed their current research using their
publications in high impact journals. We acted as a regional center for medical student research in NIDDK
funded fields recruiting 5 additional students who worked with our mentors. The outcomes have exceeded our
expectations, 10 of our students over this short period decided to dedicate an additional year of research to
their projects; 7 of them had published peer-reviewed papers and 14 presented their work at national and
international meetings. Building on our success, we have recruited 35 NIDDK funded mentors to train the
future group of medical students. The Program will be supervised by a recruitment and admission committee
that will choose the students from the applicant pool, a committee that follows their progress and an internal
advisory committee that helps the PI/PD in running the program. Finally, a career development committee will
aid the students in making important career decision as they progress through medical school. Recruitment of
under-represented minorities among mentors and students is strongly supported by leadership of the College
and University and by targeted efforts of this Program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10137218
- **Project number:** 5T35DK093430-10
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** QAIS AL-AWQATI
- **Activity code:** T35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $68,361
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-03-15 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10137218

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10137218, Training Medical Students in NIDDK Research (5T35DK093430-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10137218. Licensed CC0.

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