# Preparation for Graduate and Medical education (PARAdiGM) program

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $66,412

## Abstract

The goal of this summer program is to introduce highly qualified undergraduates from diverse and
underrepresented minority backgrounds to the concept of scientific research, the principles of scientific
experimentation, the proper methods of data analysis, the interpretation, presentation, and translational
applications of research results, and to clinicians who practice at academic medical centers. Each student will
work in the laboratory of a faculty mentor who has a proven track record in the mentoring of students and who
has an actively funded biomedical research program focusing on cardiovascular, pulmonary or sleep medicine
to accomplish this goal. In addition, all students will learn about careers in academic medical centers (AMCs)
by shadowing clinician-investigators during a typical day of clinical activities, leadership responsibilities,
teaching, and research. At the end of the first summer in the program, the students will write an abstract and
participate in both a local and national poster presentation of their research results. After the second summer
in the program, students will give a Powerpoint presentation to other students in the training program, and will
again present their research locally and nationally. The students will also receive instruction and advice from
program directors and near-peer mentors in essay writing, test preparation, and critical career development
skills. The ultimate goal of the program is to provide undergraduate students with an understanding and
appreciation of the biomedical research process so as to encourage them to pursue careers studying patients
and their diseases after further postgraduate training in graduate and medical education. This program was
initially funded by the NIH/NHLBI in 2014 and we have had 26 unique students participate in the past 4
summers. Those students were 62% AA, 35% Hispanic or Latino, 58% female, and 31% Disadvantaged. Of
the students who were eligible to return for a second PARAdiGM summer, 14/18 returned (78%). Of the
PARAdiGM trainees who have completed their undergraduate training, almost all have gone on to be accepted
/enrolled in excellent physician-scientist, medical, and/or postbacc/biomedical science masters programs
(13/17; 76%), and all have viewed the research experience in our summer program as one of the most
valuable components of their training.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10142243
- **Project number:** 5R25HL120883-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Brian Sims
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $66,412
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10142243

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10142243, Preparation for Graduate and Medical education (PARAdiGM) program (5R25HL120883-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10142243. Licensed CC0.

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