# G-RISE at Old Dominion University

> **NIH NIH T32** · OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $132,609

## Abstract

G-RISE at Old Dominion University
Project Summary/Abstract
Old Dominion University (ODU) is a research-active, urban-based university located in the Hampton Roads
region of Southeastern Virginia. It enrolls 24,176 students (19,372 undergraduate and 4,804 graduate students)
with approximately 33% from underrepresented minority (URM) groups and 56% females. This project will
implement the NIH/NIGMS Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) program
at ODU to support graduate research training of 20 NIH-supported and 4 ODU-supported Ph.D. students over a
five-year grant period. The overarching goal is to prepare underrepresented (UR) groups to enter and succeed
in the biomedical research workforce. The objectives are to recruit, retain, and train a diverse pool of UR students
in fields of biomedical research through research experiences, mentoring, and educational and career
development activities. The expected outcomes are 80% trainee 5-year time-to-degree and 100% placement
into post-doctoral research studies and/or employment in biomedical research related occupations. The G-RISE
at ODU program will be built on existing and successful UR undergraduate education programs at ODU. It will
maximize access to research careers in biomedical research for UR students through ODU partnerships with
the Virginia Bio consortium (+ 270 bioscience firms) and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The program will
commence with a structured and intensive mandatory six-week summer doctoral bridge and will continue into
the academic years with academically challenging coursework, year around research experiences, intellectual
development, mentorship, and advising. In addition to scholarship support, the program will provide career
development activities and strong programmatic values to create an environment that promotes and nurtures
UR student success. The designated PI/PD of the G-RISE at ODU program is a tenured URM female faculty
member in Electrical Engineering and the Executive Director of the ODU Frank Reidy Research Center for
Bioelectrics. She has trained over 60 students (59% African American, 35% women), one of whom is a Rhodes
Scholar (African American female). The designated Co-PI/PD is a tenured URM male faculty member in the
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the PI/PD of the current NIH MARC program at ODU. He has
trained over 120 students (92% African American, 90% women). They will guide the G-RISE at ODU program
design as well as serve as role models for the UR doctoral students.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10168223
- **Project number:** 1T32GM140911-01
- **Recipient organization:** OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Gymama Slaughter
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $132,609
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10168223

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10168223, G-RISE at Old Dominion University (1T32GM140911-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10168223. Licensed CC0.

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