# Medical Scientist Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $322,476

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of the MD-PhD Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM) is to
provide a rich training environment that fosters the development of physician scientists who are rigorously
trained in both clinical medicine and biomedical research. Individuals with both scientific and clinical
training are most likely to make breakthroughs that improve health through research and provide the future
intellectual leadership in medicine. The Miller School has a long tradition of research excellence and
physician scientist training. Expansion of basic and clinical research and major infrastructure improvements
in the last 10 years, as well as Miami's diverse population and access to Latin America & the Caribbean,
make UMMSM an outstanding place for MD-PhD training. The program is designed to be a 7-8 year path
that allows for an integrated experience throughout the training period. Elements specifically designed to
enhance MD-PhD training are a journal club for MD-PhD students in the 1st & 2nd year of medical school,
longitudinal clinical experiences during graduate training, and activities that bring together all students in the
program, such as monthly Scientific & Professional Development Workshops, monthly Clinical Case
Studies, an annual MD-PhD Student Research Symposium, and other social activities. Students gain
leadership skills by developing and organizing many of these program events. Students are able to select
among 10 PhD training programs in the biomedical sciences, including traditional basic sciences, Cancer
Biology, Human Genetics & Genomics, and Neuroscience Programs, as well as Epidemiology in the Public
Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering. Students are recruited from colleges and universities
throughout the US, and admitted based on academic credentials, research experience and potential,
passion for and commitment to a career in biomedical research, and personal evaluations through
interviews. The size and credentials of the applicant pool and quality of matriculating students have
improved significantly in the last 10 years. Outstanding current students and graduates include trainees
from a wide variety of races and ethnicities many of whom are currently underrepresented in medicine and
research. The quality of students and the program are exemplified by strong publication records and
excellent residency matches. Currently the program recruits ~5 students per year with ~40 MD-PhD
students in training. The program has doubled in size since 2002 due to increased institutional support,
strong institutional and programmatic leadership, and student competition for prestigious individual NRSA
fellowships. MSTP support is requested for a total of 6 matriculating students per year by year 3 of the
training grant period, to grow this dynamic and interactive program to reach an annual incoming class size
of 6, and ultimately a total program size of 48 students.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10189635
- **Project number:** 5T32GM112601-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** SANDRA K. LEMMON
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $322,476
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10189635

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10189635, Medical Scientist Training Program (5T32GM112601-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10189635. Licensed CC0.

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