# LSUHSC-New Orleans Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program in Biomedical Sciences

> **NIH NIH R25** · LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER · 2021 · $308,173

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The overall goal of the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) in Biomedical Sciences
(BMS) at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO) is to enhance
the diversity of the research workforce by increasing competitiveness for acceptance and completion of PhD
and MD/PhD programs by underrepresented minorities (URM). LSUHSC-NO PREP will accept 39 recent URM
baccalaureate science graduates over 5 yrs for intensive research and innovative academic training experi-
ences to foster success in BMS doctoral degree programs. Over 300 URM science baccalaureates are award-
ed annually to URM students by universities located within 100 miles of LSUHSC-NO representing 32% of all
science degrees; however, URM constitute only 10% of enrolled PhD and MD/PhD students nationwide, and
12% at LSUHSC-NO. The PREP will enhance competitiveness for acceptance, retention, and completion of
BMS PhD programs by the Scholars by providing 1) intensive research experiences with committed research
faculty, and 2) complementary skills development during the 1-yr training. PREP training will focus on building
solid foundations in research skills by providing concentrated education in scientific critical thinking, analysis of
results, statistics, and writing; inventive and personalized test-taking skills to improve GRE scores and success
in graduate courses; oral and poster scientific presentations; responsible and ethical conduct in research; and
writing a resume, personal statement, and selecting and applying to graduate schools. Scholars will participate
in works-in-progress, journal clubs, and workshops hosted by PREP faculty, visitors, and recruitment contacts;
join graduate students in skills development programs; present their research at the annual PREP poster sym-
posium and local and national scientific conferences; mentor summer research fellows; and assist in communi-
ty science education programs. The PREP will provide forums for the Scholars to engage in research and skills
acquisition and active demonstration of knowledge. Over 60 LSUHSC-NO active research faculty, committed
to the PREP, have extensive experience in mentoring high school, undergraduate, medical, predoctoral, and
postdoctoral students representing URM in the BMS through NIH T32, R25, R35, and other funding mecha-
nisms. There are 8 active LSUHSC-NO summer programs which provide research experiences to 75 URM fel-
lows annually from which future PREP Scholars will be prescreened and recruited. Scholar recruitment efforts
will extend to 4 local historically black colleges and 2 state universities to develop a community-wide mecha-
nism to support the URM BMS workforce. The program will be critically evaluated using formative and summa-
tive methodologies and descriptive, quantitative, and qualitative statistics to document success. The overall
goal is for PREP Scholars to have an enhanced competitiveness for acceptance into ri...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10265505
- **Project number:** 5R25GM121189-05
- **Recipient organization:** LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Lisa M. Harrison-Bernard
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $308,173
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10265505

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10265505, LSUHSC-New Orleans Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program in Biomedical Sciences (5R25GM121189-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10265505. Licensed CC0.

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