# OHSU PREP - Guiding Promising Underrepresented Post-Baccalaureates to be Successful Biomedical Scholars

> **NIH NIH R25** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $310,751

## Abstract

Project Summary
Students from groups underrepresented in science often lack actively mentored, sustained research
experiences during their undergraduate years. Absence of direct support and training can be a barrier when
these students pursue advanced biomedical degrees. Ultimately fewer underrepresented individuals hold
doctoral degrees, have careers in biomedicine, thereby exacerbating health disparities in the United States
(U.S.). The objective of this program is to recruit and train at least five participants per year for an intensive,
mentored experience in biomedical research with the goal to prepare them for pursuing a graduate degree in
biomedicine. In preparing scholars to be competitive and successful in graduate programs, we will use a
competency-based educational framework to build their skills in research and self-efficacy. The primary aims of
OHSU PREP are to 1) provide a sustained research-intensive experience to prepare students for graduate
programs with research faculty mentors who have received mentor training to ensure success with this
population of scholars; and 2) provide competency-based professional and career skills development. Scholars
will be paired with a faculty mentor and pursue a year-long independent research project aligned with the
scholar’s interests and receive additional mentorship from the Program Directors and Program Coordinator in
weekly meetings that build their skills and confidence in self-efficacy and professional identity. Each scholar
will develop an individual development plan in order to understand their career and professional development
needs, participate in similar activities as incoming first year PhD students, and take graduate-level courses with
an emphasis on ethics and data analytics. We will offer directed preparation for graduate school, including
graduate school applications, study skills and time management, critical thinking, and resilience. Scholars, with
their mentors, are expected to develop their research projects for presentation at local and national meetings
and prepare a research paper for publication and/or deposition in the OHSU Institutional Repository.
Participants will also receive individualized writing instruction, as well as preparation for the GRE, as needed.
As proposed, OHSU PREP will build on existing opportunities that allow for cultural immersion through
interactions with near-peer mentors (i.e., graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) and OHSU faculty from
underrepresented backgrounds. We expect that at least 75% of our participants will successfully enter and
complete graduate programs in biomedical science and that the program will function as a bridge to ease the
transition of recent college graduates into PhD-conferring programs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10322723
- **Project number:** 5R25GM134978-02
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY L WESTBROOK
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $310,751
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10322723

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10322723, OHSU PREP - Guiding Promising Underrepresented Post-Baccalaureates to be Successful Biomedical Scholars (5R25GM134978-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10322723. Licensed CC0.

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