# Mentoring Young Minds to Increase Diversity in the Biomedical Research

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $551,692

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
A diverse educational and scientific community is a vital component for developing a robust work force that can
address the technological and social challenges of the U.S. in a new global economy. However, the access of
students from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds to graduate education (Ph.D. level) is still low
in comparison with individuals from more privileged socioeconomic groups. This disparity is amplified during
academic life, resulting in a lack of faculty diversity at most U.S. universities. To address this problem, the
Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) program was established in 2008 at the University of
California San Diego (UCSD), which focuses on motivating, mentoring, and facilitating the transition of
students from disadvantaged economic and social backgrounds and students with disabilities from college to
graduate school. The UCSD-IMSD program is composed of two consecutive phases directed at mentoring
students from their initial college education to enrolling into a Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences. Phase 1
is directed at introducing freshmen students with no or limited prior research experience to scientific
work via fundamental experimental instruction within the Basic Methodology Training Laboratory
(BMTL). In this setting, students learn the essential research principles and skills (laboratory safety, basic
techniques, data collection, and analysis) that will prepare them to participate in organized research projects.
During Phase 2, students participate in hands-on, bench research projects under the mentorship of
established, well-funded investigators, where they develop an appetite for science. Students are trained in
several aspects of science, including experimental design, execution, data analysis and presentations,
increasing their competitiveness as graduate school candidates. In addition, students are motivated to enroll
into Ph.D. programs and are assisted during the process.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10356136
- **Project number:** 5R25GM083275-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Antonio De Maio
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $551,692
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2008-03-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10356136

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10356136, Mentoring Young Minds to Increase Diversity in the Biomedical Research (5R25GM083275-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10356136. Licensed CC0.

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