# MUSC Minority Student Development Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2022 · $388,917

## Abstract

PROJECT DESCRIPTION/ABSTRACT
 The overall objective of this renewal proposal is to facilitate the matriculation, training, and graduation
of underrepresented (UR) doctoral scholars at MUSC. The intended outcome is to increase the number of UR
students who complete the PhD degree in the biomedical sciences, leading to an increase in the numbers of
UR faculty teaching and conducting biomedical research in U.S. colleges and universities. Students at MUSC
take part in a broad array of research foci including cardiovascular biology, regenerative medicine, cancer,
neuroscience, drug discovery, structural biology, and biostatistics and epidemiology. Unique to this training
program on our campus is the extensive support of UR students in the first years of graduate school. The
IMSD program integrates well into the overall scheme for increasing diversity in the biomedical workforce at
MUSC, which includes a robust summer undergraduate research program and a post-baccalaureate research
training program (NIH PREP).
 In this continuation of the MUSC IMSD, we anticipate supporting 6 doctoral scholars through their first
and second years of graduate training, using interconnecting strategies to ensure their success. Initiatives to
accomplish our goals include: 1) recruitment strategies targeted to colleges, universities and national
meetings having a large constituency of UR undergraduate students. New innovations to accomplish this goal
include hosting an applicant preview weekend and networking with PREP program colleagues. 2) peer
mentoring and faculty coaching programs to give students a network of support on campus 3) monthly
meetings to discuss science 4) career development workshops and guidance on writing and submitting grant
proposals led by a group of faculty dedicated to their success and 5) facilitation of career networking of IMSD
scholars through supporting them to: give talks at their undergraduate institutions, attend national meetings,
attend a yearly symposium of PREP and IMSD-containing institutions, and an annual retreat with an invited
speaker. Internal and external advisory committees will provide oversight for the program. Committee
members have regular interactions with IMSD scholars allowing them to serve as career mentors as well. The
program will be evaluated using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10359766
- **Project number:** 5R25GM072643-17
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** CYNTHIA F. WRIGHT
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $388,917
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2005-03-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10359766

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10359766, MUSC Minority Student Development Program (5R25GM072643-17). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10359766. Licensed CC0.

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