# Short-Term Research Education Program to Increase Diversity in Health-Related Research

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2022 · $128,127

## Abstract

The objective of the Short-Term Research Education Program (STER) at the University of Pennsylvania is to
provide undergraduates and research-oriented medical students from diverse backgrounds – particularly
students from nationally underrepresented backgrounds (UR), disadvantaged, or disabled students – with a
short-term, intensive laboratory research experience for 8-10 weeks during the summer at Penn. The long-term
aim is to increase the pool of these students who are committed to careers in cardiovascular, pulmonary,
hematologic diseases or sleep disorders. Training is provided by a core group of trainers who have extensive
experience as mentors to trainees at all levels and represent a spectrum of scientific disciplines and clinically
relevant research related to heart, lung and blood. Each trainee devotes approximately 90% of their time to
hands-on laboratory research, experimental design, data interpretation, directed readings, lab meetings, and
journal clubs. Trainees participate in a scientific seminar series presented by University of Pennsylvania faculty
and receive supplemental training in academically relevant areas, including scientific presentation skills and
the responsible conduct of research. In addition, trainees participate in various peer-networking and career-
development activities and workshops. Trainees present their work in at least one formal setting at the end of
the program and are encouraged to continue their association with the laboratory; undergraduates may return
for a second summer research experience. Mechanisms are in place for measuring the effectiveness of the
program’s various components and improving the training experience over time.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10369671
- **Project number:** 5R25HL084665-17
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** HORACE M DELISSER
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $128,127
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2006-05-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10369671

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10369671, Short-Term Research Education Program to Increase Diversity in Health-Related Research (5R25HL084665-17). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10369671. Licensed CC0.

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