# NIDDK Medical Student Research Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $297,833

## Abstract

NIDDK Medical Student Research Program (DK-MSRP): Project Summary/Abstract
The NIDDK created the NIDDK Medical Student Research Program (DK-MSRP) in 2009 to promote exposure
of medical students to research and career pathways involving diabetes, obesity, and metabolism. The NIDDK
asked the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center (VDRC) to lead this program because of its experience with a
long-standing medical student research program. This application proposes the next phase of the DK-MSRP
with goals of engaging medical students from around the country in research, exciting them about careers in
discovery, and promoting their career development in ways that promote the NIDDK mission. The DK-MSRP
consists of: 1) A nation-wide application process that informs students from all US medical schools about the
program; 2) Matching of selected students with one of 16 NIDDK-supported Diabetes Research Centers
(DRC); 3) Student-conducted research at an NIDDK-supported DRC 4) Enrichment activities that educate
students about diabetes research and the career paths of physician-scientists; 5) A National Research
Symposium at the end of the summer that allows students to present their work to faculty and other students
and to interact with visiting professors from NIDDK-supported DRCs; 6) A robust program evaluation and
oversight system to guide program improvements; 7) Short and long-term career follow up of student
participants; and 8) Synergy with other NIDDK-funded programs. Since its inception in 2009, 1010 students
from more than 140 medical schools and 45 states and Puerto Rico have conducted mentored research at one
of 16 NIDDK-supported DRCs during the summer between their first and second years of medical school. This
program, with its considerable diversity in geography, ethnicity, and scientific area of research, has become a
way to initiate research exposure for students who might not otherwise pursue this career path. The VDRC and
the DK-MSRP propose these aims and innovations to enhance this important program: 1) Adapt lessons
learned during COVID to provide a robust hybrid / virtual program that complements in-person components
and provides flexibility with changing medical school curricula; 2) Foster outreach to promote diversity for the
DK-MSRP and the future of diabetes research; 3) Continue to develop the DK-MSRP as a means to foster
interactions between NIDDK-supported DRCs through shared training goals, a national lecture series, and the
National Research Symposium; 4) Provide career development coaching to promote networking skills and
long-term mentoring; 5) Use our database to follow student outcomes and aid with next steps in career
development. Thus, the DK-MSRP generates significant enthusiasm about diabetes research and creates
momentum toward a research career and is a key example of NIDDK-supported Diabetes Research Centers
and other NIDDK programs working together to train future leaders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10408486
- **Project number:** 2P30DK020593-45
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** John Michael Stafford
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $297,833
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1996-12-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10408486

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10408486, NIDDK Medical Student Research Program (2P30DK020593-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10408486. Licensed CC0.

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