# Research Training in Rheumatology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2022 · $410,073

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Despite the increasing burden of rheumatic diseases on the US population, there is a national shortage of
rheumatology investigators in major medical centers working to find the causes and cures of these debilitating
disorders. The Rheumatology Training Program at the University of Washington (UW) is designed to help
address this important shortfall and has a long-standing track record of success. The UW attracts highly
qualified trainees both from within the residency program and nationally that are motivated to help fill this
urgent need. The goal of our combined adult and pediatric training program that takes advantage of our unique
medical and scientific environment is to provide MD and PhD postdoctoral fellows high quality basic or clinical
science training in rheumatic disease and to equip them to become independent academic researchers. We
have maintained the 3 pathways -basic, clinical and translational to accommodate the needs, interests and
skills of both the applicant pool and mentors in the program. We have improved our training program during the
last funding period by: 1) fostering cross-talk between these pathways and between adult and pediatric
mentors and trainees; 2) recruiting new faculty to both adult and pediatric rheumatology divisions 3) optimizing
our pool of outstanding established mentors and recruiting new mentors and co-mentors to facilitate training; 4)
“promoting” our mentors-in-training to mentors in the program; and 5) increasing the number of ACGME
fellowship positions 6) instituting plans to further increase diversity of trainees.
 The proposed training requests 4 postdoctoral fellowship positions. Based on the need to attract
medical students to the exciting field of rheumatology and success in this current cycle, we also request
continuing 2 annual short-term summer electives for medical students. The fellowship program is open to MDs
who have completed a clinical year in Rheumatology and PhDs who have completed their accredited training.
MDs in the clinical research pathway enter the Masters or Certificate Program in epidemiology or public health
at the UW School of Public Health. Our typical trainee completes 2-3 years of basic / clinical science training
during which time all trainees are expected to publish their work and submit a fellowship(s) grant. A well-
designed core curriculum, formal mentoring program and individualized oversight assists trainees with career
and scientific guidance, and provides trainees with essential skills in grant writing and other assets required for
long-term success. Finally, a committee comprising UW internal and external experts assist the joint Program
Directors in programmatic governance, and to ensure the programmatic benchmarks and expectations are
achieved.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10441419
- **Project number:** 5T32AR007108-42
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Keith B. Elkon
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $410,073
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1975-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10441419

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10441419, Research Training in Rheumatology (5T32AR007108-42). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10441419. Licensed CC0.

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