# Texas A&M College of Medicine Developing and Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers (DRUMR) Summer Research Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR · 2022 · $100,915

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Texas A&M College of Medicine Developing and Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers (DRUMR)
Summer Research Program
 Texas ranks 2nd behind California in the percentage of its minority population (55%) as well as in the
size of its Hispanic population (11.7 million as of 2017). Texas is also 2nd in terms of the size of its rural area,
only behind Alaska. Since NIDDK-related diseases affect minorities and rural populations at a significantly
greater rate, it is not surprising that Texas sits near the top for deaths (CDC). One important step to rectify
these disparities involves an increase in minority representation of Texas’ biomedical research workforce, such
that it more adequately reflects the state’s population diversity. This program will provide research
opportunities to the best minority undergraduate students of the Texas A&M University System.
 The Texas A&M University System is a statewide network of 11 university campuses with an enrollment
of over 152,000 students. Aside from the flagship campus located in College Station, the majority of students
at the other 10 campuses are mainly Hispanic, Black, disadvantaged, and/or underprivileged students from
mostly rural and remote areas of Texas. The Texas A&M’s College of Medicine (TAMCOM) Developing and
Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers (DRUMR) Summer Research Program (SRP) will offer
disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students the opportunity to work with TAMCOM faculty in
Bryan/College Station on research projects in NIDDK-related biomedical research areas. This 10-week
program will also feature the nationally recognized Southwest Rural Health Research Center, 1 of only 7 in the
country, and the A&M Rural and Community Health Institute. The 50 total students, 1 from each of the 10 sister
schools each year for 5 years, will be selected by their institution based on eligibility, academics, and career
goals, and then matched with College of Medicine faculty mentors in Bryan/College Station based on their
NIDDK-related area of research interest.
 TAMCOM has been operating a SRP for 12 years and on average about 30% of participants each year
are underrepresented minorities or disadvantaged. Over this time, 78% of participants enter graduate and/or
medical school, which is higher than the 54% national average for other SRPs (National Science Foundation).
The overall objective of the TAMCOM DRUMR SRP is to prepare disadvantaged and underrepresented
Texas A&M University System students for careers in NIDDK-related biomedical research. The TAMCOM
DRUMR SRP has 3 aims: (1) Provide integrative training and mentoring to participants in NIDDK-related
biomedical research, (2) Provide laboratory skills to prepare participants for a career in biomedical research,
and (3) Develop a network of students (“DRUMRs”) that will increase the diversity of the biomedical research
workforce.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10447171
- **Project number:** 5R25DK126642-03
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** BRETT M MITCHELL
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $100,915
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-15 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10447171

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10447171, Texas A&M College of Medicine Developing and Readying Underrepresented Minority Researchers (DRUMR) Summer Research Program (5R25DK126642-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10447171. Licensed CC0.

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