# Bridges Fellow Program: Promoting Undergraduate Success in Biomedical Sciences

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE · 2022 · $1

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 The University of North Carolina Charlotte will partner with Gaston College and Rowan-
Cabarrus Community College to implement the proposed NIH R25 Bridges to Baccalaureate
Program to promote UR student success in obtaining a biomedical sciences degree and being
competitive post-graduation. Low retention and graduation rates at the community colleges
indicate that few students can begin their college careers at community colleges and earn a B.S.
in biomedical sciences. Overall, the three institutions will identify and remediate multiple attrition
points and work to increase the viability of the community college-to-UNC Charlotte biomedical
sciences B.S. degree transfer pathway. The Program will aid a total of 50 student participants
from community college partners Gaston College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in
obtaining an A.A. or A.S. degree and then to transfer into, and graduate from, UNC Charlotte with
a B.S. in the biomedical sciences. This Program will address the needs of academically qualified
students to foster success. First, to promote preparedness and achievement in academic
curricula, students will receive intense academic advising and “degree maps”, individualized
mentorship, cohort learning, and embedded course tutoring at the community college and
university institutions. Second, to promote preparedness and achievement for biomedical
sciences research careers, students will conduct independent research projects with faculty at
the community college and later at UNC Charlotte. Research at UNC Charlotte will include both
full-time summer and academic term independent research in a laboratory conducting cutting-
edge biomedical sciences research. These experiences will culminate in poster and oral
presentations both on campus and at national scientific meetings as well as opportunities to
publish in peer-reviewed journals. Third, to promote a sense of inclusion and understanding of
how biomedical sciences fit in the broader community context, students will be paired with senior
student mentors at the university level, attend regional networking events for biomedical
professionals, participate in professional development workshops, and take courses in bioethics.
!

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10476304
- **Project number:** 5R25GM128571-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Chelsea Edward
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-04 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10476304

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10476304, Bridges Fellow Program: Promoting Undergraduate Success in Biomedical Sciences (5R25GM128571-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10476304. Licensed CC0.

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