# Colorado Summer Research Training for Undergraduate Diversity

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2023 · $88,888

## Abstract

The specific aim of our competitive 11-15 year renewal is to continue our short-term
research education program that provides underrepresented minority undergraduate students
(“diversity trainees”) with an inspirational, perspective and career transforming biomedical
research experience in the Colorado Undergraduate Summer Program (“CUSP”).
 Overview: CUSP uses NHLBI funding to recruit and enroll 8 diversity trainees each summer from
colleges nationwide. Trainees prepare for and conduct laboratory research for 9 weeks with an
experienced investigator/mentor. Trainees design their own project, perform hands-on research, attend
daily interactive research discussions, and present their research at our concluding school-wide
graduation poster session. Trainees also participate in complementary clinical conferences, receive career
advice from admissions directors, faculty, and students, shadow physicians in clinical settings, and are
integrated into a wide range of supportive social and academic diverse campus communities.
 Innovative Aspects: CUSP (1) is a well established program that consistently attracts many top
applicants from colleges nationwide, (2) uses a holistic selection process that targets students who are not
committed to biomedical research careers, (3) amplifies learning by adding additional diversity and non-
diversity trainees using additional non-federal matching support from participating colleges, donors, and
CU, (4) is located on a new all inclusive contiguous medical campus that offers many research and
learning opportunities, (5) employs a unifying inflammatory, immunologic, and oxidative stress related
mechanisms focus that is relevant to NHLBI related health and disease, (6) emphasizes using
experienced enthusiastic diversity and non-diversity mentors, (7) embodies a comprehensive instructional
and laboratory program that engages trainees by integrating research training, medical perspectives,
career counseling, campus tours, and social activities, (8) provides additional shadowing, educational, and
social activities, and (9) is independently reviewed by education evaluation experts working at CU.
 Program Success: Independent evaluations indicate that CUSP diversity trainees (1) appreciate and
embrace all aspects of CUSP, (2) become more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about research and
research careers, (3) continue CUSP mentor relationships, (4) conduct research again, (5) frequently enter
health professions schools, and (6) actively promote CUSP to new trainee candidates.
 Program Director: John E. Repine, MD will continue his leadership as an experienced physician-
scientist-teacher-mentor who founded and directed CUSP for the last 9 years.
 Significance: CUSP motivates and prepares biomedical research uninformed diversity trainees for
continuing in biomedical research and undertaking biomedical research and health care related careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10572302
- **Project number:** 2R25HL108823-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN E REPINE
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $88,888
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2011-06-15 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10572302

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10572302, Colorado Summer Research Training for Undergraduate Diversity (2R25HL108823-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10572302. Licensed CC0.

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