# Consortium for Increasing Research and Collaborative Learning Experiences (CIRCLE)

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 2023 · $270,000

## Abstract

Consortium for Increasing Research and Collaborative Learning Experiences
The CIRCLE Program creates the infrastructure for middle and high school students
from areas without adequate research experience to expand their research skills,
engage in authentic research experiences, and incubate their interest in a career in
biomedical, behavioral or clinical research. CIRCLE builds upon the existing Science
Education Partnership Award grant that created the PreHealth Career Corps (PHCC)
program that serves over 1,800 students interested in health science careers by
providing training workshops, mentoring, career and academic counseling, test and
college prep, essay writing and interview skills in an on-demand fashion as needed by
each individual. The one weakness is that there aren't enough research experiences for
interested students. The CIRCLE Program will provide age appropriate research
training and career mentoring with regular chats, blogs and video calls with their
research team, a local mentor and a distance research supervisor.
The goal of the CIRCLE program is to create a distance research network that will
enhance scientific research interest and skills in underserved communities throughout
the US Pacific region in order to strengthen STEM career pathways, expand public
knowledge of research and ensure a maximally large and diverse workforce to meet the
Pacific's biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs.
SPECIFIC AIMS
1) Create and test the infrastructure for distance research collaborations between
underserved Pacific locations and 10-15 research sites to come up with best practices
for an ongoing distance research network.
2) Develop health science research experiences and research mentorship for 300
underserved 7th to 12th grade students over the five years of grant funding resulting in
80% demonstrating increased interest in science careers.
3) Provide health science career education and mentorship to 300 underserved 7th to
12th grade students to strengthen their interest in biomedical, clinical, and behavioral
research with 80% demonstrating increased confidence and tools to pursue health
science careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10597181
- **Project number:** 5R25GM137324-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
- **Principal Investigator:** KELLEY Marie WITHY
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $270,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10597181

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10597181, Consortium for Increasing Research and Collaborative Learning Experiences (CIRCLE) (5R25GM137324-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10597181. Licensed CC0.

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