# Medical Scientist Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2023 · $1,393,284

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This multi-disciplinary Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is designed to integrate training in clinical
medicine and biomedical science for M.D./Ph.D. trainees. The goal is to train physician-scientists who, because
of rigorous education in these two complementary areas, are well-equipped biomedical investigators. The
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus has considerable strength in the biomedical sciences, which
is enhanced by the local community and nearby scientific institutions in La Jolla, California. The strong ties
between the School of Medicine (SOM), the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science (SSPPS),
the adjoining UCSD General Campus, Jacobs School of Engineering, nearby research institutes (e.g., the Salk
Institute for Biological Studies, the Scripps Research Institute [TSRI], the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative
Medicine, the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and
Immunology) and the San Diego biomedical community, create an academic environment highly suited for this
MSTP and for the interdigitation of basic science, biomedical research and medical practice. This integrative
education starts with research efforts and a Bioinformatics Boot Camp before SOM coursework begins and
continues with research efforts in the summer between the first two years of the preclinical SOM Integrated
Scientific Curriculum. Students explore research opportunities and fulfill academic requirements in Graduate
Programs during medical school elective time and choose a Graduate Program near the end of their preclinical
curriculum. The Graduate Training Programs that a trainee chooses is dependent on the research area of the
Ph.D. thesis advisor and include but are not limited to Biomedical Sciences, Bioengineering, Neuroscience,
Biological Sciences and the TSRI Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences. A required clinical clerkship
prior to graduate studies provides the trainees a clinical experience, which facilitates medical education during
research and along with a clinical re-immersion course we created, helps prepare them for the transition back
from Ph.D. training to clinical clerkships in the SOM for completion of the M.D. degree. We seek to individualize
each trainee's educational program. The MSTP engages in numerous activities to enhance this combined degree
training program and build a sense of community among trainees embarking on careers as physician scientists.
During the current funding period, the UCSD-MSTP has introduced a number of changes that we believe have
enhanced the Program. This MSTP is successful, as shown by the numerous graduates who enter academic
medicine and have careers as physician-scientists.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10640140
- **Project number:** 5T32GM007198-49
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Neil C Chi
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $1,393,284
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1975-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10640140

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10640140, Medical Scientist Training Program (5T32GM007198-49). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10640140. Licensed CC0.

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