# Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $359,943

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This application is for a research training grant focused on training the next generation of academic cardiac and
thoracic surgeons. Given the current and future shortage of cardiothoracic surgeons, the extremely diverse
clinical activities, and broad array of conditions treated by cardiac and thoracic surgeons, an NIH T32 training
program in cardiothoracic surgery is an emergent unmet need to improve the cardiothoracic surgical workforce.
The necessary resources to support this mission is largely dictated by the capacity for initial research training
mid-way through the residency-fellowship training continuum. The proposed program leverages the experience
and framework of our successful ACGME accredited six year Integrated Thoracic Training Program, the research
and mentoring expertise of our Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery faculty, and the infrastructure of the
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) and UPMC Health System, to create a new T32 program
in cardiothoracic surgery. The proposed T32 program will provide a strong foundation of training in research,
serving leadership, and collaborative partnerships during residency training, which will help to establish and
promote successful independent career paths in academic cardiothoracic surgery. The proposed T32 program
will increase the pool of investigators who will be competitive for independent K- and R- awards as faculty. This
program will achieve the following specific goals: 1) Provide a stable and supportive infrastructure of research
training for academic cardiothoracic surgeons; 2) Recruit and select promising scholars and monitor their initial,
ongoing, and long-term successes; 3) Coordinate faculty mentoring and training of cardiothoracic surgeons to
provide a curated and individualized didactic curriculum and hands-on training that specifically addresses the
unique concerns of cardiothoracic surgery; 4) Leverage internal UPSOM, UPMC, and other institutional
resources in trainee-specific training plans; 5) Promote an inclusive culture at all levels through diversity training
and community outreach to recruit under-represented minority candidates to cardiothoracic surgery; 6) Provide
structured training in leadership, partnership and research program establishment during and beyond the period
of support to position trainees for launching successful independent academic careers. In the long-term, the
proposed T32 program will increase the number of academic cardiothoracic surgeons and will help to promote
a diverse workforce capable of accomplishing the NHLBI’s mission.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10754231
- **Project number:** 5T32HL160526-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES D LUKETICH
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $359,943
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-12-01 → 2026-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10754231

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10754231, Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Training Program (5T32HL160526-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10754231. Licensed CC0.

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