# Vanderbilt Training of Otolaryngology Physician Scientists (V-TOPS) Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $283,884

## Abstract

Project Summary
Physician-scientists are crucial for translating new discoveries in basic science into improvements in patient
care. As advances in biomedical research continue to expand our understanding of human biology, it is critical
to maintain a strong cadre of physician scientists who will be able to apply this new knowledge to improve
health outcomes. Concern has been growing for years that physician-scientists are decreasing in numbers,
and current trends indicate that this decrease is likely to get worse. Thus, new approaches are needed to
recruit more physicians into research careers and provide them with the skills and mentorship necessary for
success. The Vanderbilt Training of Otolaryngology Physician-Scientists (V-TOPS) program addresses this
challenge by providing mentored research experiences for otolaryngology residents and medical students. We
hypothesize that two characteristics of our research education program will make it more likely that trainees will
continue to pursue research careers: (a) research experiences aligned with a trainee’s clinical interests and (b)
mentor-mentee relationships with successful physician-scientists. After matriculation, trainees are paired with a
physician-scientist mentor who continues as an important adviser throughout their training. Residents in the
program will spend two years doing research, between the second and third year of clinical otolaryngology
training, thus providing adequate time for them to decide on a clinical focus area and pursue relevant research
projects. We have assembled an experienced and diverse cohort of 15 faculty mentors representing a variety
of research areas, including laryngeal physiology, rhinology/olfaction, airway immunology and inflammation,
head and neck oncology, cochlear implants, and language disorders. We will accept one resident per year into
the research program out of a total cohort of 5 residents. In addition, the V-TOPS program will accept two
medical students each year for a one-year research experience, supplemented with a didactic program and
individual mentoring by successful physician-scientists. Our expansive research portfolio, experienced faculty
of basic and translational scientists, and the rich history for research education at Vanderbilt, make this an
ideal environment to develop the next generation of physician scientists in otolaryngology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10756547
- **Project number:** 5R25DC020728-02
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexander Gelbard
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $283,884
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-01-01 → 2027-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10756547

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10756547, Vanderbilt Training of Otolaryngology Physician Scientists (V-TOPS) Program (5R25DC020728-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10756547. Licensed CC0.

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