# G-RISE at The University of Mississippi

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI · 2024 · $178,902

## Abstract

This “G-RISE at The University of Mississippi” seeks to establish an interdisciplinary biomedical sciences
training program at the University of Mississippi (U-Miss). The DIRECT (Diversifying Interdisciplinary drug and
device development Research Expertise through Community building and Training) Program aims to increase
diversity in the biomedical research workforce and to prepare strong Ph.D. graduates who are well-prepared
to enter a career in the biomedical field. The doctoral programs of the participating departments have
successfully placed graduates in a wide range of career paths. However, overall, less than 9% of the admitted
students belong to underrepresented minority (URM) populations, which is consistent with the percentage of
URM’ students admitted into STEM fields at U-Miss. The relatively low number of applications received from
domestic students, considering the diversity in the state of Mississippi, and the current degree completion
rates, demonstrate the need to seek out and foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for
our trainees. Currently, there are no T32 predoctoral training programs at U-Miss; thus, the DIRECT program
will develop a critical infrastructure to support graduate students from diverse backgrounds pursuing degrees in
the biomedical field. The proposed Program builds on the expertise of a diverse group of expert faculty
mentors who are significantly invested in graduate student mentoring. They have research expertise in drug
discovery, product development, device design, safety and efficacy testing, and evaluation of efficiency. In
addition to mandatory Program-specific didactic courses, training activities will include several nondidactic
components. Through career and professional development activities, trainees will be equipped with the
necessary skills to work in a diverse environment, interact with role models to gain insights into career paths,
and build self-confidence. The Program will provide holistic, evidence-based, and team-oriented learning
opportunities in this multidisciplinary scientific area. The Program will recruit and enroll three new trainees from
underrepresented groups (URGs) every year and support them financially for three years through program
funding. All trainees will be supported to degree completion through institutional funds after program
completion. Trainees selected for this Program will be chosen competitively based on academic excellence
and their interest and motivation for careers in the biomedical field. Thus, the specific objectives of this
Program are to i) Recruit and enroll a diverse pool of trainees from underrepresented groups through
active and targeted recruitment activities, ii) Develop trainees' ability to create, assimilate, analyze, and
think critically, iii) Enhance trainee professional skills and career readiness, and iv) Retain and
graduate trainees in an appropriate timeframe. In summary, this training program is designed to develop a
d...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10771855
- **Project number:** 1T32GM144924-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
- **Principal Investigator:** Marie Barnard
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $178,902
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-09 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10771855

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10771855, G-RISE at The University of Mississippi (1T32GM144924-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10771855. Licensed CC0.

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