# Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) - NIAID

> **NIH NIH R38** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $315,471

## Abstract

The physician-scientist workforce has been an important driver for many of the substantial discoveries in
infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases over the last two decades. Yet, this workforce has been in decline.
Residency training typically offers little time or support for research. This major gap in the development of
physician-scientists limits the translation of research into the clinical arena. Following a long, independent history
of training successful physician-scientists, in 2018 Duke was awarded an R38 award to establish the Duke NIAID
Scientist-Clinician-Investigator Stimulating access to Research in Residency (Duke NIAID SCI-StARR) program.
The primary goal of this multidisciplinary program is to train physician-scientists in all aspects of biomedical
research in order to cultivate investigators who will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of new
clinical modalities to diagnose, treat and prevent infectious, immunologic and allergic diseases in children and
adults. Duke NIAID SCI-StARR trains residents from Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery in areas along the full
biomedical research continuum (basic/translational, early phase clinical trials and pharmacokinetics, and late
phase clinical trials and outcomes) with a theme of improving health over the life course. The program
comprises four training aims: 1) comprehensive didactics covering basic, translational, and clinical research and
professional development; 2) development and completion of a research project and an individualized career
development plan; 3) establishment of a track record of scholarly activity; and 4) eligibility for board certification
and continuation to subspecialty training. Duke NIAID SCI-StARR leadership includes an Executive Committee
of MPIs Scott Palmer, MD, MHS (Medicine), Rachel Greenberg, MD, MB, MS (Pediatrics), and David Harpole,
Jr, MD (Surgery), along with Residency Program Directors and Program Coordinators from each department.
Duke NIAID SCI-StARR capitalizes on a team of 32 multi-departmental, multi-disciplinary, well-funded, and
experienced faculty preceptors available to all trainees, independent of their clinical department. This renewal
builds on the success of the initial funding period in which 13 residents (3 Medicine, 3 Pediatrics, 7 Surgery)
were trained and requests support for 18-24 months of protected research time for three Resident-Investigators
appointed annually. Unlike PhDs, physician-scientists must spend several years completing clinical training prior
to returning to laboratory research. To bridge this gap, our program provides two years of technician support
after completing the fellowship. Thus, our trainees will be prepared to transition to research-intense fellowship
training, successfully compete for extramural funding to support a path to independence, and become the next
generation of physicians leading and mentoring trainees in clinically-oriented research of allergy, immunology,
and infecti...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10810042
- **Project number:** 2R38AI140297-05
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel G Greenberg
- **Activity code:** R38 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $315,471
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10810042

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10810042, Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) - NIAID (2R38AI140297-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10810042. Licensed CC0.

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