# G-RISE at Ponce Health Sciences University

> **NIH NIH T32** · PONCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $666,847

## Abstract

G-RISE at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU G-RISE): The overall goals of the PHSU
G-RISE program are to increase the competitiveness of underrepresented Hispanic students
graduating from the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program at PHSU in Puerto Rico and to increase
the number of highly qualified underrepresented students who advance to postdoctoral positions
and diverse research-related careers. To achieve these goals, we will build upon the very
successful training program created under the previous R25-RISE funding mechanism which had
a positive impact on the training of our PhD students and on the entire PHSU community. Under
the prior R25-RISE Program the PhD completion rate increased from 73% to 90% of R25-RISE
trainees, the average time to graduation decreased from 6.2 to 5.6 years, and 64% of R25-RISE
trainees continued with postdoctoral training after graduating. Of the 56 R25-RISE trainees
supported 21 obtained independent fellowships, 31 already graduated with a PhD and 8 have
secured faculty positions. The proposed PHSU G-RISE application will build upon those
successes and adapt to several important lessons learned. It will provide the organizational
structure and extensive mentoring necessary to ensure trainees have a sense of belonging and
scientific identity while empowering them to prepare for and overcome obstacles in their scientific
careers. The program proposes to accomplish these goals through enhancement of the
academic, research, personal, and professional competence of our underrepresented minority
students to better prepare them for diverse careers in the biomedical sciences. The specific
measurable objectives of the PHSU G-RISE program are to provide: (1) professional, operational,
and technical research skills training for PHSU G-RISE trainees; (2) communication skills training
for PHSU G-RISE trainees; (3) team building/networking opportunities for PHSU G-RISE trainees;
and (4) increase the PhD completion rate while reducing time-to-degree. Each of these objectives
will be pursued with an experience-based balance of continuing activities that were highly
effective as well as a strategic set of new training components that were developed to address
the emerging needs of our trainees. The PHSU G-RISE program will work in concert with the
existing PHSU-Moffitt Cancer Center Partnership and RCMI programs to significantly impact the
overall research program by providing a better trained student workforce to conduct the funded
research projects and provide the momentum to create new research initiatives.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10828746
- **Project number:** 5T32GM144896-03
- **Recipient organization:** PONCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Caroline B Appleyard
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $666,847
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10828746

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10828746, G-RISE at Ponce Health Sciences University (5T32GM144896-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10828746. Licensed CC0.

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