# Vanderbilt Student Research Training Program

> **NIH NIH T35** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $181,470

## Abstract

Project Summary
This T35 grant application from the Vanderbilt Student Research and Training Program (SRTP) requests
continued support for medical student research training in the areas of diabetes, obesity, digestive diseases,
and kidney diseases. The SRTP started in 1975, and NIH-funded since 1980, has provided research training
for over 1200 students from 130 medical schools. This includes students from 45 states including Hawaii and
Puerto Rico, and nearly 1/3 have been from groups underrepresented in science. Each year the SRTP
supports 32 medical students to visit Vanderbilt and conduct research with some of the top experts in diabetes,
digestive, and kidney diseases (20 students in diabetes research groups, 6 in GI, and 6 in kidney). The SRTP
also provides leadership and infrastructure support for the national NIDDK Medical Student Research Program
that trains an additional 90 students at 16 Diabetes Research Centers around the country.
The goal of the SRTP is to train physician-scientists and provide exposure to mentors that inspire this career
trajectory. A major focus of the SRTP is outreach to those that might not otherwise have opportunities to
engage in experiences that would help them develop a physician-scientist career. We additionally provide
exposure to key clinical topics in diabetes, GI, and kidney diseases in order to guide the students’ clinical and
research careers toward a focus on these important diseases. The SRTP is affiliated with three Vanderbilt
research centers: a NIDDK- supported center grant in diabetes (P30), a NIDDK-supported center grant in
digestive disease (P30), and a NIDDK-supported center grant in kidney disease (P30). These three centers
provide the SRTP research base and preceptors for the student’s research experience.
The SRTP has three main components: 1) A two-to-three-month intensive mentored research experience
designed to “light the fire” for discovery; 2) A twice-weekly enrichment program focused on educating about the
diverse career pathways of physician-scientists and key clinical and research topics in diabetes, GI, and kidney
disease; 3) A national research symposium: This is held at the end of the summer jointly with students from the
NIDDK medical student research program. The students present their work, hear keynote talks from visiting
professors about career development, have meals and network with faculty and near-peer mentors, and learn
about the next steps with regard to research options in residency and fellowship.
We propose aims and innovations that will help SRTP adapt to a rapidly changing world of research, clinical
care, and medical education. These aims center around: 1) building better flexibility with changing medical
school curricula, 2) vertical integration with other physician-scientist training programs and near-peer
mentoring, 3) promoting diversity for the SRTP, and 4) continuing to develop robust post-program support to
guide career paths. With continued support from ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10831422
- **Project number:** 5T35DK007383-45
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** John Michael Stafford
- **Activity code:** T35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $181,470
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-05-01 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10831422

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10831422, Vanderbilt Student Research Training Program (5T35DK007383-45). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10831422. Licensed CC0.

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