# U-RISE at Sam Houston State University

> **NIH NIH T34** · SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $117,196

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Underrepresentation of researchers from marginalized groups (racial, ethnic, disability, gender, economic, and
geographic groups) is noteworthy in the United States impacting biomedical research. This happens due to (1)
financial limitations preventing completion of training, (2) a lack of mentorship, (3) inadequate preparation due
to systemic inequities, (4) a lack of awareness about conduct of research and research careers, and (5) a lack
of STEM identity and sense of belonging that are critically important for retention. Our team from Sam Houston
State University (SHSU) will address these challenges by implementing a robust Science Trainees Advancing
Through Research and Scholarship (STARS) program for the students underrepresented in the biomedical
sciences (UBS). We will leverage our infrastructure and experience in social mobility, student engagement, and
research capacity building to increase matriculation in UBS groups leading to enrollment in the PhD programs.
The overall mission of the STARS program is to provide a unique training experience to UBS students by
accomplishing three aims. First, we will implement the multipronged STARS program for preparing
underrepresented undergraduate students for biomedical PhD programs targeting 90% of the trainees
graduating within 6 years and 66% admitted into a PhD or MD/PhD program within 2 years of graduation.
Second, we will improve the mentoring environment at SHSU through professional training and supervision of
research projects involving UBS students. Third, the program will benefit STARS trainees and other students
on campus by exposing them to and preparing them for an array of biomedical careers through seminars, internal
and external laboratory rotations, and a cluster of training activities necessary for PhD admission. Recruitment
activities will provide information at university-wide events for the STARS program and provide first-year students
with guides to accessing undergraduate research. The STARS program is innovative since the trainees will
receive strong financial and mentoring support in addition to opportunities to participate in rigorous programs of
research, academic enhancements, skill development, and career training. The 3-year program will encompass
two highly-effective summer research opportunities – one external exposure in one of three outstanding
research-intensive partner programs and a second internal summer experience focusing on interdisciplinary
research training outside of their primary major. The trainees will have the flexibility to select one of the three
training programs (1) a formal training program in bioinformatics, computational biology, and machine learning,
(2) mentored translational research experience with one of our College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty, or (3)
mentored research in another program mentor’s lab in one of the following areas – molecular and developmental
biology, microbiology biochemistry, genetics, toxico...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10850431
- **Project number:** 1T34GM153625-01
- **Recipient organization:** SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mardelle Renee Atkins
- **Activity code:** T34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $117,196
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-03 → 2025-03-26

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10850431

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10850431, U-RISE at Sam Houston State University (1T34GM153625-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10850431. Licensed CC0.

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