# The Medical Physician Engineers, Scientists, and Clinicians Preparatory Program [MPESC-Prep]

> **NIH NIH R25** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2024 · $160,320

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
There is broad awareness of the shortage of physician-scientists nationally. However, the lack of racial
diversity in the physician-scientist workforce is particularly dire. This deficit has profound consequences that
impact scientific innovation, health policy, and leadership. It also negatively impacts the trust afforded to
physicians and scientists by diverse patient populations.
Fostering diversity of physicians and physician-scientists in the workforce by enhancing undergraduate
educational, mentoring, and in-depth research experiences is a stated goal of the NHLBI and this RFA. To
respond to this charge, we recently developed a pilot, integrated, longitudinal program to promote the diversity
of students and future faculty in biomedical sciences and engineering. The program is known as The Medical
Physician Engineers, Scientists, and Clinicians Preparatory program [MPESC-Prep]. We build on and expand
our pilot to target three institutions who will partner with us to provide four key components that promote
sustained scientific interest and subsequent professional success in diversity undergraduates. These
components include: an in-depth research experience, mentoring, community, and curriculum.
This program includes identification of a research mentor and laboratory to support the student longitudinally
through 2-3 summers in the same research laboratory. The mentors provide professional insights through
regular mentoring meetings, and research experiences leading to research presentations and publications.
Parallel shadowing experiences with a physician faculty member will provide complementary clinical insights.
The focus will consistently be on the professional development of the students pursuing interests in becoming
a physician-scientist/engineer. These focused experiences are supplemented by curricular content to provide
a framework that is college level appropriate while enhancing their understanding of basic biology,
bioinformatics, and research processes. Finally, a series of informal and semiformal events (such as brown
bag lunches) with their peer group, MSTP students, and faculty will be provided to further build a sense of
community.
We will evaluate the implementation of our program to assess the 4 core components of the program guided
by a logic model with key inputs, activities, outputs and short- and long-term outcomes. Achieving these
outcomes ensures that we inspire, nurture, and train the next generation scientific leaders in the
cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic science.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10850779
- **Project number:** 5R25HL163860-03
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** David W Clapp
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $160,320
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-06-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10850779

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10850779, The Medical Physician Engineers, Scientists, and Clinicians Preparatory Program [MPESC-Prep] (5R25HL163860-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10850779. Licensed CC0.

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