# Medical Scientist Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2024 · $1,078,847

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The University of Colorado MD/PhD Program (CU-MSTP) was established in 1983 and has successfully trained
263 dual-degree students to expand the physician-scientist workforce. CU-MSTP has been continuously funded
by NIGMS since 1992, with our program recently growing from ~ 75 students to a current total of 86 students.
Our Program Mission is to train a diverse cadre of dual-degree students to become outstanding physician-
scientists and future leaders in biomedical research. To accomplish this mission, we select students from an
increasing national applicant pool (from 386 in 2017 to 567 in 2021), seeking out those candidates whose record
of research, academic, and leadership achievements are exemplary. CU-MSTP recruits 10-11 diverse applicants
per year from across the nation, being one of two programs serving the nine Mountain West states. CU-MSTP
uses a holistic review process to identify applicants with experiences, attributes, and metrics that project likely
success in our program and as physician scientists. Our current roster of 86 students (48% female; 16% URM,
8% disabled, 15% 1st generation college, and 25% disadvantaged) come from across the nation, from a variety
of educational backgrounds, and with significant prior research experience and publications. Several recent
institutional changes enhance the training environment for CU-MSTP students. Our MSTP students benefit from
an innovative new medical school “Trek” curriculum implemented in 2021 that incorporates novel early
longitudinal integrated clinical training. The resulting new MSTP “Switchback” curriculum connects rigorous
research training with cutting-edge medical training in a highly integrated, flexible, and individualized manner,
maintaining the strengths of the prior CU-MSTP training plan and keeping the ~8-year timeline for completion of
both degrees. For thesis research, our students choose from a wide variety of fields with MSTP faculty in 15
graduate training programs across three campuses (Anschutz Medical Campus, National Jewish Health, and
the University of Colorado-Boulder). Participating CU-MSTP faculty have a combined annual grant income of
~$60M. To enhance the success of our students, we provide career guidance throughout the training period,
and we work diligently to place our graduates in elite residencies and fellowships. Our students have excelled in
metrics that predict career success as physician scientists, including publishing impactful peer-reviewed
manuscripts, obtaining early research funding, and matching in competitive, research-focused residencies. CU
School of Medicine provides strong support to CU-MSTP, with a total of $16.97M total support in the 2017-2021
five-year cycle. The growing Anschutz Medical Campus provides state-of-the-art education, research and clinical
facilities, and enjoys significant momentum with recent major campus initiatives including the new Center for
Health AI, RNA Biosciences Initiative, and Department o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868495
- **Project number:** 5T32GM149361-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Cara C. Wilson
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,078,847
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868495

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868495, Medical Scientist Training Program (5T32GM149361-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868495. Licensed CC0.

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