# Emerging Infectious Disease and HIV Scholars Program at Brown University

> **NIH NIH R25** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $368,196

## Abstract

The Emerging Infectious Disease and HIV Scholars Program (EIDS) program seeks to develop
a physician-scientist workforce focused on clinical research to inform practical responses to HIV
and associated infections over the next decades. The Alpert Medical School of Brown University
has incorporated a Master of Science with specific coursework to provide an educational
foundation for clinical research with a dedicated research block. The program offers financial
support for pilot research projects and appropriate mentors will be assigned to guide scholars.
Scholars in medical school will attend a relevant professional conference each year and
program faculty and mentors will provide supplemental networking opportunities at these
meetings. The program will work closely with the Rhode Island Department of Health to engage
trainees in the investigation of ongoing epidemics in Rhode Island, such as HIV, COVID-19,
monkey pox, hepatitis C, and escalating sexually transmitted infections including syphilis.
 In the first four years, we enrolled and supported 66 scholars who completed clinical research
projects resulting in 72 abstracts and 31 publications. 25 out of 66 scholars (39%) were from
groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social
sciences (URM utilizing the NIH definition).
This grant will continue to inspire, train, support, and retain a community of scholars to serve as
“microbes hunters”. Specific Aim 1: Inspire future physician-scientists to rapidly address
challenges of HIV associated infections and emerging epidemics. Specific Aim 2: Train future
physician-scientists. Over the course of four years, medical students will complete coursework
leading to a Master in Science degree. Specific Aim 3: Support future physician-scientists. All
scholars will have access to resources to develop an independent research proposal. Support
in clinical research tools, biostatistics, analysis, abstract development, and manuscript
preparation will be provided through tailored coursework and program faculty, staff, and
mentors, and funds will be available for scholars and program faculty and mentors to attend
appropriate scientific conferences.
Specific Aim 4: Retain the community of scholars throughout training. All aspects of the
program will be evaluated on an ongoing basis in order to determine acceptability, relevance,
and value of each component of the training program. Outcomes of interest include research
project development and completion, abstract presentation and manuscript publication, and
long-term engagement in clinical research related to emerging infectious disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868725
- **Project number:** 5R25AI140490-07
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Silvia Shinpei Chiang
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $368,196
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868725

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868725, Emerging Infectious Disease and HIV Scholars Program at Brown University (5R25AI140490-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868725. Licensed CC0.

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