# Craniofacial Oral-biology Student Training in Academic Research (COSTAR)

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · 2024 · $592,041

## Abstract

This application is for renewal of the T32 training grant COSTAR (Craniofacial Oral-Biology Student Training in
Academic Research). In the last 15 years, COSTAR mentors have trained 17 DDS/PhD students, 28 PhD
students and 16 postdoctoral fellows. We are particularly pleased with the long-term outcome of our COSTAR
alumni. Over the last 15 years, 82% (50/61) of our trainees have careers in science research, teaching, or are
still in training. Impressively, 78% of our DDS/PhD students successfully competed and received F Awards,
F00/R99 or R grants. COSTAR has made great strides over this 15-year reporting period in promoting diversity
with recruitment of under-represented (UR) students (48%) and women (62%). Based upon these objective
measures of success and our continual self-assessment process, we propose a renewal for an additional five-
year period of support. Our focused goal remains devoted to train a cadre of highly skilled, interactive scientists
who can successfully address the new opportunities in dental, oral, and craniofacial research and become a part
of the future academic faculty in US dental schools.
Our Aims are to: 1) to recruit outstanding trainees from a diverse pool of applicants; 2) to train them in rigorous,
transparent, ethical state-of-the-art research methods, including team science; and 3) to nurture them in a culture
of translational science. The COSTAR program will offer three integrated training tracks: 1) DDS/PhD program,
2) PhD program, and 3) Postdoctoral research fellowships. These three training tracks are provided in three
integrated thematic areas by a highly selected, research intensive, and collaborative, Program Faculty
representing the best mentors across the Dental, Medical, and Graduate Schools at UTHSCSA, and united by
their shared interest in Craniofacial Oral Biology research. Thus, COSTAR serves as a strong institutional nexus
for an exceptional multi- and inter- disciplinary research and training environment further enhancing the
institutional infrastructure for research in Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Biology. Highly motivated and dedicated
students and fellows who are selected for research training in the COSTAR program will participate in a series
of COSTAR core courses and experiences that are integrated with programs across the Dental School and the
campus at large. Importantly, COSTAR-sponsored activities yield a strong programmatic identity, collaboration,
and networking among trainees. By formally developing, a tracking and analyzing plan focused on continuously
improving our training program, the COSTAR Leadership Council and Advisory Boards provide an optimal
environment for research training of new scientists in Craniofacial Oral Biology following the tradition of our long-
term success in academia of former trainees at the UTHSCSA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10870112
- **Project number:** 5T32DE014318-23
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenneth M Hargreaves
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $592,041
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-07-08 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10870112

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10870112, Craniofacial Oral-biology Student Training in Academic Research (COSTAR) (5T32DE014318-23). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10870112. Licensed CC0.

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