# Developmental Research Projects Program (DRPP)

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES · 2024 · $2,348,087

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The overall goal of the Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP) is to support the career
development of promising early stage investigators at PR-INBRE lead and network institutions. The DRPP is
central to the success of the PR-INBRE by providing mentoring and financial support to enhance the research
capacity of the network. We will use the infrastructure and protocols that were established during the current
cycle for: publicizing the DRPP funding and mentoring opportunities, the rigorous peer-review procedure, and
the funding decision process involving the INBRE Administrative Core, Steering Committee (SC), External
Advisory Committee (EAC), and the NIH Program Office. The DRPP will identify promising investigators in the
early stages of their careers and postdoctoral associates, and provide them with not just financial support, but
individualized mentoring and a cohesive research infrastructure by the following Specific Aims. First, to
increase and develop the talent pool in PR, a structured mentoring program and related developmental
activities will be implemented, with an emphasis on fulfillment of Individual Developmental Plans (IDP) and
reinforcing grantsmanship and writing skills. Second, to reverse the general decline in federal resources for
biomedical research, we will provide funds for meritorious research that proposes to use evidence-based
findings to improve human health and fill critical gaps in our current knowledge base in the thematic areas of
Neuroscience/Behavior, Molecular Medicine/Cancer, Drug Discovery/Development, and Bioinformatics. Third,
the research infrastructure of the PR-INBRE will be buttressed by limited awards for small instruments for
teaching and research needs of the PUIs. This Aim will also grant collaborative mini awards to INBRE
investigators to augment the use of INBRE Core facilities for “OMICS” and big-data type studies at the PR-
INBRE Centralized Research Instrumentation Core (CRI) and the Bioinformatics Resources Core (BiRC). As
shown by our current success in obtaining R-type funding and peer-reviewed publications by the DRPP
investigators, outcomes will be measured by internal and external Evaluation and Tracking of successful grant
and manuscript submission and achievement of independent funding. Therefore, these Aims are designed to
encourage interdisciplinary research among the INBRE and COBRE institutions, increase the number of
extramural funds awarded to the DRPP investigators, augment the quality of PR-INBRE investigators’
publications, and mentor qualified investigators to obtain independent funding through R15 and R21 awards.
These strategies are expected to result in a highly trained cadre of underrepresented scientists ultimately
contributing to health benefits and increased diversity in the biomedical sciences. Thus, the DRPP expects to
organize, establish, and develop a stimulating, highly productive, and collaborative research program that will
strengthen our c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10890705
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103475-22
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** SURANGANIE DHARMAWARDHANE
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $2,348,087
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2001-09-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10890705

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10890705, Developmental Research Projects Program (DRPP) (5P20GM103475-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10890705. Licensed CC0.

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