PROJECT SUMMARY The University of Minnesota's R25 Short-Term Training Research Education Program has demonstrated remarkable success in advancing diversity in the nation's biomedical workforce over the course of 15 years. With a commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowering underrepresented students, the program has provided vital support to 294 talented undergraduate individuals from diverse backgrounds, propelling them towards successful baccalaureate degrees. 70% of former students embarked on advanced biomedical degrees, including MD, PhD, and MD/PhD degrees. These outcomes firmly establish our R25 program as a potent catalyst for nurturing diverse and skilled researchers. Building on its achievements, our program is steadfast in its vision to sustain and strengthen its commitment to diversity and educational excellence in the biomedical field. We request continued funding support to focus on sustaining participant diversity by actively recruiting a diverse and academically qualified group of 12 R25 grant-eligible students from local community colleges and nationwide each year (Aim 1). These promising trainees will be offered an enriching ten-week independent research experience mentored by distinguished faculty, while also benefiting from a wide array of enrichment activities. Workshops on responsible research conduct, scientific communication, graduate school applications, career mentoring, and addressing issues like implicit bias and imposter syndrome will serve as empowering tools for these aspiring researchers, helping them overcome barriers and succeed in their biomedical careers. In Aim 2, the R25 program centers around strengthening its Pre-Medical Scientist Training Program (Pre-MSTP) module, which has already achieved significant success with a remarkable 33% of alumni enrolled in or having graduated from MD/PhD programs. In Aim 3, the R25 program aspires to forge new frontiers of inclusivity by developing an innovative research training module tailored explicitly to the unique needs of community college transfer students, known as Bio-LEAP (Biomedical Life Science Enrichment for Academic Progress). With a keen recognition of the vast population of underrepresented students transferring from community colleges to the University of Minnesota, the Bio-LEAP module will prioritize engaging and nurturing this dynamic group. By providing tailored research training experience, the Bio-LEAP module seeks to facilitate a smoother transition to UMN, positively impacting academic progress toward a bachelor's degree, fostering a passion for research, and ultimately increasing their success in matriculating into competitive advanced biomedical degree programs. In summary, our proposed aims will enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce, nurture a diverse generation of well-prepared researchers, and make a lasting positive impact on the mission of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, fostering excellence and inclusivity...