# Accelerating Research Advancement for Investigators Underrepresented in Academia

> **NIH NIH UE5** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $159,937

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The biomedical workforce suffers from a lack of diversity among the research workforce: the number of
investigators from underrepresented backgrounds who enter academia is disproportionately low, and
subsequently, there is a high attrition rate among these investigators due to numerous significant challenges
related to being from an underrepresented group. Lack of diversity in biomedical research is harmful because
diversity improves the research community and our scientific output and because investigators from
underrepresented backgrounds are more likely to conduct research in diverse populations. Thus, recruiting
and retaining underrepresented investigators is critical to achieving equity in biomedical research and clinical
care. Two key factors that improve retention and career advancement for investigators from underrepresented
backgrounds are the availability of faculty role models with similar backgrounds and access to robust
mentorship. This award aims to provide such mentorship and role modeling through a comprehensive
mentoring and career development program: the MPIs, Drs. Stanford and Stanley are physician-scientist
colleagues with multiple previous and existing collaborations who have expertise in mentorship and promoting
diversity. They will lead a comprehensive program that achieves three aims for underrepresented scholars: (1)
providing comprehensive, multi-level mentoring that includes both robust faculty mentorship and peer and
near-peer mentorship; (2) providing guidance and skill-building for research advancement, including
preparation of R01 or equivalent grant applications at the end of the mentoring experience; and (3) preparing
scholars to be mentors and academic leaders. Critical components of the program include monthly peer-
mentoring meetings, monthly individual meetings with one of the MPIs, quarterly meetings with a near-peer
mentor, participation in a curriculum with multiple faculty speakers that ensures the skills required for grant
writing, scientific communication, and academic advancement, and participation in the larger group of scholars
supported by this grant mechanism. During the 2–3-year mentoring experience, scholars will gain a supportive
group of peers, close mentoring relationships with the MPIs and a near-peer mentor; skills to overcome the
many challenges of academia, including those unique to investigators from underrepresented backgrounds;
skills in grant and manuscript writing through both groups and individually mentored activities; skills in
mentoring and leadership; and a vision and strategy for moving forward in their careers. This proposal serves
the mission of NIDDK by supporting and promoting scholars from underrepresented backgrounds who are
already NIDDK funded, substantially increasing the chances of their retention and success in the biomedical
workforce.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10918341
- **Project number:** 5UE5DK137285-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Fatima Cody Stanford
- **Activity code:** UE5 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $159,937
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-05 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10918341

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10918341, Accelerating Research Advancement for Investigators Underrepresented in Academia (5UE5DK137285-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10918341. Licensed CC0.

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