# Reproductive Scientist Development Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $812,177

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The Reproductive Scientist Development Program (RSDP) is a highly diverse, multi-disciplinary, multi-
institutional research career development program for obstetrician-gynecologists in cell and molecular biology
and related fundamental sciences. The objective of this program is to educate obstetrician-gynecologists in
contemporary basic science research related to reproductive medicine and biology in order to prepare them for
research careers in academic medicine. The overall goal is to help ensure that academic obstetrics and
gynecology fulfills its mission to increase research and discovery in the reproductive sciences. Outstanding
MD/PhD, PhD, and MD scientists with broad research experience serve as faculty mentors.
A unique feature of this program is that outstanding individuals, upon completing a residency in obstetrics
and gynecology, and in many cases two or three years of clinical subspecialty fellowship, spend two years
(Phase I) in fundamental science research laboratories under the supervision and mentorship of experienced,
highly regarded accomplished scientists. During Phase I, Scholars are dedicated to a minimum of 75%
protected research effort. Following this experience, Scholars spend an additional two-year period
establishing their research program in a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Phase II) and transitioning
to independence. Here, the Scholar serves as a junior faculty member with at least 75% time devoted to
developing an independent research career. For the past five (5) years, salary support for scholars has been
provided by NICHD, while support for research related expenses has been provided from the various non-
federal agencies who contribute to the RSDP program.
NICHD funding under this mechanism will continue to support up to 2 Scholars for the duration of Phase I
and Phase II. This program will continue to educate young physician scientists in Obstetrics and Gynecology
and replenish the pipeline of reproductive scientists. The RSDP has a rich history of accomplishing this goal
already and is committed to continuing its objective of producing physician scientists who are highly
competitive for federal and non-federal research funding and who will become the next leaders of our
academic obstetrics and gynecology departments.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10932236
- **Project number:** 5K12HD000849-38
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Danny J Schust
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $812,177
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1988-09-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10932236

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10932236, Reproductive Scientist Development Program (5K12HD000849-38). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10932236. Licensed CC0.

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