# Reproductive Scientist Development Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $172,598

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The Reproductive Scientist Development Program (RSDP) is a 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 most 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
extensive, immersive training in research methods and research-related career development. Following
this experience, Scholars spend an additional two-year period establishing their research program in a
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Phase II). 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 mainly by NICHD, while support for research-related
expenses has been provided from the various non-federal agencies who contribute to the RSDP program.
The RSDP has a rich history of educating young physician scientists in Obstetrics and Gynecology and
replenishing the pipeline of reproductive scientists and is committed to continuing its objective of
producing the next leaders of our academic obstetrics and gynecology departments. With funding thru
this supplement, the program can address the relative dearth of applicants and scholars in the
subspecialty of gynecologic oncology and help to fill an urgent need for well-trained physician scientists
in this subspecialty.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11017198
- **Project number:** 3K12HD000849-37S1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Danny J Schust
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $172,598
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1988-09-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11017198

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11017198, Reproductive Scientist Development Program (3K12HD000849-37S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11017198. Licensed CC0.

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