# UIC Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2024 · $205,565

## Abstract

This Supplement proposes to extend the ongoing support for two individuals through the end of the UIC
BIRCWH grant period. One individual is a Hispanic physician scientist who was appointed as a BIRCWH
Scholar in September 2022 through an administrative supplement. His program of research focuses on health
disparities in cervical cancer. The second is a Black scientist who was appointed as a BIRCWH postdoctoral
trainee in August 2023 through the second administrative supplement. Her program of research focuses on a
dietary lifestyle intervention developed with and for pregnant Black women to prevent gestational diabetes and
lower cardiometabolic risk. That postdoctoral trainee succeeded in securing a faculty position as a tenure-track
Assistant Professor in the UIC College of Pharmacy, and these additional funds would provide her the
opportunity to transition to a BIRCWH Scholar. Both individuals would continue their ongoing participation in
the UIC BIRCWH. The long-term goal of the UIC BIRCWH program is to promote training and career
development of a new generation of researchers equipped with the knowledge and career skills necessary to
advance science for the health of women in the next decade and beyond. We are based in the UIC College of
Medicine, but draw on the interdisciplinary strengths of UIC’s seven health colleges. With supplemental
funding, the 2019-2024 UIC BIRCWH has trained 8 researchers in women’s or sex/gender-based health
research: 4 clinician (MD) Scholars, 3 PhD Scholars, and 1 Postdoctoral trainee. With the requested continued
funding and her new faculty appointment, the postdoctoral fellow would transition to become a BIRCWH
Scholar. The UIC BIRCWH capitalizes on four program strengths: (1) our success in launching the careers of a
diverse cohort of 25 junior faculty and one postdoctoral fellow in women’s health research (35% Black or
Hispanic); (2) alignment with the goals of the NIH and Office for Research on Women’s Health; (3) the highly
interdisciplinary nature of the program and integration across UIC and regional BIRCWH Programs; and (4) the
use of evidence-based mentoring practices to prepare scholars to conduct team science and address barriers
facing new female and URM investigators. Our short-term objectives build upon these strengths through
ongoing program activities and several new initiatives. Ongoing activities include: a) supplementing team
mentoring programs with new training and tools, b) optimizing existing and new UIC partnerships, and c)
augmenting our strong didactic curriculum in women’s health research. BIRCWH activities at UIC related to
sex and gender influences in health and disease will advance the ORWH goal to accelerate the translation of
knowledge into improved health care for women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11174112
- **Project number:** 3K12AR084225-06S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** IRINA A BUHIMSCHI
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $205,565
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-09-16 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11174112

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11174112, UIC Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health Program (3K12AR084225-06S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11174112. Licensed CC0.

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