# NIH Summer Research Program to Increase Diversity Among Biomedical Researchers

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · 2020 · $146,879

## Abstract

Abstract
The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) seeks funding to continue its summer undergraduate
research program for undergraduates from groups traditionally under-represented in biomedical research or
from disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities. The research training opportunities available
through this short-term training experience span the range from basic to translational to clinical/epidemiologic
research. Therefore, the program is very well suited to support the research interests of a broad range of
trainees. Many of these research training experiences are in areas supported within the research portfolio of
the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Importantly, UMMS provides a very intensive research
environment attracting more than $280 million in research funding in 2016. In 2010 UMMS received a Clinical
and Translational Science Award, one of sixty-two elite institutions in the US to receive this award.
The NIH funded program supports 15 trainees annually. This renewal application seeks to increase this to 20
trainees annually. There is significant institutional support for the research training program. The UMMS Office
of Research provides matching funds each year for additional 9 trainees for the Summer Undergraduate
Research Experience (SURE) for students who do not meet NIH selection criteria. Both programs are run in
parallel, provide identical experiences, and are led by the Program Directors. In addition, each year over fifty-
five UMMS faculty members serve as mentors/lab hosts to the trainees, selection committee members,
lecturers and poster judges for the program.
The UMMS summer undergraduate research program is a highly structured program. In addition to the
research experience, trainees must provide an abstract of their work and develop a poster for a Closing Poster
session open to the entire UMMS research community. Additional elements of the program include an
orientation to research with lectures on: keeping a laboratory notebook; the responsible conduct of research;
animal safety; chemical safety and radiation safety; as well as the responsible conduct of research. During the
first two weeks of the program there are six lectures on recent or “breaking” issues in biomedical research.
Trainees are randomly divided into small groups (8 – 9 each) for weekly Small Group Discussion sessions
(weeks 4 – 9) led by junior faculty members or senior postdoctoral fellows where they discuss their research
and dissect the elements that constitute an effective poster presentation. Twice during the program each
trainee attends a small group Breakfast Club meeting with the Program Co-Directors, providing opportunities
for more intimate interaction with the program leadership. Additional networking opportunities are provided via
luncheon discussions with UMMS leaders and faculty, networking sessions with the Dean of the Graduate
School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), the MD/PhD Program Director, an...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9856307
- **Project number:** 5R25HL092610-13
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** BRIAN C LEWIS
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $146,879
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2008-05-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9856307

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9856307, NIH Summer Research Program to Increase Diversity Among Biomedical Researchers (5R25HL092610-13). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9856307. Licensed CC0.

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