# University of Maryland Summer Training and Research (STAR) Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2020 · $127,462

## Abstract

The University of Maryland (UM) School of Public Health proposes to continue a Summer Training And
Research (STAR) program to provide underrepresented and disadvantaged undergraduate students with two
10-wk summer sessions of research and career development training to enhance their potential to apply for
and complete graduate degrees in biomedical/behavioral science related to cardiovascular (CV), lung, and
blood diseases. Our aim is to increase diversity in individuals who choose careers in biomedical/behavioral
research to reduce morbidity and mortality from CV, lung, and blood diseases. Specific objectives are to: (1)
Increase knowledge of landmark research on the causes and prevention of CV, lung, and blood diseases, (2)
Enhance research skills and experience necessary to be competitive graduate school applicants in CV, lung,
and blood disease research areas, (3) Enhance awareness of the process, practice, and ethics of scientific
research, (4) Prepare Trainees for graduate school and a research career, and (5) Provide quality mentoring.
The program extends over 2 consecutive summers, with distinct activities for each summer. Applicants are
recruited locally and nationally through the Big Ten Academic Alliance Summer Research Opportunity Program
website, mailings, listservs, our website, visits to other campuses, and faculty networks. An Admissions
Committee selects Trainees and matches them with Mentors. Trainees are provided with housing and are
remunerated for their work, which is primarily focused on research closely integrated with that of their Mentor.
Research comprises ~80% of the Trainees’ time, with 20% spent in ethics, research-related, and career
development training. The 18 Mentors are UM faculty with research programs in content areas that are highly
relevant to NHLBI; they have an average of $446,000/yr/Mentor in research funding. The mix of expertise
ranges from laboratory-based bench research to applied community-based and community participatory
research. In addition to direct research experience, Trainees meet weekly to discuss research activities, to set
weekly goals, meet with various academic professionals for dynamic exchanges about graduate school issues,
and discuss classic research articles relevant to CV, lung, and blood diseases. Weekly sessions on either
Ethics- (1st Yr Trainees) or Research-Related (2nd Yr Trainees) Training are included. A 2nd Yr/1st Yr
mentor/mentee program also enhances Trainee retention over two summers. Trainees present their research
in oral and poster formats at the end of the summer session. Scientific, social, and cultural activities in the
Washington, DC area also are included. Extensive program evaluation assesses how well the program
achieves pre-determined Benchmarks and Internal and External Advisory Boards meet to review outcome data
and make recommendations to improve and maintain program quality. We met virtually all of our original
Benchmarks in the first 5 and 10 yrs of our fu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9879494
- **Project number:** 2R25HL092604-11A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES M HAGBERG
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $127,462
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2008-04-15 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9879494

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9879494, University of Maryland Summer Training and Research (STAR) Program (2R25HL092604-11A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9879494. Licensed CC0.

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