# Summer Program in Diabetes and Obesity Research (SPIDOR)

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2020 · $108,000

## Abstract

The Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of USC recruits locally and nationally to achieve a diverse student body.
In 2011, a summer research program known as Bridging the Gaps (BTG) was instituted to increase
underrepresented minorities (URMs) matriculating at KSOM. The objectives were several-fold, 1) to increase
awareness of the roles of physician scientists and biomedical scientists, thereby serving as a catalyst to ignite
interest in choosing these particular career paths, 2) to evoke interest in those areas of research in which
minorities are severely impacted, serving as a potential mechanism to reduce health disparities, 3) to enhance
the potential for successful matriculation into a doctoral program, serving as a pipeline to attract talented URMs
to KSOM. The current proposal, Summer Program in Diabetes and Obesity Research (SPIDOR), complements
and expands the stated objectives of BTG. The novelty of SPIDOR is our interdisciplinary model that
emphasizes diabetes-related research in basic science, clinical and engineering fields. The preceptors of this
grant represent a balanced mix of full, associate, and assistant professors who are members of our USC
Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute (DORI). These faculty members have proven records of student
training and a history of collaborative research. We have carefully selected a group of faculty who not only
have productive research programs, but have consistently demonstrated strong dedication to student
mentoring and to increasing diversity at KSOM.
We are excited to leverage experiences and established strong relationships with BTG toward the recruitment
goals of this proposal. Through our undergraduate pipeline recruitment network, we have developed
relationships with local Hispanic-serving institutions within the California State University and University of
California systems. We have also fostered strong relationships with Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (e.g., Morehouse, Spelman, Howard and Xavier).
SPIDOR will be a 10 week residential program in biomedical research and didactic instruction. Our primary
objectives are to recruit and expose URM students to an integrated approach to diabetes and obesity research
and increase their competitiveness for entry into a doctoral program. Towards these goals, we will provide an
intense 2-week didactic for complete immersion into the various research settings. To facilitate entry into a
doctoral program, we will offer; MCAT and GRE preparatory sessions, instruction on program admissions
processes; application preparation; interviewing skills, including mock interviews and scholarship/financial aid
opportunities. Topics covered in courses, workshops and seminars will be taught by our DORI faculty, an
interdisciplinary team in diabetes, obesity and engineering. This interdisciplinary teaching model will serve to
instill the importance of teamwork in delivering optimal outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9920710
- **Project number:** 5R25DK112738-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** JOYCE M RICHEY
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $108,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-22 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9920710

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9920710, Summer Program in Diabetes and Obesity Research (SPIDOR) (5R25DK112738-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9920710. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*