# Dermatology Scientist Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $232,477

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The proposed T32 Dermatology Scientist Training Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is
designed to prepare outstanding predoctoral (Medical Scientist Training Program [MSTP] candidates only) and
postdoctoral trainees (MD, PhD, and MD/PhD) for academic research careers in Dermatology at a time of
declining numbers of physician-scientists nationwide. During the initial 5-year period, with 2 predoctoral and 2
postdoctoral trainees per year, each for a 2- or, if indicated, 3-year appointment with protected research time,
this new training program will fill a critical need for research training in a diverse range of research areas
pertaining to skin biology, including immunology, metabolism, and computational biology, enhancing
collaborative basic and translational research at UCLA. In response to this need, the interdisciplinary
curriculum and mentored research opportunities of the new program interweave the scientific expertise and
mentoring experience of 33 high-quality multidisciplinary faculty who are committed to collaborative, team-
based science. The new career development program will leverage the resources of the UCLA MSTP,
Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program, and Training Program in Translational Science
for the core curriculum. The aims of the UCLA Dermatology T32 program are to: i) expand the multidisciplinary
knowledge base of dermatology as it relates to different aspects of skin diseases; ii) provide didactic and
hands-on research training in the intellectual and philosophical foundation of dermatological investigation
within the broader clinical-translational research enterprise; iii) develop trainees' scientific writing skills for
publications and grants; iv) provide an academic environment that enables development of the research skills
and experience needed for successful, independent scientific careers in academic medicine; and, v) model
research-empowering teaching and mentoring skills for trainees' development, including their eventual
replication of research education, training, and career development programs in skin biology as their careers
evolve into stable, scientific independence. Overall, the proposed T32 carves out a unique niche not only within
the health sciences training/career development enterprise at UCLA as an integrated program focused on both
basic scientists and physician scientists in investigative dermatology but also among NIAMS-supported T32
programs in dermatology nationwide through its innovative leveraging of a university-wide program, the STAR
Program, to develop the careers of physician scientists, combining clinical and research training.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9953977
- **Project number:** 5T32AR071307-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT L MODLIN
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $232,477
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9953977

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9953977, Dermatology Scientist Training Program (5T32AR071307-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9953977. Licensed CC0.

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