# Training Program in Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $688,917

## Abstract

The purpose of this program is to provide rigorous multidisciplinary research training for physician-scientists
committed to careers in academic medicine and for PhD postdoctoral fellows in cardiovascular biology and
medicine. Our training program incorporates two guiding principles: 1) biomedical research requires teams
of investigators with diverse scientific and medical backgrounds possessing complementary expertise and
perspective, and 2) there are no shortcuts to a career in cardiovascular research; rigorous didactic training,
structured mentorship, a focused research project, and constructive feedback are required. The program is
centered in the University of Pennsylvania Cardiovascular Institute (CVI), which includes 190 members in
16 departments performing a broad spectrum of cardiovascular science. Considerable infrastructure support
from the School of Medicine is committed to the program, including integrated basic and translational
research space and core laboratories in the Smilow Center for Translational Research. This renewal
application will support 7 MD, MD/PhD, and PhD postdoctoral fellows per year performing 2-3 years of
dedicated research training. Thirty-four NIH-funded Penn CVI faculty members in the Departments of
Medicine, Surgery, Cell and Developmental Biology, Genetics, Physiology, Systems Pharmacology and
Therapeutics, and Bioengineering, serve as trainers and mentors. Three tracks have been created. The
Basic Track prepares trainees for careers in cardiovascular science using laboratory approaches. The
Clinical and Translational Track prepares trainees for research careers at the interface of laboratory science
and clinical investigation, including deep-phenotyping in human subjects, applied genomics, novel devices,
and therapeutics. A new track in Outcomes and Health Services Research prepares trainees for careers
that leverage big data to improve health care delivery and outcomes. The core of our curriculum is a
supervised research preceptorship. Practical research training is supplemented by graduate and medical
school classwork, lectures, seminars, skill classes (medical writing, obtaining extramural support),
postdoctoral career advising and courses in the ethical conduct of research. A successful strategy to attract
individuals from under-represented minorities will be maintained. Internal and External Advisory
Committees review trainee progress and programmatic direction. Over the past 15 years metrics of the
training program's success include: 1) recruitment of outstanding MD, MD/PhD and PhD trainees, 2) > 95%
of trainees completing the program (several having obtained advanced degrees), 3) an average of 6.2
manuscripts published per trainee (many in high-impact journals), 4) a vast majority of trainees obtaining
academic positions or pursuing additional postdoctoral studies. Programmatic enhancements described in
this application include the new track in Outcomes and Health Services Research and enhanced ties ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9962967
- **Project number:** 5T32HL007843-24
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** THOMAS P. CAPPOLA
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $688,917
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-09-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9962967

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9962967, Training Program in Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine (5T32HL007843-24). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9962967. Licensed CC0.

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