# Research Training Program in Cardiovascular Surgery

> **NIH NIH T32** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $351,772

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases and their complications are leading causes of death and disability in the United
States. The health implications of surgical cardiovascular disease create a strong need for surgical research.
Unfortunately, graduates of cardiovascular surgery training programs face steep challenges to establishing re-
search careers. Taking advantage of our position in the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in
the world, we propose atpostdoctoral training program in cardiovascular surgical research that will: (1) increase
the pool of MDs and PhDs who enter cardiovascular surgical research careers, and (2) provide our trainees
with the skills necessary to be successful and productive in cardiovascular research. We propose to achieve
these goals through accepting two trainees per year (MD surgery residents or PhDs) into three training tracks,
each two years in duration: bioengineering and biodesign, basic and translational research, and clinical and
outcomes research. Trainees can pursue diverse research career training opportunities—ranging from qualita-
tive patient-centered outcomes research to a molecular exploration of cardiac myocyte regeneration—yet in all
cases the focus is on addressing a clinical problem relevant to cardiovascular surgeons. In order to provide a
range of training opportunities, we have recruited 20 mentors from Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Rice
University, and the University of Houston. [Our mentors collectively have over $16.2 million in research funding
and have trained over 240 postdoctoral fellows over the past 10 years.] Within the three training tracks, the 20
mentors are grouped into specific themes, such as “aortic disease,” based on their expertise and existing col-
laborative relationships. Each track allows trainees to complete a degree, such as a Master in Clinical Re-
search, through an established graduate program in the Texas Medical Center. Our program director is Todd
Rosengart, MD, Chair of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at BCM; co-directors are Scott Le-
Maire, MD, Vice Chair for Research, and Barbara Trautner, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Research. Our lead-
ership will be supported by an Executive Steering Committee and five subcommittees: Selection, Curriculum,
Individual Development, Program Evaluation, and Faculty Evaluation. The Executive Steering Committee will
also receive input from an External Advisory Committee composed of three surgeons who have all directed
T32 training programs. [Our highly competitive applicant pool includes 2,587 MD or combined degree appli-
cants to our general surgery residency research track and 152 PhD postdoctoral research applicants to our
mentors' departments at BCM, Rice University, and the University of Houston (numbers from 2017).] In order
to ensure diversity among our trainees, we have enlisted the support of the BCM Office of Institutional Diversity
and Inclusion to help during residency interview days and t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9963344
- **Project number:** 5T32HL139430-03
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Todd K Rosengart
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $351,772
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9963344

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9963344, Research Training Program in Cardiovascular Surgery (5T32HL139430-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9963344. Licensed CC0.

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