# Summer Program in Obesity, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Training (SPORT)

> **NIH NIH T35** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2020 · $87,247

## Abstract

This proposal requests ongoing funding to continue the Summer Program in Obesity, Diabetes and
Nutrition Research Training (SPORT) and aims to inspire passion toward research in diabetes, obesity and
nutrition by providing a mentored summer research experience for 12 first year medical students per year, as
well as ongoing career, academic, research and clinical mentoring throughout medical school, with the
ultimate goal of preparing participants for placement in competitive residency training programs leading to
careers as independent physician scientists. The aims are to: 1) match first year medical students with
outstanding faculty mentors who will maintain the mentor relationship and provide career guidance
throughout students' medical school career; 2) provide structured training and experience in the conduct of
independent, hypothesis driven research; 3) improve diversity among the scientific community by recruiting
students from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research. With respect to the latter, overall, 8-
33% of the SPORT training cohorts have been students from underrepresented backgrounds. The training
experience is founded on the principle that we learn by doing. In addition to completing the mentored
research project, students participate in core seminars, a research retreat and forum to gain additional
research exposure and develop a mentoring network. The University of Maryland School of Medicine is a rich
academic environment, and a leading institution in diabetes, obesity and nutrition focused research and
clinical care. We have assembled 50 mentors, many of whom are members of the NIDDK funded Nutrition
Obesity Research Center, who are experienced, well-funded investigators with excellent track records of
mentoring whose research covers diverse topics including epidemiology, genetics/genomics, molecular,
cellular, and pathophysiological mechanisms of disease, technology, translational research, and patient-
oriented clinical research. The program, trainees and mentors are evaluated through mid and end of
program evaluations as well as a process involving a Steering Committee which meets twice annually to
review program content, evaluations, student progress, and advise future direction. Students are offered
opportunities for ongoing research and mentoring through 4th year research electives. Program participants
have contributed to peer reviewed publications and participated in presentations at national meetings.
SPORT provides a pipeline to attracting highly qualified physicians into biomedical research by providing
medical students an early medical school opportunity for mentored research training, intellectual development
and to gain technical experience in biomedical research focused on obesity, nutrition, diabetes and related
research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9998935
- **Project number:** 5T35DK095737-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** NANETTE I STEINLE
- **Activity code:** T35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $87,247
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-07-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9998935

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9998935, Summer Program in Obesity, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Training (SPORT) (5T35DK095737-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9998935. Licensed CC0.

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