Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program In Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (PRIDE)

PROJECT SUMMARY Program Objectives and Goals: This R25 proposal, Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases (PRIDE), aims to provide recent URM college graduates with an intensive two-year mentored research experience in diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism (DEM), and

tailored professional development coursework to successfully guide scholars through the graduate school application process and ensure their success in completing a research-focused biomedical degree program (Ph.D. or MD/PhD). Through our proposed recruitment efforts and multi-layered mentoring approach, this

proposal will build and enhance the diversity of the biomedical research workforce in NIDDK mission areas. Program Design: PRIDE will be geared towards URM college graduates who have graduated no more than 36 months prior to the start of the program and are not currently enrolled in a degree program. Eight scholars in

total will participate in the WashU PRIDE program. In year 1, PRIDE will recruit four scholars for two years of intensive training in biomedical DEM research and professional development by leveraging the robust physical, administrative, and educational infrastructure and DEM resources available at WashU. In year 3, an additional

four scholars will be recruited to participate in the program. Our Program Directors (PDs) have an extensive collaboration record in designing, organizing, and recruiting for DEM-related trainee programs. They lead highly successful summer and year-round programs for undergraduate and graduate URM scholars at WashU to

support long-term research pathways into DEM. We will use evidence-based recruitment strategies and leverage our strong relationships with institutions primarily serving URM students to recruit scholars into the program. The Research Training Plan will include: 1) State-of the-art, structured, yet individualized research training by

performing DEM-related scientific projects; 2) Personalized selection of seminars, workshops and coursework for scholars to develop skills necessary for acceptance and completion of top-tier doctoral degree programs and expertise in DEM research and 3) Engagement with other WashU post-bac and graduate-level scholars.

To achieve these program goals, we propose the following aims: Aim 1. Integrate and augment current training programs to fit the unique needs of PRIDE trainees. Aim 2. Recruit URM postgraduate scholars and provide individualized mentorship for their successful entry and completion of a doctoral degree program. Aim 3. Provide

rigorous DEM-focused research, coursework, and networking opportunities for scholars using a competency (rather than deficit) model. Aim 4. Evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of NIDDK-PRIDE. These objectives will encourage and facilitate undergraduate students from URM groups to stay engaged in scientific

research and support their entry into graduate programs performing research related to NIDDK.