Many of the research and learning opportunities at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) that improve the lives of students, patients, and medical professionals are funded through grants. UAB’s Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO) works to provide grant support and other resources to recruit, train, and retain a pipeline of physician-scientists. PSDO received two recent grants that will equip trainees with the necessary training and resources to excel in their journeys to become the next generation of physician-scientists. William M. Geisler, M.D., MPH, directs the PSDO, serving as associate dean for Physician Scientist Development and Principal Investigator for the grant awards.
NHLBI T35 Short-Term Summer Program Grant
The NHLBI UAB T35 Short-Term Summer Program Grant funds up to 32 Heersink School of Medicine students to engage in mentored research and training during the summer following their first year of medical school. As the largest external funding source within UAB’s Medical Student Summer Research Pathways, this program has been running for 41 years, offering research opportunities to over 1,000 medical students. Recently renewed in May 2024, the UAB T35 program continues its long-standing tradition of supporting medical student research and training.
The UAB T35 Short-Term Summer Program Grant is a training award designed to offer medical students mentored research experiences in heart, lung, and blood-related fields. Heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders significantly impact global health, and physician-scientists are impactful in addressing these issues through their research, which can lead to the development of new diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies. Alongside hands-on research provided through the UAB T35 support, participants also receive didactic instruction aimed at enhancing their skills and knowledge in translational research, ultimately fostering greater interest in physician-scientist career paths.
NIH NIAID R38 Award
The PSDO also received a new NIH NIAID R38 award, which funds the UAB Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) Program.
Residency is a stage with a heavy clinical burden, and mentored research and training opportunities during residency are needed to help retain those interested in a physician-scientist career. The goal of the NIAID-funded UAB StARR Program is to recruit, train, and accelerate the research independence of UAB’s resident investigators to help build the next generation of physician-scientists addressing infectious diseases.
“The UAB StARR Program provides residents with comprehensive mentored research and career development, preparing them for successful independent research careers,” said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. “I am proud of this initiative, and I know it will equip the next generation of UAB physician-scientists to lead in the fields of infection, immunology, and allergy research.”
The StARR program offers mentored research opportunities and career development for residents in UAB's Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Pathology, Surgery, and OB/GYN Residency Programs. Each year, up to four residents are selected to participate in this 12-month program, which includes research under the guidance of a UAB-affiliated faculty mentor with a history of strong mentoring and funding support. UAB StARR participants, also engage in career development activities that build core competencies in research methodology, responsible conduct of research, communication of findings, scientific writing, and team science.
Participants receive salary support during the program, with the possibility of extending their involvement for an additional 12 months. The program also provides up to $3,000 in travel funds for presenting research at domestic conferences and attending NIH-sponsored workshops, as well as up to $16,000 in supplementary research funds.
The ultimate goal of the UAB StARR program is to cultivate a cohort of highly motivated, well-trained, early-career physician-scientists who are prepared for a successful transition toward a career as an independent physician-scientist.
Click here to learn more about the Physician Scientist Training Program.