NIDDK Medical Student Research Program

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

NIDDK Medical Student Research Program (DK-MSRP): Project Summary/Abstract The NIDDK created the NIDDK Medical Student Research Program (DK-MSRP) in 2009 to promote exposure of medical students to research and career pathways involving diabetes, obesity, and metabolism. The NIDDK asked the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center (VDRC) to lead this program because of its experience with a long-standing medical student research program. This application proposes the next phase of the DK-MSRP with goals of engaging medical students from around the country in research, exciting them about careers in discovery, and promoting their career development in ways that promote the NIDDK mission. The DK-MSRP consists of: 1) A nation-wide application process that informs students from all US medical schools about the program; 2) Matching of selected students with one of 16 NIDDK-supported Diabetes Research Centers (DRC); 3) Student-conducted research at an NIDDK-supported DRC 4) Enrichment activities that educate students about diabetes research and the career paths of physician-scientists; 5) A National Research Symposium at the end of the summer that allows students to present their work to faculty and other students and to interact with visiting professors from NIDDK-supported DRCs; 6) A robust program evaluation and oversight system to guide program improvements; 7) Short and long-term career follow up of student participants; and 8) Synergy with other NIDDK-funded programs. Since its inception in 2009, 1010 students from more than 140 medical schools and 45 states and Puerto Rico have conducted mentored research at one of 16 NIDDK-supported DRCs during the summer between their first and second years of medical school. This program, with its considerable diversity in geography, ethnicity, and scientific area of research, has become a way to initiate research exposure for students who might not otherwise pursue this career path. The VDRC and the DK-MSRP propose these aims and innovations to enhance this important program: 1) Adapt lessons learned during COVID to provide a robust hybrid / virtual program that complements in-person components and provides flexibility with changing medical school curricula; 2) Foster outreach to promote diversity for the DK-MSRP and the future of diabetes research; 3) Continue to develop the DK-MSRP as a means to foster interactions between NIDDK-supported DRCs through shared training goals, a national lecture series, and the National Research Symposium; 4) Provide career development coaching to promote networking skills and long-term mentoring; 5) Use our database to follow student outcomes and aid with next steps in career development. Thus, the DK-MSRP generates significant enthusiasm about diabetes research and creates momentum toward a research career and is a key example of NIDDK-supported Diabetes Research Centers and other NIDDK programs working together to train future leaders.