Colorado Summer Research Training for Undergraduate Diversity

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The specific aim of our competitive 11-15 year renewal is to continue our short-term research education program that provides underrepresented minority undergraduate students (“diversity trainees”) with an inspirational, perspective and career transforming biomedical research experience in the Colorado Undergraduate Summer Program (“CUSP”). Overview: CUSP uses NHLBI funding to recruit and enroll 8 diversity trainees each summer from colleges nationwide. Trainees prepare for and conduct laboratory research for 9 weeks with an experienced investigator/mentor. Trainees design their own project, perform hands-on research, attend daily interactive research discussions, and present their research at our concluding school-wide graduation poster session. Trainees also participate in complementary clinical conferences, receive career advice from admissions directors, faculty, and students, shadow physicians in clinical settings, and are integrated into a wide range of supportive social and academic diverse campus communities. Innovative Aspects: CUSP (1) is a well established program that consistently attracts many top applicants from colleges nationwide, (2) uses a holistic selection process that targets students who are not committed to biomedical research careers, (3) amplifies learning by adding additional diversity and non- diversity trainees using additional non-federal matching support from participating colleges, donors, and CU, (4) is located on a new all inclusive contiguous medical campus that offers many research and learning opportunities, (5) employs a unifying inflammatory, immunologic, and oxidative stress related mechanisms focus that is relevant to NHLBI related health and disease, (6) emphasizes using experienced enthusiastic diversity and non-diversity mentors, (7) embodies a comprehensive instructional and laboratory program that engages trainees by integrating research training, medical perspectives, career counseling, campus tours, and social activities, (8) provides additional shadowing, educational, and social activities, and (9) is independently reviewed by education evaluation experts working at CU. Program Success: Independent evaluations indicate that CUSP diversity trainees (1) appreciate and embrace all aspects of CUSP, (2) become more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about research and research careers, (3) continue CUSP mentor relationships, (4) conduct research again, (5) frequently enter health professions schools, and (6) actively promote CUSP to new trainee candidates. Program Director: John E. Repine, MD will continue his leadership as an experienced physician- scientist-teacher-mentor who founded and directed CUSP for the last 9 years. Significance: CUSP motivates and prepares biomedical research uninformed diversity trainees for continuing in biomedical research and undertaking biomedical research and health care related careers.