Medical Student Summer Research Program

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The aim of this training program is to foster the development of medical students into physician-scientists that positively impact human health through rigorous investigation of pathways that can be exploited to treat or cure cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematology and sleep diseases. The Iowa Medical Student Research Program (IMSRP) achieves this transformative goal by leveraging institutional strengths in student recruitment and interdepartmental collaboration to create immersive mentored research opportunities. This training grant proposal seeks funding for 16 students to participate in a 12-week summer fellowship in a heart, lung, blood or sleep-related research project between their first two years of medical school. Students will work with one of the 66 enthusiastic and experienced mentors listed on our curated roster of Participating Faculty to draft and submit a proposal which is then expertly reviewed by two members of the College of Medicine’s research committee. Outstanding submissions with strong mentorship plans and a clear pathway to presentation and publication are selected by the Research Council for funding. The funds provided through this training grant would be matched by the Carver College of Medicine, amplifying the impact of the award. Program leadership will fully onboard students and monitor their progress closely. In synergy with extensive opportunities provided through relevant Centers and Institutes of excellence, scholars will receive Instruction in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility and the Responsible Conduct of Research, as well as mentor-guided journal clubs and research seminars. The summer fellowship will be followed by a Medical Student Research Conference and surveys of all participants to allow ongoing program evolution. In the years that follow, students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the IMSRP’s research skills course, year-long research opportunities, the Research Distinction Track, and dual degree programs. At every stage, full participation by students from groups that are underrepresented in medicine is encouraged through mechanisms that have demonstrated their utility in both recruitment and retention. We monitor students alongside their mentors as they continue their pathway towards a research career with incremental advancement through the continuity of support that is available at our institution, including funding during residency, fellowship, and junior faculty appointments. Challenging ourselves and our students to make meaningful change at every opportunity, we critically evaluate our program each year, and use a combination of formative feedback and self-reflection to enhance the breadth and depth of a program that is designed to fully expose students to the entire research process, from writing a proposal to analyzing data, presenting at local and national meetings, and ultimately disseminating the results in peer reviewed journals. The long-term impact of this program is the nationwide dissemination of a diverse cadre of physicians, who developed an appreciation for team-based science early in their career, and are equipped to make discoveries and evidence-based decisions that will improve public health.