Preparing for research careers related to diabetes, digestive and kidney diseases

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案是2007年最初资助的宾夕法尼亚州立大学升级项目的竞争性更新。该计划旨在为来自种族/民族代表性不足群体的本科生和来自弱势背景的学生提供生物医学研究的短期经验和培训。W. Brian Reeves，医学博士，宾夕法尼亚州立大学医学副主席和肾脏病学主任将担任项目主任。在目前的奖励期内，进展非常好。在宾夕法尼亚州立大学的前四年里，已有127名学生通过升学计划被录取。宾夕法尼亚州立大学通过几个少数民族学生组织进行了有针对性的招聘工作，这导致收到的申请数量迅速增加。目前，申请人数与可用职位的比例为5:1。自成立以来，超过20%的宾夕法尼亚州立大学升学学生就读研究生科学课程或从事与研究相关的工作。目前的提案建立在当前的STEP-UP项目的成功基础上，并显著扩展了某些核心课程元素，增加了可用研究经验的范围，并增强了项目的评估和跟踪组件。该计划提供了与NIDDK使命相关的研究背景和实践经验。为了增加代表性不足的少数民族和弱势群体学生的数量，使他们接受研究教育和培训，从而培养研究能力和对从事生物医学研究的兴趣，有必要解决内容知识和技术技能，以及态度和感知上的障碍。宾夕法尼亚州立大学在实现这些总体目标方面处于独特的地位，因为宾夕法尼亚州立大学系统内正在进行的合作，以改善K-16科学教育，以及我们的教师在实施本科生研究项目方面的丰富经验。该提案的目标是：学生将(1)通过实践经验学习如何进行发现研究以及如何将结果传播给他人；

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is a competitive renewal of the Penn State STEP-UP program initially funded in 2007. The program is designed to provide short-term experience and training in biomedical research for undergraduate students from racial/ethnic-underrepresented groups, and for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. W. Brian Reeves, M.D., Vice Chair of Medicine and Chief of Nephrology at Penn State will serve as Program Director. Progress under the current award period has been excellent. 127 students have matriculated through the Penn State STEP-UP program in its first four years. Penn State has made targeted recruitment efforts through several minority student organizations which have resulted in a rapid increase in the number of applications received. Applications now exceed available positions by a 5:1 ratio. Since its inception over 20% of Penn State STEP-UP students have enrolled in graduate science programs or work in research-related positions. The current proposal builds on the successes of the current STEP-UP program and significantly expands certain core curricular elements, increases the range of available research experiences and enhances the evaluation and tracking components of the program. The plan provides background and hands-on experience in research related to the mission of NIDDK. In order to increase the number of underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students with research education and training that will develop both research capabilities and interest in pursuing careers in biomedical research, it is necessary to address both content knowledge and technical skills, and attitudinal and perceptional barriers to success. Penn State is uniquely positioned to achieve these overarching goals because of the ongoing collaborations within The Pennsylvania State University System to improve K-16 science education and the considerable experience of our faculty in implementing undergraduate research programs. The objectives of the proposal are that students will (1) learn, through hands-on experience, how discovery research is conducted and the results are disseminated to others, (2) explore careers in biomedical research and become familiar with the requirements to pursue selected career options (3), become proficient in acquiring reliable information and exchanging ideas and information, and (4) learn about the prevention, cause and treatment of obesity, diabetes, and kidney/urologic/digestive diseases. The curriculum will also include discussions on normative standards of conduct, privacy and confidentiality issues, laboratory safety, research integrity, record keeping, data management, and communication skills. Although the primary goal of this proposal is to increase the number and competence of members of underrepresented groups in biomedical research, an important secondary benefit is to expand the proportion of underrepresented population who understand that life-style decisions have great consequences for their personal health and that of their family, friends and community.