Stanford Undergraduate Summer Cardiovascular Research Program

Stanford University, Stanford CA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of this renewal of our successful R25 program is to continue to increase the numbers of individuals from a broad range of backgrounds who pursue careers in cardiovascular medical research by providing undergraduate students with a short-term mentored research experience in the laboratories of members of Stanford School of Medicine’s Cardiovascular Institute (CVI). We propose continuing the success of our existing R25 program, which was already extremely effective in its first cycle. Our program recruited 65 students from a broad range of backgrounds, all of whom intend pursue careers in cardiovascular research and medicine. Additionally, pre- and post-program evaluations showed that our R25 trainees experienced significant gains in their skills and confidence in performing research. Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of death and disability in the US, however, these diseases do not affect all US populations equally. Many populations experience a significantly different, and sometimes higher, risks of death or disability from heart disease or stroke. Due to problems with both recruitment and retention, many populations are significantly underrepresented not only in clinical trials but also in the cardiovascular research workforce. It has been shown that participation in mentored research increases the degree to which students, from a broad range of backgrounds, identify as scientists and persist in academic and medical research career. However, because there are more undergraduates seeking research experiences than there are available positions, many undergraduate students lack the opportunity to perform independent research in an academic lab. This R25 will continue to: 1) provide undergraduate students from a broad range of backgrounds with technical training and experience in cardiovascular research; 2) provide students from a broad range of backgrounds with cardiovascular research mentors and role models; and 3) build relationships between Stanford Medicine and institutions with more limited research capacities. Stanford Medicine in general and the Cardiovascular Institute in particular are known for excellence in cardiovascular research. The Program Directors and Program Faculty involved in this R25 have ongoing state-of-the-art research programs spanning population outcome, clinical and translational, and basic cardiovascular research, and welcome the opportunity to continue to mentor R25 trainees. Together they have the mentoring expertise and the available resources to continue to support R25 trainees through our successful summer research program.