NHGRI/DIR Education and Outreach Programs

National Human Genome Research Institute

Investigators

Abstract

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Intramural Training Office (ITO) oversees a comprehensive program of career development activities for approximately 200 trainees at various education levels including Postdoctoral IRTA Fellows, Visiting Fellows, Predoctoral Students, Postbaccalaureate IRTA and summer interns. ITO collaborates with divisions and offices within NHGRI, across and outside of the NIH to provide the best possible training experience for NHGRI trainees and support the NHGRI mission of enhancing diversity in the genomics workforce. NHGRI Training Programs Collaborations In FY 2022, ITO actively engaged in activities to build more synergy between the NHGRI intramural and extramural training teams. ITO Director started meeting regularly with the Director of the Johns Hopkins-NHGRI Genetic Counselor Training Program, the Director of Residency and Fellowship Programs and the Lead Extramural Training Program Director. This collaboration between NHGRI training directors aims to share best practices, provide support to trainees across programs and to identify opportunities to support pathways/transitions between the individual programs. A member of ITO also started attending weekly, at-large meetings in the Division of Extramural Operations (DEO). Furthermore, ITO continues to make accessible all intramural training program offerings to Program Analysts in the DEO. Grant-writing Support ITO centralizes a highly successful grant writing and grant submissions program in the NHGRI intramural program. ITO actively identifies and communicates funding opportunities, grant writing procedures and deadlines to NHGRI trainees. The office develops, updates, and disseminates grant-writing documentation and provides individualized orientations and guidance for Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellow applicants to Pathway to Independence/Career Transition K Awards and the Postdoctoral Research Associate Training (PRAT) and Lasker awards. Two NHGRI intramural trainees who applied for K99/R00 awards in FY 2021, had their applications funded in FY 2022 after resubmission. There were no new PRAT or Lasker award submissions in FY 2022. From 2006 to present the cumulative success rate for NHGRI K99/R00 grant submissions is 57%, with two additional grants pending decision after resubmission. The cumulative rate for the PRAT award remains at 25%. In FY 2022, ITO embarked on an ambitious trans-NIH initiative to strengthen grant support across multiple NIH intramural programs. In the short-term, this initiative will standardize and improve the support that NIH institutes offer their trainees. In the medium- and long-term, ITO has taken the charge to guide the training community in pursuing retrospective, and prospective studies that will help NIH intramural training programs to better understand the challenges and opportunities the NIH intramural trainee encounters when applying for grants and transitioning to extramural independent research careers. Annual Career Development Networking Event: Trainee Retreat Due to the ongoing the COVID-19 pandemic, the ITO organized and hosted the annual trainee retreat as a one-day, virtual event. As in previous years, the retreat was hosted in partnership with the National Center on the Advancement of Translational Science (NCATS) and brought together approximately 200 participants including trainees and professionals from both ICs and invited speakers. The agenda provided opportunities for professional networking, included the Three-minute Talk science presentations by trainees and a keynote address on entrepreneurship in science. Also included were focused group discussions on race in science, navigating career paths, having difficult conversations, and utilizing social media for scientific career advancement. Science Communication ITO offered the Three-minute Talk (TmT) Science Communication Series virtually in FY 2022. In this series, trainees learned how to effectively convey the relevance of their research to a broad audience of scientists in three minutes or less, through a workshop and individual public speaking coaching sessions. This year, trainees were also taught how to effectively communicate virtually, a timely and practical skill for virtual presentations and interviews. The program culminated with a TmT presentation at the annual Trainee Retreat. The winner of the NHGRI TmT competition advanced to the NIH-wide competition and placed second out of ten competitors. Diversity Equity Inclusivity and Accessibility In 2022, ITO piloted a successful, new summer program, the Immersive Summer Program for Research in Genomics Summer Program or iSPRinG. iSPRinG aims to recruit diverse cohorts of summer students to gain exposure to careers in genomics research and genomic medicine. Fifteen students from diverse backgrounds were admitted to the program. All students had access to a comprehensive curriculum of career development offerings and individualized professional support. All students expressed that the program had a positive impact on their career trajectories and broadened their understanding of the diverse career paths available to them in genomics. In FY 2022, ITO strengthened its engagement with the NIH SACNAS Chapter, through participation in the weekly meetings, enrolling trainees for outreach activities, and providing support for the virtual booth at the 2021 SACNAS annual national conference. In support of the NIH mission to diversify the biomedical workforce and build an inclusive culture, members of the ITO actively serve in myriad NHGRI and trans-NIH committees and initiatives. In FY 2022 ITO Director served on the NHGRI Anti-harassment and Civility Working Group and the Racial and Ethnic Equity Plan Working Group. At the NIH level, members of ITO supported the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education in program curriculum development and application review for the HiSTEP, CSOAR and NIH Academy programs. The ITO director also served on the NIH Anti-Racism Steering Committee (ARSC), ARSC Trainee Subcommittee and the Training Directors subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion.