STRIVE: Short-Term Research in Immunology and Virology Experience

Ohio State University, Columbus OH

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary Physician scientists and surgeon scientists comprise a vital component of the biomedical research workforce yet statistics indicate a shrinking physician scientist workforce, lack of diversity and reduced pipeline of medical students engaging in basic/translational research. The overall goal of this training program is to expand, diversify and strengthen the physician and surgeon scientist pipeline that will become the next generation of immunology and virology trained physician scientists across a breadth of medical specialties. Global infectious pathogens creating current and future pandemics, novel immunotherapeutics with expanding applications in cancer and other diseases, increasing prevalence of allergic and autoimmune disease, and exciting innovations in transplantation necessitate more immunology and virology trained physician and surgeon scientists. Each year a highly diverse class of over 200 medical students (≥50% female, 26% underrepresented in medicine) matriculate into the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine (COM). STRIVE T35 will leverage the OSUCOM medical student talent and diversity and the infrastructure of the COM Office of Physician Scientist Education and Training (PSET) to recruit medical students to engage in short-term immunology and virology research training during the summer between Med I and Med II. The OSU Short- Term Research in Immunology and Virology Experience (STRIVE) will provide a 12 week summer research experience including mentored research, didactics, participation in seminars and conferences, clinical experiences and career development. Medical students will gain knowledge, skills, and abilities in 4 domains: 1) Autoimmune disease, 2) Immune Oncology, 3) Virology and Microbial Immunity and 4) Transplant Immunology. The faculty preceptors are experienced NIH-funded collaborative investigators with outstanding training track records including success in inspiring and training medical students. STRIVE innovations include: 1) pre- T35 training preparation of a mini research proposal and development of individualized training goals and plans 2) rigor and reproducibility lab-based training complemented by didactics, 3) a new short course in Responsible Conduct of Research led by an ethicist, 4) focused clinical experiences to integrate immunology and virology learning with clinical correlations in the 4 domains, 5) participation in seminars, conferences and workshops to highlight cutting edge immunology and virology research and to gain broad exposure to leaders in the field, 6) career development activities and 7) community building and networking with trainees in PSET programs. STRIVE has well defined metrics and a robust program evaluation plan that will leverage OSU and COM trainee tracking tools and program evaluation experts in addition to external review by a diverse and expert external advisory committee. This new T35 program offers an unparalleled experience for highly talented OSU medical students at a formative stage to broaden their career support network and to experience the rewards and impact of immunology and virology related physician and surgeon scientist careers.