U C San Diego Medical Student Summer Aging Research Training

University Of California, San Diego, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract This is a renewal application from the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego), in conjunction with two neighboring institutions (the Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Institute and the Salk Institute), for a 5-year renewal of the Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) program, in response to the RFA-AG-25-009. Over the past 20 years, we have trained 300 students nationwide. Since the last renewal, a majority (65%) of our MSTAR students have come from racial/ethnic minoritized groups, 28.6% from underrepresented minoritized groups, 67.3% women, and 22.4% from disadvantaged backgrounds. Most of our MSTAR students have presented at national conferences and are co-authors of peer-reviewed manuscripts. After graduation, all our trainees have continued training in major programs, with several pursuing academic careers in aging research and geriatrics. The proposed program is designed to expand the pipeline of new physician investigators in the field of aging. It will provide full-time support for 8-12 consecutive weeks of research and clinical training during summer, provided by faculty to 18 medical students annually from across the country. We will make special efforts to recruit medical students from underrepresented racial or ethnic minoritized groups, trainees with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. All trainees will spend the summer in San Diego, working under the supervision of some of the finest molecular, translational, health services, and clinical scientists with outstanding track records of NIA and other federal funding and of research training of medical students. A primary focus of our program will be on aging well in the context of age- associated disorders and disabilities. The strengths of our faculty range from basic and molecular biology to clinical, epidemiology, and therapeutic research on aging and age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, age-related macular degeneration, arthritis, substance use disorders, health equity, and depression. The most important aspects of this program will be hands-on research experience and developing a long-term mentoring relationship. In addition, a combination of didactics and clinical exposure to geriatrics will reinforce the skills learned in the direct research experience. The trainees will give an oral presentation at a workshop at UC San Diego held in early August and work with their mentors to submit an abstract at a national conference and develop a publishable manuscript within a year. An Executive Committee will oversee the recruitment and training of the students. There will be a rigorous and extensive program evaluation by trainees, participating faculty, an External Advisory Board, and other stakeholders, as well as long-term follow-up. A website will facilitate continued communication among the trainees and their mentors.