Tuesday, June 17, 2025
6/17/2025
San Diego IRACDA Scholars Program - ABSTRACT A diverse U.S. biomedical research workforce is essential for developing innovation in basic, clinical, translational research and healthcare and is necessary for improving the nation’s health. Despite decades of efforts to increase underrepresented racial / ethnic groups and women in science their proportional representation remains markedly low, especially in academia. The renewal application for the San Diego IRACDA Scholars Program aims to enhance the successful transition of diverse biomedical scientists into independent academic careers. San Diego “SD IRACDA” is a mentored postdoctoral career development training program that provides training in rigorous and reproducible research, teaching training based on scientific principles and professional skill development. SD IRACDA combines a mentored research-intensive experience at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and mentored teaching training experience at San Diego City College and San Diego State University (SDSU), two large undergraduate institutions that serve diverse student populations. The overarching goal of SD IRACDA is to enhance the transition of diverse biomedical scientists into independent academic careers, thereby increasing the diversity of academic faculty. The specific objectives are to: 1) recruit and train a diverse pool of postdoctoral scholars that conduct rigorous and reproducible research within the scope of the NIGMS-mission, 2) use evidence-based strategies to enhance career skill development and effective mentorship of postdoctoral scholars, and 3) to provide teaching training in scientific teaching principles and evidence-based practices. Other objectives are to enhance the science curriculum at our partner-teaching intensive institutions, and to provide research opportunities for partner institution faculty and students and role models and mentorship of students, thereby increasing the number of diverse students participating in research and entering graduate programs in biomedical sciences. Since its inception in 2003, SD IRACDA has trained 103 scholars, 62% are from underrepresented backgrounds and 59% are women. Program evaluation has demonstrated that 63% of all SD IRACDA scholars and 56% of underrepresented scholars have obtained independent faculty positions (94% tenure-track) including a high percentage at R1 institutions, 32% of all scholars and 34% of underrepresented scholars, respectively. Of SD IRACDA faculty alumni, 55% have received independent grant awards with the highest percentage (31%) from the NIH. SD IRACDA scholars publish, obtain academic faculty positions and receive post-fellowship funding at a greater rate compared to NIH F32-supported postdoctoral fellows at UCSD. SD IRACDA has further benefitted the partner institutions, San Diego City College and San Diego State University, by providing new and improved science curriculum, authentic research experiences and critical mentoring for underrepresented students to enhance academic advancement and train the next generation of scientists.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).