Colorado State University StARR Program in Infectious Disease and Immunology - Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section There continues to be a demonstrated need for more veterinary scientists to fill an ever-present shortage in the medical workforce and contribute to national and international research demands. The overarching goal of the Colorado State University StARR Program (CSU StARR) is to recruit, train, and retain outstanding clinician researchers focused on translational research in infectious disease, immunologic, and allergic diseases. The vision of our training program is to: (i) recruit and retain outstanding Resident-Investigators; (ii) provide innovative research training opportunities pertinent to NIAID; (iii) achieve the highest standard of excellence for mentorship and research training; and iv) foster skills and values that will sustain productive research careers in biomedical research. This will be achieved via 3 specific aims: (1) to recruit highly qualified Resident-Investigators and ensure they are well-prepared to engage in hypothesis-based research; (2) to provide in-depth research opportunities for Resident-Investigators with preceptors that have a successful mentoring track record; and (3) to provide comprehensive professional development to support successful research careers. CSU StARR will provide a platform and trajectory for a positive research experience by leveraging world-recognized and rigorous clinical training in 4 board-certified veterinary specialties, a long-standing and productive research enterprise with a spectrum of accomplished and experienced mentors, and state-of-the-art research and veterinary facilities at the 2nd ranked veterinary College in the country. CSU StARR is designed to provide early-stage resident researchers with a comprehensive and integrative professional development experience with the goal of positioning them to become leaders in interdisciplinary medicine. Optimally, two years of protected, intensive research experience will be provided to a maximum of 4 trainees at any point throughout the period of the award. Expertise in experimental design and data interpretation, manuscript and grant writing, rigor and reproducibility, and ethical conduct of research will be achieved in this innovative and unique program. CSU StARR has been crafted to be structured and milestone-driven, and includes individualized career development plans, oversight and development of the mentor-mentee relationship, and a wide array of cutting-edge approaches to research. Particular emphasis will be placed on providing the intellectual and physical resources necessary to promote follow-on K38 applications by the end of the fellowship. An exceptional Internal Advisory Board has been assembled to proactively enhance and strategize the goals of this program. CSU StARR will be powered by an impressive supply of talented candidates and well-funded faculty mentors in all four departments of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Indeed, mentor faculty were awarded more than $31M in direct dollars in the most recent fiscal year. The targeted outcome of the program is to produce veterinary scientists who will contribute to biomedical research that addresses pressing and emerging problems and challenges in human health.
