Wilmer Eye Institute Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Program - PROJECT SUMMARY The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute StARR (Stimulating Access to Research in Residency) Program seeks to extend its goal of training clinician-scientists in the areas of clinical and laboratory vision research. The program has 4 goals: 1) recruitment of qualified resident-researchers (scholars) with an interest in studying ocular disease, 2) optimizing the research experience of accepted scholars, 3) preparing scholars for successful clinician-scientist careers, and 4) ensuring successful clinical and surgical training. Recruitment will be facilitated by Wilmer's strong research presence, including over 50 active scientists serving as program faculty with combined annual funding over $30 million, more than any other ophthalmology department. Wilmer scientists work across all core NEI programmatic areas, and benefit from several research-focused Centers housed within Wilmer or the Johns Hopkins Medical campus. The facilities and resources enabling Wilmer's clinical and lab research program are unsurpassed, including the 200,000 sq ft Smith Building, active T32 and P30 grants, and 66 endowed professorships. Wilmer has produced more full-time academics and Department Chairs than any other eye department in the U.S. Wilmer has a strong program training and mentoring clinician-scientists as part of its K12 program, as well as its Rising Professorship program for junior faculty. Additionally, Wilmer provides, and will extend, its resources to residents pursuing research, including grants and endowed support to reward top research. Our program will ensure scholar success by helping them plan their research and overseeing progress via an Advisory Committee of R01-funded scientists, K awardees, and residency leadership. Unique program features include having scholars prepare career development and research plans, which will be reviewed, revised, and approved prior to starting research. The Committee will also ensure progress through semi-annual reviews (written and joint scholar/mentor meetings), written reports with recommendations, and scheduled check-ins. Resident researchers will be prepared for long-term success via training activities including journal clubs and workshops on manuscript writing, grant writing, and career development. Long-term research scholar success will be aided by Advisory Committee reviews beyond the end of the dedicated research period (including a review of drafted K award aims, which will be required from scholars) and formal evaluation for burnout. Finally, StARR residents will have their clinical progress carefully monitored to ensure that they are meeting all clinical milestones, and that research excellence is matched by excellence in clinical and surgical skills.
