Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
CTSA Predoctoral T32 at Virginia Commonwealth University - PROJECT SUMMARY The Translational Biomedical Sciences (TBS) CTSA Pre-doctoral T32 Program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) will provide trainees with in-depth topic expertise as well as crucial, non-discipline specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to advance clinical and translational science research. TBS trainees will engage in research experiences that provide a strong foundation in the mechanistic paradigms of disease pathology as well as practice more contemporary skills such as team science, community engagement, and research dissemination and implementation. Specifically, the TBS Program will 1) implement a novel interdisciplinary mentoring approach with mentors who bring varied perspectives to the trainees’ research and career development; 2) develop trainees knowledgeable about translational science who are proficient in study design and conduct, data analysis, and publishing in accordance with best regulatory and ethical practices; 3) cultivate trainees’ career development skills to prepare them to be productive biomedical researchers; and 4) connect trainees with collaborators from across VCU as well as from other universities and with community stakeholders to encourage interdisciplinary, scientifically rigorous, and clinically-relevant research. Building on VCU’s extensive array of educational programs supporting underrepresented minority (URM) students, interdisciplinary research programs committed to tackling diseases most burdensome to its catchment area of Black/African-American communities, and diverse cohort of research mentors, the TBS Program will prioritize the selection and training of predoctoral trainees belonging to URM groups (women, racial/ethnic minorities, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities). In doing so, the program will intentionally promote workforce diversity to achieve health equity. The TBS Program will be co-directed by three, highly-regarded translational researchers with leadership roles in clinical and translational research education at VCU and housed within the Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Science to provide trainees with a breadth of training and career development opportunities as well as exposure to a transdisciplinary, collaborative, and translational research environment. A cadre of mentors comprised of select faculty from 15 different departments at VCU whose research addresses all stages of the translational spectrum as well as Translational/Community advisers will create a fertile training environment that encourages the development of researchers who are confident working with a variety of collaborators. During the funding period, two highly-qualified trainees will be appointed to the TBS Program annually (total of 10 trainees over the 5-year funding period). In summary, the TBS Program will provide a comprehensive educational experience that prepares a diverse group of trainees for successful, independent research careers in the broad area of translational science as well as equips them with the skills to work across disciplines and with stakeholders to design, disseminate, and implement their research.
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).