M-STEPP

This is a new R25 proposal entitled the “Minnesota-Tuskegee Surgery Training Experience leading to Posters and Presentations” (M-STEPP). M-STEPP is a 9-week summer research experience for up to 10 undergraduate students from under-represented groups in biomedical sciences in partnership with Tuskegee University (TU). The program will provide translational research experiences related to diseases impacting the cardiovascular system with a clear deliverable of a poster, presentation, or a brief research report. This approach leverages an interdisciplinary partnership among faculty across the University of Minnesota (UMN) who have funded research portfolios within the scope of NHLBI’s mission. Mentors have research programs studying: 1) inflammation and endothelial cell biology; 2) atherosclerotic disease; 3) cardiovascular transplantation; 4) CVD risk factors related to diet, exercise, neuromodulation, and bariatric surgery; 5) development of CVD across the lifespan; 6) smoking as a driver of disease; 7) regenerative approaches to increase myocardial function; 8) the microbiome and its connection to metabolic disease; and 9) hemorrhagic shock and cardiovascular collapse following trauma. We use turnkey resources in the Department of Surgery to expose trainees to preclinical research, including Experimental Surgical Services, The Visible Heart Lab, and the Pre-Clinical Research Center, all of which have experience in the training of undergraduates from underrepresented groups. Our approach is based on an ongoing partnership between TU and UMN, now in year 2, with the primary stated goal of increasing the pipeline into science careers of those underrepresented in medicine. The focus of this R25 proposal is for scholars to complete a health services research project with exposure to a bench research experience. Interested scholars will be invited back for a second summer to deepen their exposure and expertise either in health services research (e.g., use of natural language processing) or a discrete project in translational benchwork. Our objectives are to introduce students to: 1) clinical experiences that will stimulate questions and long-term interest in cardiovascular health and the recognition of gaps in knowledge and care; 2) health services research through hands-on approaches; 3) data analysis; 4) principles of scientific writing with preparation of an abstract to scientific meetings; 5) speaking at the Department of Surgery Research Week; 6) critically evaluating scientific research in journal clubs; 7) clinical exposure and critical thinking with focused exposure to the simulation center and basic life support training. To ensure that the program is responsive to mentees, curriculum will be adapted based on pre- and post-completion surveys as well as formal evaluations of skills with a pre- and post-test, and social media and graduate school guidance resources will be leveraged to maintain mentee trajectory and monitor program success. This approach catalyzes the use of proposed resources to under-represented minorities to facilitate careers in biomedical research.