Biomedical Research Innovation and Development to Grow Excellence in Science – Undergraduate Program in Pathology for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (BRIDGE UP-HBCU)

The mission of the Biomedical Research Innovation and Development to Grow Excellence in Science – Undergraduate Program in Pathology for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (BRIDGE UP-HBCU) is to enlarge the biomedical research workforce by increasing access to research training for students who attend HBCUs. As the US population ages, there is a critical need for physician-scientists and researchers to address the nation’s Immunological, infectious disease, biomedical, and clinical research needs. The University of Utah Department of Pathology committed to sustaining and amplifying the STEM pipeline that trains and launches the biomedical research workforce by enriching the educational and research opportunities available at partner HBCUs. BRIDGE UP-HBCU will specifically address the leaks in the pipeline from undergraduate to doctoral training of budding scientists via a sustained modified matrix-mentoring model that aims to keep trainees engaged with biomedical research throughout their undergraduate career. BRIDGE UP-HBCU will recruit students with an interest immunology and infectious disease research from partnership relationships with HBCUs, while expanding these relationships to additional HBCUs. These students demonstrate a strong drive for doctoral research and physician scientist research tracks and will benefit from exposure to the Pathology research spectrum, research-intensive training experiences, and professional development, enhancing both their successful transition to top-tier doctoral and professional programs, as well as their long-term retention in the biomedical research and science tracks. In order to accomplish these goals, BRIDGE UP-HBCU will provide key proposed activities that include (1) holistic career-long mentor networks; (2) experiences to undertake hypothesis-driven research; and (3) scientific and professional skill development workshops and activities that hone strong oral and written communication skills, enhances their self-confidence and authentic scientific identity, and instills successful strategies for applying to graduate school. Building on institutional momentum and infrastructure at the University of Utah that is dedicated to expanding the biomedical research pipeline, BRIDGE UP-HBCU will fortify its trainees’ critical thinking and research experience, and develop a resilient mindset to persist in high-quality graduate programs and beyond. With these additional skills, BRIDGE UP-HBCU graduates will be prepared for leadership and mentorship roles in translational research career tracks.