Our Programs

VCU is one of only two institutions in the U.S. to offer research and training programs designed to address disparities in biomedical researchers in all levels of higher education. Since we began, these programs housed within the School of Medicine’s Center on Health Disparities have been awarded a total of $13.3 million in grant funding and have served more than 200 students while maintaining excellent trainee outcomes.

 

Program
name

 

NIH
   funding

 

Program
focus

 

Trainees
to date*

 

Program
success

 

National
averages

 

IMSD –
undergrad
(Initiative for
Maximizing
Student
Development
program)
$2.5 million Provides research
training in the
biomedical sciences
for undergraduate
students from groups
traditionally
underrepresented
in biomedical
research

 

     107 98% 
of participants 
earned a B.S. 
within six years
40% of African
American students
and 54% of Hispanic
students receive a
bachelor’s degree
within six years,
nationally
PREP
(Postbaccalaureate
Research Education
Program)
  $3.2 million    A one-year biomedical
research training
program for recent
college graduates
in groups that are
underrepresented in the
biomedical sciences 
  66    92%
of participants
who enrolled in
Ph.D. programs
since 2011
have earned
that degree or
are actively
pursuing it
  Less than 60% of
African American and
Hispanic students
enrolled in a Ph.D.
program completed
their degrees in 10
years, according to a
national study by the
Council of Graduate
Schools 


IMSD – Ph.D.
(Initiative for
Maximizing Student
Development program) 
$2.6 million  Provides Ph.D.-
level training in
the biomedical
sciences from groups
traditionally underrepresented
in biomedical
research 

 

24  67%
of participants received
Ph.D. degrees
in seven
years or less. 
52% of minority Ph.D.
students in life sciences
complete their degree
in seven years or less,
nationally 
IRACDA
(Institutional Research
and Academic Career
Development Award) 
$5 million  A three-year postdoctoral
program to train
fellows in biomedical
research and
teaching, focusing on
individuals from groups
traditionally underrepresented
in biomedical
research and those
committed to teaching
at diverse institutions 


24  85%
of participants found
faculty positions as
assistant professors
and beyond. 
Less than 15% of Ph.D.
recipients were in
tenure-eligible positions
six years after receiving
their degree, according
to 2014 data from
the National Science
Foundation 
HERO-T
(VCU Health Education
and Research
Opportunities
for Teachers) 
$596,000  Provides secondary
school science teachers
from high-need schools
with research
experiences 
16  100%
of teachers
completed
the program
and have
continued teaching 
Virginia reports 10%
teacher turnover rate
with about 50% of
those leaving the
profession 

*May 2021