To increase the number of scientists addressing the health disparities issue, the Distance Learning Center (DLC) has developed the Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) as a longitudinal vehicle to produce minority biomedical researchers with the M.D./Ph.D. dual degree. Over the last ten years, the DLC has conducted an annual national search for minority "child prodigies" who seek a career in science and medicine, and has begun a class of twenty-five 7th graders on a long-term wet bench research regimen through labs in academia, government and the pharmaceutical industry. Trainees in the 7th and 8th grades engage in six weeks of summer training (classroom-based) at Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia; 9th and 10th grade summer training (apprenticeship-based) occurs across ten weeks at Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia; 11th grade summer training (internship) occurs across ten weeks at NIH-NIDA, Baltimore; 12th grade summer training (internship) occurs across ten weeks at Genetics Institute, Boston; college freshman summer training (internship) occurs across twelve weeks at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto; college sophomore summer training (internship) occurs across twelve weeks at McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal; college junior summer training (internship) occurs across twelve weeks at the NIH-NIDDK, Bethesda; college senior summer training (internship) occurs across twelve weeks at Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceutical Company, Philadelphia. College trainees are able to partake in school year research stints via NIH Minority Supplements. This grant request will provide the core operating budget for pre-college and college training activities, as well as provide funding for precollege trainees to receive on-line distance learning courses in the biomedical sciences during the school year. The DLC is seeking to funnel most of the PSTP trainees into NIDDK focus areas.
NIH ExPorter
NIH ExPorter