Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) in Eye Health and Disease

Summary

The National Eye Institute (NEI) funds a Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) in Eye Health and Disease at the University of Utah School of Medicine to foster physician-scientists and engage medical students in translational vision research.

What they want

The program aims to ignite a life-long interest in vision research among medical students and build their creative and critical thinking skills. It will expose 5 medical students per year to eye health and disease (EHD)-associated research opportunities across the translational spectrum (T0 to T4). Trainees will participate in a mentored, 10-week summer research experience between their first and second years of medical school, complemented by an innovative summer course. The program leverages the existing research community and faculty expertise at the University of Utah, with sixteen faculty mentors participating.

Deliverables

Mentored 10-week summer research experience for 5 medical students/year
Development of creative and critical thinking skills through an innovative summer course
Exposure to EHD-associated research opportunities spanning T0-T4 translational research

Key personnel

PI/PD (Principal Investigator/Program Director)
Faculty mentors (16 agreed to participate)
Internal Steering Committee (NEI-funded investigators, SOM Curriculum Committee members, external T35 program leaders)

How they evaluate

Formative feedback for program improvement
Tracking students’ career trajectories

Risks & flags

Incumbent: University of Utah School of Medicine

This document describes a program run by a specific institution (University of Utah School of Medicine) and reads like a grant award description or sole-source justification, rather than an open competitive solicitation for services.