Training the Next Generation of Scientists

Of importance, many programs benefit from highly-competitive institutional research training grants provided by extramural agencies, i.e., the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).  Success in obtaining these grants is a direct reflection of our experienced and well-funded investigators who conduct cutting-edge biomedical research. In collaboration with the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the President’s Office, the Office of the VPR continues to foster the institutional training ecosystem by providing incentives to faculty interested in developing new training programs. Current institutional training grants support research training in aging, addiction, cancer, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, microbiology/immunology, oral health, and translational science.  A complete list of institutional training grants and targeted trainees can be found here University Research Education & Training Resources.  The opportunities enabled by these training grants contribute significantly to the dynamic research enterprise at our institution.

Impact of Institutional Research Training Grants.  Research training grants provide a direct measure of the research prestige and training excellence. These grants:

• Reflect the long-standing history of outstanding research faculty and trainee accomplishments.
• Document successful outcomes of a comprehensive peer-review of our exceptional institutional research training environment.
• Enhance the training infrastructure for all research trainees, not only those directly supported by a given training grant.
• Contribute to the career success of research trainees.
• Facilitate the recruitment of highly qualified pre- and postdoctoral trainees. 
• Offer pre- and postdoctoral trainee stipends to expand our research workforce and scientific advances.
• Provide impressive fiscal supplementation to on-going institutional research initiatives; in FY 2018, research training grants exceeded $4.4 million.

Despite the positive impact of institutional research training grants as outlined above, there are significant administrative and operational challenges associated with their development and implementation. Institutional support enhances the research training environment as well as the preparation of competitive applications.  Questions regarding assistance should be directed to TrainingGrants@uthscsa.edu.  Additional details will be provided in future VPR Newsletters.