Program Overview

UTMB Women's Health Research Scholars Program

The goal of the UTMB BIRCWH program, now entering its 20th consecutive year, is to launch junior faculty Scholars into successful careers as independent researchers with a focus on women's health or sex as a biological variable. Our program has been highly successful with former Scholars obtaining over $79 million in subsequent grant support as PI or MPI.

Program Description

With generous support from UTMB, we are requesting funds for a 5th cycle to support 4 assistant professors for 2-3 years each, for a total of 8 Scholars over 5 years. We will continue to recruit Scholars internally and externally, using a tiered pipeline that includes 6 other institutions within the University of Texas system. The Scholars will be guided by at least 2 of 26 participating Senior Mentors working in inter-professional teams built from existing collaborations in areas of strength on our campus, such as:

• Reproductive health
• Aging
• Infectious diseases
• Cancer prevention

Our successful collaboration with UT MD Anderson Cancer Center will also continue to offer Scholars additional exciting research opportunities. All Senior Mentors have extensive publication records in women's health or sex as a biological variable, strong external funding as PI (average of > $2 million/year), and demonstrated mentoring histories.

Program Structure

In response to alumni feedback, Cycle V Scholars also will be paired with recent BIRCWH graduates, who will act as "Peer Mentors" to help them navigate and optimize their experience in the program. Scholars will participate in a curriculum designed to prepare them for independence through didactic trainings and structured mentoring. Once appointed, they will make Individual Development Plans that include all required curricular activities and tailor the optional portions of the curriculum according to their self-assessed needs.

Innovative additions to the curriculum include:

• A new "NIH 101" course that overviews the NIH grant application process
• A mock study section that allows Scholars to learn how NIH reviewers judge and score grant applications
• A new annual regional symposium will also be held in conjunction with the Tulane and University of Colorado BIRCWH programs to allow Scholars from the 3 programs to interact and collaborate
• Cycle V Scholars will have access to several new optional trainings that focus on topics ranging from community-engaged research to team science

Program Requirements and Evaluation

Ultimately, all Scholars must demonstrate competence in 10 educational objectives that define the fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes of an accomplished investigator, and successfully compete for independent funding. An evaluation of the Scholars, Mentors, program leadership, and program processes will be conducted annually by a 6-member Advisory Committee and 2 external advisors.

Funding

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (Award #2K12AR): $869,041.00

Program Status

• Status: Active
• Effective start/end date: 8/15/25 → 4/30/30

Research Areas

The research topics touched on by this project include:

• Scholar Programs
• Women's Health Research
• Women's Health
• Grant Applications
• Junior Faculty
• Sex as a biological variable
• Women's Health Medicine and Dentistry
• Mentoring Program