NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mentoring underrepresented individuals in health sciences

Official title: Mentorship of Individuals from Historically Under-Represented Groups in Health Sciences Research

Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10924057 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is all about helping early career trainees from underrepresented backgrounds in health sciences by providing them with mentorship and support, so they can feel more confident and successful in their careers and make important contributions to biomedical research.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project startSeptember 7, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$70,209
NIH project number5K26DK138247-02
Project IDNIH-10924057 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are early career trainees from historically underrepresented backgrounds in STEMM fields, particularly those interested in health sciences.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not pursuing a career in health sciences or who do not belong to historically underrepresented groups may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on providing mentorship to early career trainees from historically underrepresented groups in the health sciences field. It aims to address the disparities in representation within science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) by offering support and resources that enhance self-efficacy and scientific identity. The program will implement evidence-based interventions to help these individuals persist in their careers and contribute to biomedical research. By fostering a diverse workforce, the project seeks to improve innovation and problem-solving in health sciences.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to increased representation and career advancement opportunities for individuals from historically underrepresented groups in health sciences.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that mentorship programs can significantly improve career outcomes and representation in STEMM fields, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California, San Francisco
    San Francisco, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Flowers, Elena — University of California, San Francisco
  • Study coordinator: Flowers, Elena

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • How cancer cells use exosomes to evade the immune system

    This study is looking at how cancer cells use tiny bubbles called exosomes to hide proteins that can keep your immune system from fighting the tumor, and by figuring this out, the researchers hope to help doctors understand why some people respond well to cancer treatments while others don’t, ultimately aiming to creat

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-9869561

  • Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes

    This study is looking at whether using electronic cigarettes can be a safer option for people who smoke traditional cigarettes, by comparing the health effects and exposure to harmful substances between the two.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-9752505

  • Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis

    This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11644470

  • Cutaneous opioid signals in skin inflammation

    A mentor-identified clinician-researcher at UCSF is studying how natural skin opioids regulate itch and pain in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and hidradenitis, with plans to map where these opioids come from and how they affect skin nerves.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11640034

  • Pooling international data to understand long-term bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures

    This project combines large patient datasets from multiple countries to understand how long-term bisphosphonate use relates to rare hip and thigh bone fractures, helping doctors and patients make safer treatment choices.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11638692

  • Airway cell and immune cell talks in lung transplant failure

    This grant tests how airway cells and immune cells interact to drive chronic rejection after lung transplant, with the goal of slowing or preventing scar-like damage.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11629839

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.