Program to support underrepresented students in biomedical research
Official title: VCU Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Program (IMSD)
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11011474 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The VCU Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) program is designed to help underrepresented students learn important skills in biomedical research through mentorship and training, so they can become successful scientists and make a difference in the field.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Training grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $270,995 |
| NIH project number | 5T32GM148403-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11011474 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this program are underrepresented minority students pursuing a career in biomedical research.
✕Less likely to help
Students who do not belong to underrepresented groups in biomedical research may not receive direct benefits from this program.
What this research studies
The VCU Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) program focuses on training underrepresented scholars in biomedical research through a structured mentorship and rigorous academic curriculum. This program enrolls pre-doctoral students and provides them with essential skills in safe lab practices, quantitative studies, and reproducibility. Over the years, it has successfully graduated scholars who have advanced to significant roles in biomedical industries and prestigious postdoctoral positions. The program aims to create a diverse pool of scientists equipped to make impactful contributions to biomedical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly increase the representation of underrepresented minorities in biomedical research, leading to a more diverse scientific community.
How similar studies have gone: Previous iterations of the IMSD program have shown success in training and graduating underrepresented scholars, indicating a proven track record in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Akbarali, Hamid I — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Akbarali, Hamid I
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Healthy Communities for Youth: Preventing Youth Violence in Richmond and Beyond
A community-centered program to reduce youth violence in Richmond, VA and similar communities by pairing youth voices, hospital-based support, and capacity-building for local groups.
-
S1P-S1PR1: How brain cells talk to each other during development
A study at Virginia Commonwealth University will look at how brain support cells called astrocytes communicate with neurons to shape brain circuits in development.
-
Leader cell mechanics drive collective tumor invasion in breast cancer
A small grant is funding research to understand how leader cancer cells at the edge of a tumor sense their environment and drive groups of cancer cells to invade, which could reveal new ways to stop metastasis in breast cancer.
-
How itch-sensing nerves affect skin defense against parasites
Scientists want to see if itching nerves in the skin influence how the body fights skin-hugging parasites like Schistosoma mansoni.
-
VA-ACCERT Center: Transforming Cancer Control in Virginia's public housing communities
A team at Virginia universities partners with public housing programs to spread proven ways to prevent cancer and improve cancer health in low-income communities.
-
PROMINENT cancer research: understanding how mutations in normal tissue relate to cancer growth
A cancer research project at a major university is exploring how DNA mutations in normal cells relate to the development of cancer, using animal models and human tissues to uncover clues that could inform prevention and treatment.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.