Supporting students from community colleges to earn biomedical degrees
Official title: Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at Towson University
Funded at Towson University · NIH-10893616 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program is designed to help students from Baltimore City Community College and the Community College of Baltimore County successfully transfer to Towson University to earn their bachelor's degrees in biomedical sciences, providing them with support, mentorship, and community to boost their confidence and success in science.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Towson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Towson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $301,210 |
| NIH project number | 5T34GM150447-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10893616 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this program are students currently enrolled in two-year colleges who are pursuing STEM majors and are interested in transferring to complete their bachelor's degrees.
✕Less likely to help
Students who are not enrolled in two-year colleges or those pursuing non-STEM degrees may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
This program focuses on helping students from Baltimore City Community College and the Community College of Baltimore County successfully transfer to Towson University to complete their bachelor's degrees in biomedical sciences. It aims to create a supportive environment that enhances students' self-efficacy and science identity, ensuring they have the resources and mentorship needed to thrive in their studies. The program includes professional development activities and community-building initiatives to foster a sense of belonging among trainees. By addressing the unique challenges faced by minoritized students in STEM, the program seeks to improve graduation rates and representation in the biomedical workforce.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly increase the number of minoritized students graduating with biomedical degrees, enhancing diversity in the field.
How similar studies have gone: Previous programs aimed at supporting community college students in STEM have shown success in improving transfer and graduation rates.
Where this research is happening
-
Towson University
Towson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Snyder, Michelle Lynn Dykstra — Towson University
- Study coordinator: Snyder, Michelle Lynn Dykstra
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-powered scoring of sinus CT scans to guide CRS care
A new AI-based system analyzes sinus CTs to give quick, objective measurements that reflect how CRS affects breathing and patient health.
-
Understanding how bacterial TIR proteins use NADase activity to influence infection
A college research project explores how a bacterial protein’s NADase activity may affect bacteria and host cells, with students helping analyze the findings.
-
Understanding a special brain cell type in Alzheimer’s disease
A research project will study a unique type of brain cell called VP astrocytes to learn how they affect Alzheimer’s disease in people.
-
Exercise and small blood vessels in sleep apnea
A study to see if regular aerobic exercise improves the tiny blood vessels and muscle energy in adults with obstructive sleep apnea.
-
Investigating how a virus affects cellular processes to find new treatment targets for Kaposi's Sarcoma.
This study is looking at how a virus related to Kaposi's Sarcoma affects proteins in our cells, with the goal of finding new ways to treat this cancer that often affects people with HIV/AIDS, and it also gives college students a chance to get involved in important research.
-
Increasing diversity in biomedical research education
This program is designed to help African-American, Indigenous, and Hispanic students who have finished a master's degree move on to PhD programs in biomedical research, offering them support and mentorship to succeed in their studies.
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.