Hypertension and Cardiorenal Diseases Research Training Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-funded T32 training program, part of the Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award, provides pre- and postdoctoral students with multidisciplinary and balanced training in didactic course work, state-of-the-art research opportunities, and the necessary skills for a successful career in hypertension and cardiorenal diseases research (HCDR). The specific goal of this training grant is as follows:

• To train pre-doctoral students in a multidisciplinary approach in course work and research opportunities in hypertension and cardiovascular-renal disease research.
• To provide postdoctoral students multidisciplinary training and mentoring in hypertension and cardiovascular-renal disease research.
• To recruit, train, and retain minority pre-doctoral and postdoctoral students in hypertension and cardiovascular-renal diseases research.

Key features of our program

UMMC has identified hypertension and cardiovascular and renal diseases as a major area for research development in its strategic research plan. The institution has made a significant commitment to basic and clinical cardiovascular and renal research and the training of students and fellows at both the pre-doctoral and postdoctoral level. Additionally, UMMC is committed to training students and fellows that are members of under-represented racial and ethnic minorities. 

There are several key features of this program:

• Long history of cardiovascular and renal disease research and training at UMMC;
• Only extramurally funded institutional training grant at UMMC;
• Multidisciplinary instruction through a core curriculum and an interdepartmental research center (CRRC) that focuses on hypertension and cardiovascular-renal diseases research;
• Required application for independent pre-doctoral and postdoctoral funding for all trainees;
• Requirement to develop an individual development plan (IDP); 
• Unique Career Opportunities and Profession Development (COPD) seminar series for trainees to learn about wide range of career opportunities; 
• In response to the recent NIH Biomedical Research Workforce report, alternative career modules (teaching, business, and pharma/biotech) for trainees to expand their training experiences are provided; 
• Outstanding institutional support where Graduate School provides:
  • 3 years of stipend support for graduate students
  • Full tuition scholarships for all PhD students
  • Trainee travel program provides up to $1,500 per academic year for PhD trainees presenting their research at a conference. Graduate students who are awarded an individual extramural fellowship grant are also eligible to receive an additional travel stipend of $1,500 to present their research findings at a national meetings.
  • Professional skills travel program provides up to $1,500 per academic calendar year for PhD graduate students to attend one workshop, review course, etc. per academic year. 

History and outcomes of HCDR training at UMMC