CSUN Wins $1.3 Million Grant to Support Careers in Biomedical Research

Cal State Northridge received more than $1.3 million from the National Institutes of Health for two programs that encourage students from under-represented communities to consider careers as biomedical researchers, the university announced Wednesday.

The university received $606,130, the third installment of a five-year grant, for its Minority Access Research Careers Undergrad Science Training and Academic Research program, which is designed to provide mentors for minority students and give them research experience to compete at the graduate level, according to the university.

CSUN also received $723,860, the second installment of a five-year grant, for its Minority Biomedical Research Support Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement program, which supports 20 undergraduate and six graduate students each year as they are mentored by and conduct research alongside faculty.

"We're very grateful for the continuation of the support provided by the NIH," said CSUN biology professor MariaElena Zavala, director of the programs. "Not only do these grants support the students directly, but they also provide an opportunity to have institutional impact as we develop and shape courses to ensure that the students have the tools they need to succeed."

Since 1990, the MARC U*STAR program has worked to increase the number of traditionally under-represented minority students in the biomedical sciences, according to the university. Students take part in long-term research projects and receive mentoring and support. They also receive a stipend to travel to scientific conferences to present their research results.

MBRS RISE started in 1993 and was designed to increase the number of students from under-represented communities who go on to complete doctoral programs in biomedical and behavioral research fields.

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