Program to aid junior investigators
With the help of a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, Michigan State University is creating a cross-discipline, mentored program designed to increase the number and diversity of researchers in women's health.
MSU's new Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health program, to be housed in the Department of Medicine in the College of Human Medicine, will help junior investigators by matching them with mentors and protecting their time so they can focus on research efforts.
Investigators from across the university researching women's health will be eligible to apply for the program.
"This award provides an enormous opportunity for MSU and researchers in women's health," said Mary Nettleman, chairperson of the Department of Medicine and principal investigator on the grant. "This type of training grant not only encourages young investigators to come to MSU but also creates new networks and connections among researchers.
"It allows scholars to become independently funded women's health investigators."
As part of the program, junior investigators from disciplines across the university can apply for funding. Those chosen will be assigned to a mentor; 21 mentors have been identified from the colleges of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Natural Science, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Social Science and Communication Arts and Sciences.
Also, the grant will help cover the salaries of junior investigators to allow them time to apply for grants, set up projects and conduct research.
"For these researchers, the commodity most difficult to get is time," Nettleman said, noting that departments will be reimbursed so investigators can focus solely on research projects. "This will help ensure that promising junior researchers have the protected time, good mentorship and appropriate training to become successful women's health researchers."