The NIH-funded Indiana Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (I-StARR) program is designed to prepare outstanding primary care residents for careers in academic medicine and clinical investigation by providing them with mentored research experiences and research skill development during their residency training. I-StARR emphasizes research to improve health outcomes of high-risk populations with highly prevalent cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, which are frequently diagnosed and managed in primary care. Our goal is to place residents on a structured pathway toward research careers as physician-scientists.
I-StARR Scholars commit to a minimum of 12 months of mentored research activities, which can be spread over residency in 3-month blocks. During research blocks, Scholars devote 80% of their effort to I-StARR approved activities. The program’s main components are a mentored research experience with extramurally funded mentors; participation in the monthly I-StARR research seminar series; professional development such as non-degree coursework (subject to available funding), scientific writing training, grant development, and pre-submission grant review; and career mentoring. In addition, I-StARR Scholars have access to up to $20,000 to cover research-related expenses.
