Tulane StARR Program

 Overview

Tulane's Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) Program long-term goal is to increase the number and diversity of highly trained, independent, interdisciplinary board-certified physician scientists engaged in heart, lung, and blood diseases research. The program focuses on heart, lung, and blood diseases because of the impacts of these diseases on human health, the existing knowledge gaps for these diseases across the research spectrum, and the strength of this focus at Tulane.

Our innovative approach includes tailoring the program to Scholars needs using self-efficacy assessment and individual development plans (IDP) and using a network mentoring model for each Scholar Oversight Committee (SOC) which will include expertise in both basic and clinical science and clinical care as well as participation by the relevant Residency Program Director to ensure appropriate integration of clinical and research rotations. Scholars are immediately exposed to research and are guided to establish a scholarly track record early, and gain presentation and organization skills by active participation in the Tulane Health Sciences Research days, national scientific meetings and the annual NIH StARR meeting.

Program Components

1) Boot Camps and didactics tailored to specific Scholar needs;

2) Individualized career development training;

3) StARR Physician Scientists seminar series;

4) Work-in-Progress sessions;

5) Grant writing and project management workshops;

6) Mentored interdisciplinary research;

7) Responsible conduct in research training;

8) Institutional resources;

9) Planned transition for StARR Scholars to fellowship training, K38, K12, K-like programs, and Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). 

StARR scholars receive salary support to protect 80% time dedicated to mentored research over 18 months during 4 years of residency. In addition, each Scholar receives $20,000/year (PGY 2, 3, 4) to support research career development with $3000 for research-related travel expenses (PGY 2, 3, 4).

 

Eligibility

Tulane StARR Program Applicant Eligibility (per NIH): 

  • Must be health professional doctoral degrees (e.g., MD, DO, MBBS, DDS, DMD, OD, ND, DVM; with or without a research doctorate) engaged in residency.
  • Full-time appointment at the applicant institution
  • Commit to 4 years of residency training including 18 months of mentored research (@80% effort research/20% clinical in three, 6-month blocks) and 30 months of clinical rotations. 
  • Must be a citizen or a non-citizen national of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e. possess a currently valid Permanent Resident care USCIS Form 1-551, or other legal verification of such status.

 

Timeline

StARR Scholars will engage as follows:

  • 18 months mentored research training in 6-month blocks/year (at least 80% effort) during PGY2, PGY3 & PGY4
  • Continuity clinics (20% effort) continued during StARR mentored research months in in PGY2, PGY3, PGY4
  • 30 months of clinical rotations required over 4 years of residency training

PGY-1

PGY-2

PGY-3

PGY-4

Jul-Dec

Jan-Jun

Jul-Dec

Jan-Jun

Jul-Dec

Jan-Jun

Jul-Dec

Jan-Jun

Clinical (100%)

Clinical (100%)

Research

(80%)

Clinical

(20%)

Clinical (100%)

Research

(80%)

Clinical (20%)

Clinical (100%)

Research

(80%)

Clinical (20%)

Clinical (100%)

NOTE:  Clinical rotations will be scheduled in the final 6 months of residency training (to support board preparation)

NOTE: The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) have approved these pathways and training timeline specifically for the Tulane StARR program.