Purpose
The purpose of the Doris Duke Clinical Research Experiences for High School Students (CREHSS) program is to provide clinical research and enrichment activities for high school students from underrepresented minorities in medicine, with the long-term goal of increasing the diversity of the biomedical research workforce.
Rationale
Although Hispanics and other racial minorities are among the fastest growing segments of our population, they are the most underrepresented in medicine (1). For example, enrollment of members of underrepresented minorities in medical school has not kept pace with the growing proportion of minorities in the US population. Data from 2010 reveals that nearly 13 percent of the US population is Black and 15.8 percent Hispanic, but among medical school students, only 7.2 percent is Black and 8.2 percent Hispanic (2,3). Minority representation among medical school faculty is even more disparate than in medical school: Only 2 percent of tenure-track medical school faculty members are minorities (4).
While there are many existing science programs that provide mentored research experiences for high school students in the setting of a university or research institute, exposure to research in clinical sciences for students from underrepresented groups is lacking. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation created the Clinical Research Experiences for High School Students program to help fill this gap and to inspire students to consider a career in clinical research.
Groups Considered Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine
For the purposes of this award program, DDCF will use the following description from the National Institutes of Health:
Underrepresented minorities in medicine are individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, which includes American Indians or Alaska Natives, blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders; individuals with disabilities; and individuals from socially, culturally, economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds that have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in health-related research (5).
Award Details
In 2011 the foundation awarded nine three-year grants of up to $194,400 each to universities, hospitals and research institutes with an existing high school research program. DDCF funds will be used to introduce up to 10 underrepresented minority students per year, per institution receiving the award to clinically relevant research projects.
New grants are not being offered at this time.
To be notified of future funding opportunities, sign up for the Medical Research Program’s mailing list.
Sources
- US Census Bureau. Population Projections for States by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 1995 to 2025. View Source
- US Census Bureau Quick Facts. View Source
- AAMC. Diversity Resources and Data Snapshots. November 2010 edition. Washington DC: Association of American Medical Colleges. View Source
- National Research Council. 2011. Research Training in the Biomedical, Behavioral, and Clinical Research Sciences. Washington DC: The National Academies Press.
- National Institutes of Health Office of Extramural Research. View Source