The Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program was created to increase diversity in clinical trials and transform the clinical research landscape. The initiative is comprised of the Robert A. Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA) for early-stage investigator physicians and the Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) for medical students.
The goal of the Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) is to build a pathway of community-oriented clinical trialists of diverse backgrounds who are committed to increasing inclusion, equity, and diversity in the conduct of clinical and translational research. The program provides medical students a 6-week summer service-learning externship in community-based clinical research sites where they benefit from exposures to clinical research, community engagement experiences, and leadership development.
Applications open on November 6, 2023 and close on January 8, 2024.
Commitment
To provide immersive community-based experiences in clinical trial research to 308 medical students of diverse backgrounds who are committed to increasing inclusion, equity, and diversity in the conduct of clinical and translational research (~60 per program year).
Award
A $7,500 stipend for the 6-week externship.
Guidance for the award: The stipend is expected to cover travel, living, and lodging expenses during the service-learning experience period.
Externship
Winn CIPP students will learn the basics of clinical trials and work in community-based clinical research organizations to provide outreach, education, and engagement on clinical trials. Students will receive training in three areas:
- Clinical Research - Students gain clinical research exposure through engagement with clinical investigators in community-based clinical research organizations and academic medical centers.
- Community Engagement - Students develop team-based service-learning projects, in which they conduct short-term capacity building interventions, such as community needs assessments or implement patient initiatives (education, outreach, and/or informational programs). Students will design and conduct their projects in collaboration with site supervisors.
- Leadership Development - Students are introduced to clinical research career development pathways and receive mentoring from Winn CDA scholars that supports their development of community-oriented clinical research leadership skills.
The 2024 Winn CIPP will take place during two 6-week program periods:
- Group 1: June 3 - July 12, 2024
- Group 2: June 10 - July 19, 2024
In 2024, Winn CIPP Site Partners will be located in the following *cities:
| Atlanta, GA | Chicago, IL |
| Los Angeles, CA | Louisville, KY |
| New Orleans, LA | New York, NY |
| Phoenix, AZ | Richmond, VA |
| San Antonio, TX | Seattle, WA |
*Cities are subject to change.
Mentoring
Each Winn CIPP student will be matched for mentoring with a Winn CDA scholar who is an early-stage clinical investigator. During their 6-week externships, Winn CIPP students will meet at least four times with their Winn CDA scholar mentors to discuss clinical research career pathways.
Candidate Eligibility Criteria
Candidate Profile
Eligible candidates will identify as a student *Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) and/or from a *disadvantaged background:
- African American or Black
- Hispanic or Latino
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
- Southeast Asian
*Definitions of URiM and disadvantaged background are defined by the NIH.
Citizenship or immigration status
Eligible candidates will must be a US Citizen, US Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder), or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Approval. If awarded, students may be required to show proof of status.
Educational Status
Eligible candidates will be:
- Current 1st – 3rd year Medical Students
- Enrolled in MD, MD/PhD, DO or DO/PhD programs in accredited US medical schools
***Please be advised that the Winn CIPP is not designed to qualify for academic credit. It is neither structured nor intended to serve as a clinical rotation or any other kind of academic requirement. If a student would like to get academic credit for participation in Winn CIPP, s/he would need to work directly with the placement site partner. A separate Affiliation Agreement would likely be needed between the student’s medical school and the placement site. Site partners are not required to enter into an Affiliation Agreement on behalf of the student. It is wholly at the site's discretion to do so.
Note: The student is fully responsible for initiating and managing the Affiliation Agreement process. Neither the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center nor the Winn CIPP team are involved in any part of the process.
Please visit the program's website at https://diversityinclinicaltrials.org/ for detailed information and FAQs.
For questions related to Winn CIPP and/or the Winn CIPP application, please contact WinnCIPP@vcu.edu.
Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP)
The Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program was created to increase diversity in clinical trials and transform the clinical research landscape. The initiative is comprised of the Robert A. Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA) for early-stage investigator physicians and the Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) for medical students.
The goal of the Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) is to build a pathway of community-oriented clinical trialists of diverse backgrounds who are committed to increasing inclusion, equity, and diversity in the conduct of clinical and translational research. The program provides medical students a 6-week summer service-learning externship in community-based clinical research sites where they benefit from exposures to clinical research, community engagement experiences, and leadership development.
Applications open on November 6, 2023 and close on January 8, 2024.
Commitment
To provide immersive community-based experiences in clinical trial research to 308 medical students of diverse backgrounds who are committed to increasing inclusion, equity, and diversity in the conduct of clinical and translational research (~60 per program year).
Award
A $7,500 stipend for the 6-week externship.
Guidance for the award: The stipend is expected to cover travel, living, and lodging expenses during the service-learning experience period.
Externship
Winn CIPP students will learn the basics of clinical trials and work in community-based clinical research organizations to provide outreach, education, and engagement on clinical trials. Students will receive training in three areas:
- Clinical Research - Students gain clinical research exposure through engagement with clinical investigators in community-based clinical research organizations and academic medical centers.
- Community Engagement - Students develop team-based service-learning projects, in which they conduct short-term capacity building interventions, such as community needs assessments or implement patient initiatives (education, outreach, and/or informational programs). Students will design and conduct their projects in collaboration with site supervisors.
- Leadership Development - Students are introduced to clinical research career development pathways and receive mentoring from Winn CDA scholars that supports their development of community-oriented clinical research leadership skills.
The 2024 Winn CIPP will take place during two 6-week program periods:
- Group 1: June 3 - July 12, 2024
- Group 2: June 10 - July 19, 2024
In 2024, Winn CIPP Site Partners will be located in the following *cities:
| Atlanta, GA | Chicago, IL |
| Los Angeles, CA | Louisville, KY |
| New Orleans, LA | New York, NY |
| Phoenix, AZ | Richmond, VA |
| San Antonio, TX | Seattle, WA |
*Cities are subject to change.
Mentoring
Each Winn CIPP student will be matched for mentoring with a Winn CDA scholar who is an early-stage clinical investigator. During their 6-week externships, Winn CIPP students will meet at least four times with their Winn CDA scholar mentors to discuss clinical research career pathways.
Candidate Eligibility Criteria
Candidate Profile
Eligible candidates will identify as a student *Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) and/or from a *disadvantaged background:
- African American or Black
- Hispanic or Latino
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
- Southeast Asian
*Definitions of URiM and disadvantaged background are defined by the NIH.
Citizenship or immigration status
Eligible candidates will must be a US Citizen, US Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder), or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Approval. If awarded, students may be required to show proof of status.
Educational Status
Eligible candidates will be:
- Current 1st – 3rd year Medical Students
- Enrolled in MD, MD/PhD, DO or DO/PhD programs in accredited US medical schools
***Please be advised that the Winn CIPP is not designed to qualify for academic credit. It is neither structured nor intended to serve as a clinical rotation or any other kind of academic requirement. If a student would like to get academic credit for participation in Winn CIPP, s/he would need to work directly with the placement site partner. A separate Affiliation Agreement would likely be needed between the student’s medical school and the placement site. Site partners are not required to enter into an Affiliation Agreement on behalf of the student. It is wholly at the site's discretion to do so.
Note: The student is fully responsible for initiating and managing the Affiliation Agreement process. Neither the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center nor the Winn CIPP team are involved in any part of the process.
Please visit the program's website at https://diversityinclinicaltrials.org/ for detailed information and FAQs.
For questions related to Winn CIPP and/or the Winn CIPP application, please contact WinnCIPP@vcu.edu.