Medical Scientist Training Program Funding Renewed and Increased

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), a joint venture between the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering to train prospective physician-scientists and physician-engineers (MD/PhD), received a 5-year renewal with an increase in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“We were extremely delighted to be notified of the increase in support from the NIH,” said Raghu G. Mirmira, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine and Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program. “Many programs across the country did not get increases this year. This clearly reflects the strength of our program and its potential for growth in the years to come.”

A goal of the joint MSTP is to provide this highest-level training opportunity to students in a wide-range of cutting-edge biomedical research areas in an academic program that integrates state-of-the-art clinical medical training with research. The current range of doctoral programs offered span from traditional programs of anatomy and cell biology to next generation programs in medical biophysics and medical neurobiology for life scientists to our diverse areas for biomedical engineers: neuroengineering, engineered biomaterials and tissue systems, biophotonics and medical imaging, orthopedic biomechanics, and systems science engineering.

Highlights of the program include:

  • A nationally-ranked Healthcare System partnered with a nationally-ranked College of Engineering.
  • Exceptionally strong clinical and research mentorship program.
  • Over 100 training faculty in 11 specialty areas including biomedical engineering.
  • Integrated clinical practice and translational research opportunities.
  • An incredible breadth of research expertise and high-tech facilities.
  • Unique medical school curriculum.
  • A highly diverse population of trainees.
  • Funded graduate fellowships from the Clinical Translational Science Institute.
  • Program graduates obtain highly competitive post-doctoral fellowships and residencies.

"We're delighted with the recognition from the NIH of the quality and success of our joint program," said George Wodicka, Head of the Weldon School. "The cooperative Indiana University medicine and Purdue biomedical engineering educational component provides unique opportunities for the training of physician engineers."

For more information, view the MSTP webpages at either the IU School of Medicine or the Weldon School.