Alliance transforming RI’s biomedical research landscape
Providence Journal, Published 6:06 am June 29, 2024
Opinion
Bongsup Cho and Brett Pellock
Guest columnists
Bongsup Cho is RI-INBRE program director, University of Rhode Island. Brett
Pellock is RI-INBRE program coordinator, Providence College.
Federal research grants are vital to building and maintaining world-class
research programs. The University of Rhode Island recently secured a five-
year, $21-million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support the
Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence program.
Since its inception in 2001, the program has brought more than $100 million to
the state.
RI-INBRE is an NIH Institutional Development Award that promotes
biomedical research and training at academic institutions across Rhode
Island. At its heart, it is a biomedical capacity-building program. We work
closely with and support each of our nine partner institutions, including Bryant
University, Brown University, Community College of Rhode Island, Johnson &
Wales University, Rhode Island College, Providence College, Roger Williams
University, Salve Regina University and URI. RI-INBRE provides unique
opportunities for networking, faculty development, student training and resource sharing. This has nurtured a vibrant community of researchers
dedicated to advancing biomedical science.
RI-INBRE supports faculty research and development through research
grants for early-career and established faculty at every network institution. We
also maintain a robust student training grant program that supports summer
research and academic year students in labs across Rhode Island. In 23
years, the program has supported 802 research projects involving 218 faculty
members who have trained 2,210 undergraduate students, graduate students
and postdoctoral fellows.
Investigators and students across the state routinely interact and share ideas
at networking venues. They present their work each summer at the
Undergraduate Research Symposium, which showcases the next generation
of scientists and is a vibrant celebration of biomedical research training in
Rhode Island. RI-INBRE continues to grow and improve its training programs
to match the pace of the biomedical landscape here. We have recently
established a workforce development program supported by a state
Department of Labor and Training Real Jobs RI grant. The program offers
intensive training in biomedical skills, equipping students with the expertise to
thrive in the local biotechnology industry. We have also maintained and
expanded our Centralized Research Core Facility, which contains an
impressive array of state-of-the-art research instruments available for
academic and industry investigators. By bridging the gap between academia
and industry, RI-INBRE is shaping the future workforce and driving economic
growth in our state. To enhance the impact of our program, we have cultivated
partnerships with other capacity-building programs in Rhode Island’s thriving
biomedical ecosystem, including the Centers of Biomedical Research
Excellence and Center for Translation Research, led by researchers at
hospitals in Providence and Brown University. These collaborations and joint
initiatives have fostered a culture of innovation, leading to scientific
discoveries and improved health outcomes for our community.
In 2023 alone, Rhode Island received 23 IDeA awards totaling $28.5 million, a
testament to the quality and diversity of our research endeavors. These funds
have fueled scientific discovery and stimulated local job growth by supporting
research staff, trainees and administrative personnel. RI-INBRE and other
federal capacity-building programs have become engines of economic
prosperity, bolstering Rhode Island’s position as an essential player in
biomedical and life sciences.
As we reflect on the achievements made possible by the NIH IDeA programs,
it is clear that Rhode Island has been blessed with an extraordinary
endowment of resources. From pioneering research to workforce
development, these initiatives have reshaped our scientific landscape,
propelling us toward a brighter, promising future.
Looking ahead, we are not just hopeful but excited to continue to harness the
power of collaboration and innovation to build upon our success and further
enhance the biomedical enterprise in the Ocean State, a future that we
believe will be even more impactful and transformative.