Chemistry’s Tho Tran Co-Leads NIH-Supported UH-CURE Program

Bradley McConnell, professor of pharmacology at the UH College of Pharmacy, and Tho Tran, research assistant professor of chemistry at the UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, have received funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to create a summer research program to engage the upcoming generation of minority, underrepresented cardiovascular researchers in hands-on heart, blood and lung research.

“The University of Houston Cardiovascular Undergraduate Research Experience (UH-CURE) will provide a diverse group of students with a well-rounded research experience and a versatile set of skills, preparing them for successful careers in research,” said McConnell. “We will offer a transdisciplinary research experience and a toolbox of translatable skills to prepare them for success.”

The $792,900 grant will support up to ten undergraduate students per year for five years in cutting-edge cardiovascular research across disciplinary lines, with the goal of increasing students’ interest in cardiovascular research. Students will receive a $6,000 stipend, travel to a globally recognized cardiovascular research conference, on-campus housing and a food allowance.

Other goals include developing responsible research skills, increasing awareness of the importance of transdisciplinary research, promoting diversity and collaborations, cultivating the basic and transferable skills necessary for succeeding in graduate school and a subsequent career and facilitating undergraduate students to pursue further training in cardiovascular research.

"We are so grateful to be able to provide talented students across the U.S. an opportunity to experience our excellent cardiovascular research environment,” said Tran. “We want UH-CURE participants to gain confidence in their research abilities through our hands-on approach and the skillset to navigate future challenges through our professional training.”

McConnell and Tran have a strong history of working together. Together, they formed the American Heart Association-funded UH-HEART pilot program, which focuses on basic cardiovascular research. Through the successes of that program, they sought to broaden the scope through UH-CURE, which encompasses the breadth of cardiovascular research across disciplinary lines – from community engagement and population-based research to basic, translational, and applied research – while also emphasizing the significance and innovation of the research. Importantly, UH-CURE will prepare and inspire students for successful careers in cardiovascular research, leading to greater diversity in the biomedical research landscape in the US.

“We all know that a diverse environment leads to a much better generation of ideas and solutions. We hope to bring that strength to the future of cardiovascular research through our students,” said Tran.

“To achieve our goals, we will introduce participants to a breadth of cardiovascular research across disciplinary lines and emphasize the significance and innovation of the research, including a cohort trip to a national research conference,” said McConnell.

The program will integrate participants into a productive research laboratory where they will learn critical research skills, data analysis, and research integrity, under the mentorship of a faculty member from across UH’s colleges, with workshop and enrichment activities, delivered by leaders from across the UH campus.

Both the UH-CURE and UH-HEART programs are currently accepting applications for research opportunities this summer. Information can be found on the UH Drug Discovery Institute’s website under the Undergraduate Research Program tab.

- Laurie Fickman, University Media Relations