Over the past 3 years, the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) has thoughtfully cultivated a blossoming research enterprise.

“The research enterprise has grown significantly … as a result of investment from the school and from the university,” explained Robert Miller, PhD, senior associate dean for research, Vivian Gill Distinguished Research Professor, and professor of anatomy and regenerative biology at SMHS.

Key to that growth, which includes an unprecedented increase in both the number of grant awards and the volume of grant applications, is SMHS’ focus on several areas, such as new talent and education.

With the 2015–18 strategic plan as a model, the school has hired more than 40 research faculty, a move that signals the school’s commitment to research growth, said Alison Hall, PhD, associate dean for research workforce development and professor of neurology at SMHS.

“New faculty are bringing new ideas to GW and new energies to our research groups,” she explained. “It’s really exciting, and we’re trying to do quite a lot to help them be successful here because they’re what makes us strong.”

As Miller added, an influx of talent is critical to shaping the future of research; the new faculty act as a catalyst for collaboration across disciplines and can lead current faculty researchers into fresh areas of inquiry.

New and updated educational programs at SMHS attract researchers, including those just entering the field.

The GW-SPARC Program

The GW Summer Program Advancing Research on Cancer (GW-SPARC) is designed to maximize research opportunities for undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in biomedical science.

Students will embark on closely mentored, hands-on research in laboratories focused on three areas: cancer immunology and immunotherapy; cancer biology, namely targeted therapies and epigenetics; and cancer engineering and technology. They will attend weekly workshops and seminars, and participate in a book club focused on the impact of cancer in diverse communities. At the end of the summer, students will present their research in a scientific poster session.

“GW-SPARC will not only expose participants to cutting-edge research and contemporary cancer research techniques, but will also help foster their understanding of health disparities and the impact of cancer in different communities,” added Hall, who also serves as co-director of the program. “Most importantly, this program will help prepare diverse students for research careers, leading to discoveries that will improve our future. I hope some of those research careers will be right here at GW.”