The federal Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) supports the Virginia Tech Initiative to Maximize Student Development (VT-IMSD) training program. The $279,245 grant, awarded on February 1, 2025, aims to recruit and train 25 underrepresented minority (URM) doctoral scholars over 5 years to successfully complete their PhDs in disciplines such as biomedical engineering, immunology, neuroscience, and pharmaceutical chemistry. The training program will provide scholars with structured professional development activities, including lab rotations, seminars, peer mentoring, and career planning support, to prepare them for postdoctoral positions or careers in biomedical research. This program leverages Virginia Tech's academic excellence and established IMSD alumni network to develop adaptable, highly skilled, and resilient diverse PhD graduates for the growing biomedical research enterprise.