Federal Grant Award Summary: U-RISE at the University of Massachusetts Boston

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded the University of Massachusetts Boston a $431,330 Project Grant under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. The U-RISE program delivers comprehensive research training and institutional capacity-building services designed to broaden participation in biomedical doctoral education. The primary deliverables include research training for 18 undergraduate students annually (36 total over two-year appointments) from underrepresented minorities, disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities; intensive mentoring and academic advising; laboratory research experiences under faculty supervision; summer research placements at research-intensive universities; and professional development activities including scientific communication training, responsible conduct of research instruction, and guidance on graduate and medical school applications.

Beyond direct participant services, the program generates institutional products that enhance the overall research training environment at UMass Boston. Enrichment activities developed through this funding—including career pathway exposure, networking opportunities with external scientists, and reproducibility training—are made available to the broader science student community, multiplying the impact of the investment. The integrated approach combines hands-on research experience as the centerpiece activity with structured mentoring, skill-building workshops, and graduate school preparation support to ensure participants are exceptionally prepared and motivated to enter biomedical PhD programs.