"Raising awareness of alternative science and research careers"

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE)

The Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) Programs Branch of the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) administers research and research training programs and special initiatives that are aimed at increasing the number of minority biomedical scientists. The MBRS Program, through grants to eligible institutions, provides expanded opportunities for underrepresented ethnic minorities to choose and participate in biomedical research careers.

The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) Program has been actively involved in student biomedical research training since 1987 and has continued these efforts under the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Student Training Program. The MSM/MBRS program supports beiomedical research training for all collegiate levels: undergraduate, graduate and medical. The RISE program uses several approaches to increase student awareness of alternative scientific and research careers. These activities are designed to address the program goal of increasing the overall number of minorities going on to doctoral programs and the number of minority MDs choosing academic/research careers.

All students involved in the Biomedical Research Training Activity are required to: conduct mentordirected research, attend research seminars at MSM, participate in journal clubs and present their research findings at the MSM Annual Student Research Day Symposium, the MBRS/RISE Peer Seminar and/or a local or national meeting of a scientific society.