PROJECT SUMMARY and ABSTRACT Infectious diseases continue to have a major impact on global health. Clinician-investigators have an important role in addressing infectious diseases through research whose findings can advance the development of new diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies. However, there is a decreasing number of clinician- investigators in infectious diseases to meet this need. Innovative training schemes to reinvigorate the next generation of clinician-investigators to address infectious diseases concerns are needed. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is committed to training and retaining a pipeline of clinician-investigators and has established a physician scientist development office (PSDO) that provides support and resources for this pipeline. Residency is a pipeline stage with heavy clinical burden and there is a need for mentored research and training opportunities during residency to help retain those with an interest in a clinician-investigator career. The goal of the UAB StARR Program is to recruit, train, and accelerate the research independence of UAB resident- investigators to help build the next generation of clinician-investigators addressing infectious diseases. The program will achieve its goal through three specific aims: Aim 1 (Pre-StARR Phase): Identify, recruit, and cultivate resident-investigators interested in infectious diseases who are diverse by gender, race, ethnicity, and residency specialties – starting in post-graduate year 1, multiple strategies will be used to identify and recruit resident-investigators for the UAB StARR program from a diverse resident pool within the UAB Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Pathology, and General Surgery residency programs who have interest in infectious diseases. Aim 2 (StARR Research Phase): Provide mentored research and career development activities for resident-investigators to promote curiosity in and preparedness for a career involving infectious diseases investigation - up to 4 residents who apply and are selected for UAB StARR each year will complete a 12-month program that includes: 1) research mentored by one of 34 preceptors with an excellent mentoring track record and funding in research on infectious diseases and/or immune mechanisms impacting them, and 2) career development activities leading to core competencies in research methodology, responsible conduct of research, communication of findings, scientific writing, and team science. Aim 3 (Post-StARR Phase): Maintain continued mentorship and career development engagement to retain resident-investigators’ interest and preparedness for a clinician-investigator pathway - after completing the 12-month StARR program, participants will have continued mentored research opportunities (up to 12 months), career advising through regular meetings with StARR leadership and preceptors, and participation in career development activities, research conferences, and a monthly interactive StARR Cohort “Next Steps” series. The impact of UAB StARR will be the development of a diverse group of highly motivated, well-trained, early clinician-investigators who are prepared for a successful transition towards a career as an independent clinician-investigator with a research focus on infectious diseases.

PROJECT NARRATIVE Infectious diseases continue to have a major impact on global health and clinician-investigators play an important role in addressing infectious diseases through research whose findings can advance the development of new diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies. The goal of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) StARR Program is to recruit, train, and accelerate the research independence of UAB resident-investigators through mentored research, training in research methodology, and career development activities. The impact of the program will be generation of a pool of diverse resident- investigators with the knowledge, skills, experience, unique perspectives, and motivation that are all necessary to facilitate transition towards becoming the next generation of highly successful clinician- investigators who combat the burden and challenges of infectious diseases.