Training Program

A key priority of the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute (UWMDI) is to train the next generation of scientists who will advance our understanding of the causes and consequences of diabetes, and related metabolic and vascular disorders. Our training program draws upon extraordinary institutional strengths, including breadth in both medicine and science and a friendly and supportive environment that values diversity and emphasizes mentorship. Our training program is focused on developing scientists with strong research ethics, critical thinking and scientific communication skills.

Research training conference: To further our research training mission, the UWMDI conducts two research training conferences each week, in which students and fellows have the opportunity to present their work and ideas to a large group consisting of scientific peers and mentors, for evaluation and feedback.  Supplemental sessions covering grant writing and career development are provided by faculty. One of these conferences is conducted jointly with metabolism researchers from the Seattle Veterans Affairs Hospital.

Research Ethics: All trainees attend the Biomedical Research and Integrity (BRI) series provided during summer quarter, including discussions. Topics covered include: conflict of interest, peer review, data acquisition, and research misconduct.

Grantsmanship: The UWMDI training program provides an ‘in-house’ grant review system. Through this process, research grant proposals from UWMDI faculty and trainees are reviewed by two local faculty members in advance of the submission date.  Thus, applicants receive critical feedback to help them optimize the competitiveness of their proposals before they are submitted for formal review, while also strengthening fundamentals of grantsmanship.

Funding: The UWMDI training program is supported by two distinct NIH T32 Research Training Grants, focusing on different aspects of research, awarded to faculty in the Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition.