Step into the future of medical research with the Robert A. Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA)—a transformative opportunity for early-career physicians who are ready to spark real change in their fields and communities! This two-year program isn’t just about research; it’s about igniting your potential through an immersive 4.5-day workshop, a cutting-edge curriculum focused on community engagement, and a dynamic, multi-tiered mentorship model. As a Winn CDA Scholar, you’ll collaborate with renowned leaders, shape the future of clinical trials in cancer, cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, or neuropsychiatric disease, and gain hands-on experience as both a mentee and a mentor.
The Award
$240k over 2 years ($120K/year for 2 years) to cover a portion of the scholar’s salary — approximately 40% of their time — allowing them the protected space needed to fully engage in the program’s intensive training and research activities. (Note: Awards will be given to organizations, not to individuals). The award is intended to support the career development of the scholar; it does NOT fund the project in the application.
Eligibility
- Must have a demonstrated commitment to improving patient participation in clinical trials.
- Must be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent) AND have an active US medical license.
- Must be a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
- Must focus on one of the following clinical research areas: cancer, cardiovascular or cardiometabolic diseases, or neuropsychiatry.
- Must be in the first to eighth year of a full time clinical faculty appointment.
Program Components
- At the start of the program, Winn CDA Scholars participate in a 4.5-day intensive workshop on Design and Implementation of Clinical Trials (Winn-AACR DICT Workshop).
- Then, over the course of 2 years, they engage in a Community-Oriented Clinical Trialist (COCT) curriculum that is designed to develop and train a new generation of first-rate clinical trialists with the additional knowledge, skills, and competencies to effectively engage with communities to foster active community participation in clinical and translational research.
- Tiered mentoring: scholars receive mentorship from established principal investigators at their institution (Institutional Mentors). Scholars will also receive mentorship from the Winn-AACR DICT Faculty and Program Mentors. Scholars will serve as mentors to a student participating in the Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) during the summer of the first year.