V-SCHoLARs
The Vanderbilt Center for Population Science and Randomized Clinical Trials offers an NHLBI K12 training program, the Vanderbilt Scholars in HIV and Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Research (V-SCHoLARs). Its goal is to train the next generation of investigators with expertise in HIV and HLBS research.
The receipt of this P01 center grant and K12 training program exemplifies exactly how large population cohorts with granular mechanistic studies can lead to clinical trials to improve human health locally and globally and how such infrastructure can support a K12 program designed to train the next generation of research scientists.
The current scholars working on K23 award applications to be submitted in spring of 2024 are:
Debra Dixon, MD, MS
Physician-scientist and Instructor in Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Jeffrey Schmeckpeper, MD, PhD
Instructor in Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Alumni
Four scholars have successfully transitioned off the K12 and received NIH career development awards:
Dr. Sam Bailin, MD, MSCI
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Natalie Chichetto, PhD
Assistant Professor in the Colleges of Medicine and Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida
Curt Gabriel, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Gabriel is currently executing his funded K23, "The Gut-Liver Axis in HIV-Related Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease."
Celestine Wanjalla, MD, PhD
Physician Scientist and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Dr. Wanjalla is recipient of a Clinical Scientist Development Award from Doris Duke and a prestigious Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists.