CREST Announces $50K Pilot Grant Awards

By Office of the President | May 24, 2023

The Clinical Research Scholars Training Program (CREST) is a respected five-year training grant generously funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). CREST aims to empower clinicians with the necessary support and resources to conduct groundbreaking health equity research.

Along with CREST, David Christini, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Research, is thrilled to announce the exceptional recipients of the highly coveted $50,000 pilot grant awards. These grants are designed to serve as catalysts, propelling the recipients forward by enabling them to generate preliminary data crucial for future National Institutes of Health (NIH) applications. Through these pilot grants, CREST aims to foster innovation and provide a solid foundation for cutting-edge research that addresses health inequities and brings us closer to achieving health equity for all.

CREST actively encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds—particularly those underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences—to pursue further studies or careers in research. This program aims to foster inclusivity and empower aspiring researchers to address health disparities for sustained and prolonged impact.

Congratulations are extended to: Ernest J. Barthélemy, M.D., MPH, MA (Molecular Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome in Black Populations); Chongmin Huan M.D., Ph.D. (Combining Hydroxychloroquine with 2OHOA for Treatment of Lupus Autoimmunity); Christina Pardo, M.D., MPH (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders for Black and Racial/Ethnic Minorities); and Victor Puac-Polanco, M.D., DrPH (Effects of Drink Special Laws to Address Disparities in Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-Related Traffic Outcomes among Systemically Marginalized Groups.)

We acknowledge the Phase I CREST fellows who presented their research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Clinical Research Education and Career Development (CRECD) Annual Principal Investigators/Scholars Meeting. These individuals include Melissa Lee, M.D. (ExRx: Seated Exercises for Older Adults); Briana Episcopia, MPH, R.N. (Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella Pneumonia in a Large Safety-Net Acute Care Healthcare System in New York City 2016-2022: The Tide is Changing), and Vivian Vega, M.D. (Trends in BMI During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children 6-18 Years Old in New York City).