Apply to receive $2,000 to conduct important family medicine research.

*NOTE* This opportunity is ONLY available to second- and third-year California medical students and is NOT available to international medical graduates. 

Background information

The Student Research Grant Program gives a student the opportunity to work with a practicing or academic family physician to conduct clinical or educational research.  Jointly funded through the CAFP and AAFP Foundations, the goal of the Student Research Grant Program is to offer California medical students the opportunity to research contemporary issues in family medicine.  The research is typically conducted over the summer and runs approximately two to three months.  Two grants are available for second- or third-year California medical students.  Past topics have included:

• Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-diabetes in Latinos
• Sensitivity and Specificity of the Glaucoma Risk Factor Analysis in Identifying Glaucoma Suspect
• Undiagnosed Glaucoma in a Primary Care Setting
• Effects of Colorectal Cancer Screening Documents on Patient Comprehension and Motivation
• Do Family Practice and Internal Medicine Residency Programs Educate and Utilize the Patient-Centered Medical Home Delivery of Care Model?

How do I apply?

Each applicant must submit a research proposal.  The deadline to submit a proposal was Friday, May 18, 2012.

The proposal must be no more than five pages in length, double-spaced and must contain the following seven items:

1. State the research question, describe the background of the study and relate its importance to family medicine.
2. Describe the study design or education evaluation, including the study subjects, setting and data analysis.
3. Describe the time frame for the project. Note: the final report must be submitted by Friday, December 7, 2012.
4. Indicate ways you plan to disseminate the results.
5. Itemize the budget.  Each grant can be up to $2,500, $500 of which goes to the mentoring physician and $2,000 goes to the student.
6. Your current CV and abbreviated CV(s) of the mentor(s).  Highlight specific qualifications and experience.  Provide complete addresses and contact information, including email addresses.  Note: CVs are not included in the five-page limit.
7. Include a letter of support from the mentor describing the mentor’s role.  Note: letters are not included in the five-page limit.

Guidelines and Eligibility

Each proposal must be written and submitted by a second- or third-year student currently enrolled in a California medical school.  Applicants must have one or more mentors, one of which is a family physician.  Applicants choosing a mentor without recent research experience should also choose a second mentor with a research background. The mentoring physician will receive up to a $500 stipend for their time.