UC Davis receives federal grant to support research for medical and veterinary residents
Award is the nation’s first NIH R38 training grant to jointly promote research into humans and animals
UC Davis Health’s Department of Internal Medicine and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have been jointly awarded an R38 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
The grant will support the development of the Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) Program, which intends to boost the pipeline of physician- and veterinarian-scientists. The new program will provide research opportunities for veterinary residents and human internal medicine residents specializing in pulmonary, hematology and cardiovascular medicine.
This groundbreaking initiative marks the first joint medicine and veterinary medicine R38 program in the country.
“This award reflects the exceptional research environment at UC Davis and our commitment to training the next generation of clinician-scientists,” said Michael Schivo, professor of clinical internal medicine at UC Davis Health and co-director of the StaRR program. “By bridging human and veterinary medicine, we’re uniquely positioned to explore novel insights into heart, lung, and blood disorders that affect both people and animals.”
“By bridging human and veterinary medicine, we’re uniquely positioned to explore novel insights into heart, lung, and blood disorders that affect both people and animals.”—Michael Schivo
Structure of StaRR program
The five-year grant will support an innovative training program that selects one human internal medicine resident and one veterinary medicine resident each year. The participants will engage in two years of mentored research, immersive clinical and research experiences across both disciplines and formal research training. Residents will dedicate 80% of their time to research and 20% to clinical practice, fostering a strong foundation in investigative medicine.
At the conclusion of the program, participants will receive either a Master of Advanced Study (M.A.S.) degree or a certificate, depending on the pathway they choose.
The program is designed to prepare clinician-scientists to lead the development, implementation and evaluation of cutting-edge strategies for diagnosing, treating and preventing pulmonary, hematologic and cardiovascular diseases.
“Bridging the gap between human and animal health and exposing trainees to both environments strengthens their understanding of clinical and basic science. That’s the true spirit of this program.”—Amir Kol
“Experiencing both human and veterinary medicine creates a powerful exchange of knowledge that, in my view, leads to better health outcomes,” said Amir Kol, associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and co-director of the StaRR program. “Bridging the gap between human and animal health and exposing trainees to both environments strengthens their understanding of clinical and basic science. That’s the true spirit of this program.”
Interdisciplinary collaboration
This R38 award will allow UC Davis to build upon the inventive collaborations between its human and veterinary medicine schools. Existing collaborations in cancer, ophthalmology, regenerative medicine and other specialties leverage the university’s dual strengths as one of the nation’s top academic medical centers and one of the global leading veterinary schools. By combining the expertise of UC Davis Health and the School of Veterinary Medicine, the R38 initiative will foster interdisciplinary teamwork and accelerate translational research in new areas that bridge clinical insights across species.

The program includes built-in opportunities for collaboration between internal medicine and veterinary medicine residents that include:
- Clinical service rotations at both schools.
- Participation in the Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP).
- Research mentorship from leading faculty across both disciplines.
- Access to state-of-the-art facilities at both campuses.
“Having a mentoring team that includes faculty from both the School of Medicine and the School of Veterinary Medicine gives our trainees a unique advantage,” said Nicholas Kenyon, professor of medicine at UC Davis Health and co-director of the StaRR program.
“This collaborative approach allows residents to refine and strengthen their research projects while helping them carve out more specialized career paths. Access to this kind of interdisciplinary mentorship will significantly enhance their scientific perspective and deepen their understanding of the research process.”—Nicholas Kenyon
He added: “This collaborative approach allows residents to refine and strengthen their research projects while helping them carve out more specialized career paths. Access to this kind of interdisciplinary mentorship will significantly enhance their scientific perspective and deepen their understanding of the research process.”
Learn more
For more information about the R38 grant at UC Davis, please visit the StaRR Program’s website.