Wayne State University is one of only two universities in the nation to receive the National Institutes of Health’s highly competitive BEST and BUILD grants, both of which will help develop programs geared toward preparing students for their future careers. 

Ambika Mathur, dean of the Graduate School, is the principal investigator of both awards.   

The $1.8 million Broadening Experience in Scientific Training program — or BEST — will establish enhanced training opportunities to prepare graduate students for careers outside of traditional academic roles.

The $21.2 million Research Enhancement for Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity program — known as REBUILD Detroit — is a consortium of Detroit colleges — including Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy, Marygrove College and Wayne County Community College District — that aims to create a program that will encourage more undergraduate students from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in biomedical research.

“The National Institutes of Health’s BEST and BUILD awards will provide the university with additional resources to promote diversity in education and contribute to innovative research,” said Mathur.  “With the arrow trending up for both Detroit and Wayne State, we have been presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to impact the future of our community.”

The University of California, San Francisco was the only other university to receive both awards. 

To learn more about the BEST program, visit gradschool.wayne.edu/best/. To learn more about the REBUILD program, visit media.wayne.edu/2014/10/22/national-institutes-of-health-awards-detroit-colleges.