StARR Program NIA Track

Research and mentorship

The StARR program supports a broad range of clinical and translational research, including early translational research involving human tissues, clinical epidemiology and interventional studies, population science research, and implementation or dissemination research designed to translate scientific discoveries into real-world settings.

Residents work with the StARR program directors to identify an appropriate portfolio of research relevant to their research and career goals, with an emphasis on scientific rigor and innovation, clinical or public health relevance, and feasibility within the context of residency.

Prior to the StARR year, residents identify a primary research mentor and associate project mentor with the guidance of the StARR program directors. More than 50 senior and mid-level faculty have already expressed interest in serving as mentors for StARR residents, but other faculty mentors may be identified with the help of the program directors.

Training experiences

The StARR program supports rigorous methodological training to enable residents to design and carry out high-impact research studies, compete successfully for future research support, and launch future successful careers as clinician investigators.

Residents who are pursuing clinical, outcomes, or implementation research but do not already have formal training in these methods are strongly encouraged to pursue structured training during their StARR year, such as the one-year Advanced Training in Clinical Research program (or the "TICR Suite" of coursework) or the Implementation Science certificate program.

Residents who already have substantive methodologic training should work with the StARR program directors to identify more selective training experiences appropriate to their research and career goals.

Tuition for coursework is generally covered by the StARR program, although cost-sharing from trainees' departments or from trainees may be requested if tuition levels exceed budgeted amounts.

StARR scholars also take part in multidisciplinary career development workshops to improve their scientific writing skills, foster their ability to work effectively within research teams, prepare them to give effective research presentations and foster their grant-writing skills.

The StARR program covers 80% of residents' salaries during their StARR year and provides funds to support didactic training in research. The other 20% of residents' salaries, as well as all of their benefits, are covered by their residency programs or departments.

Resident scholars also have access to additional research support funds, travel/conference funds, workspace in UCSF Mission Hall and support from statisticians in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics.

Successful StARR graduates are also eligible to apply for new Transitions from StARR K38 grants from the NHLBI that can provide future salary and research support after completion of StARR. Graduates can carry these NIH funds on to other institutions, if desired.

Timing of StARR support

Residents may pursue StARR at different times in their postdoctorate training depending on their clinical background. For example:

• Medicine: Residents can pursue StARR through an additional (PGY4) year of training.
• Anesthesia: Residents may pursue StARR during either their PGY4 or PGY5 year as part of the residency's Research Scholars Track.
• General Surgery: Residents may pursue StARR during one of their two dedicated research years (usually after their PGY3 year).
• Orthopaedic Surgery: Residents can pursue StARR during a dedicated research-specific year after their PGY3 year
• Urology: Residents can pursue StARR during a dedicated research-specific PGY5 year
• Neurology: Residents can pursue StARR through an extended training pathway involving a PGY5 research year
• Psychiatry: Residents can pursue StARR during their PGY4 year.
• Obstetrics & Gynecology: Residents can pursue StARR through an extended training pathway involving a PGY5 research year

To be eligible for the UCSF StARR program, residents should:

• Be currently enrolled in a UCSF residency (Non-UCSF residents are not eligible to join the UCSF StARR program.)
• Be a US citizen or a permanent US resident
• Show evidence of interest in clinical or translational research (specific prior research experience in aging health is desirable but not required.)
• Have a strong interest in conducting research related to an aspect of or aging health
• Belong to a residency program or department that will co-sponsor their participation, including 20% salary and all benefits during the StARR year

Of note, the departments of Medicine, Surgery, Neurology, Psychiatry, Urology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Anesthesia, and Gynecology have already confirmed co-support their residents selected for StARR.

Scholar selection process

Scholar selection is designed to identify the most promising candidates as well as guide candidates in identifying mentors and developing preliminary research plans before the start of the StARR year. This approach ensures that residents begin the StARR program with at least one committed research mentor and a preliminary research plan already in place..

Residents are encouraged to contact Program Director Dr. Alison Huang for a preliminary informal consultation prior to submitting an application. Following this, promising candidates will pursue a two-stage application process:

Stage 1

During stage 1, by the summer or fall before the proposed StARR year (i.e., summer of 2023 for a residents seeking to join StARR in the summer of 2024), applicants submit:

• A one-page cover letter describing their clinical and research background, any prior research training, and current or future research interests
• A resume or curriculum vitae emphasizing any past research training, experience, or products
• A brief statement of eligibility/support from the applicant’s residency director (see template)

Preferred format is PDF.

Stage 2

Following review of materials from stage 1, promising applicants will be guided in preparing additional materials by the spring before the start of the StARR year, to ensure they have viable StARR research programs.

An online form will be sent to applicants to complete and attach required documents. All documents must be in PDF format. These include:

• A letter of support from the proposed primary research mentor confirming interest in and ability to mentor the resident. If an additional secondary mentor or co-mentor has been identified, the applicant should include a brief letter from the co-mentor as well.
• A 2-3-page research proposal synopsis describing the objectives, methods and expected outcomes of a proposed project (with input from the primary mentor)
• An NIH-style biosketch summarizing education/training, research goals and any past contributions to science or research support
• A brief training plan, describing any methodological or career development activities that the resident proposed to pursue during the StARR year

Before appointments are confirmed, stage 2 applications are reviewed by the Program Director and Steering/Advisory Committee, who consider the qualifications of the resident, the experience or resources of the mentor, and the appropriateness of the research plan.

2023-2024

2022-2023

2021-2022

The NIA StARR program is overseen by Program Director Alison Huang, MD, MAS, MPhil; Professor of Medicine, Urology, and Epidemiology & Biostatistics; Co-Director of the CTST’s Resident Research Training Program at UCSF.

The Program Director is also guided by a Steering/Advisory Committee of distinguished clinical and translational researchers at UCSF:

• Kenneth Covinsky, Edmund G. Brown, Sr. Distinguished Professor of Medicine, and Director of Research in the Division of Geriatrics at UCSF
• Marcelle Cedars, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences at UCSF
• Dena Dubal, Associate Professor of Neurology, and the David A. Coulter Endowed Chair in Aging & Neurodegenerative Disease at UCSF
• Brian Feeley, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCSF
• Emily Finlayson, Professor of Surgery, Medicine, and Health Policy at UCSF
• Jacqueline Leung, Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at UCSF
• Gil Rabinovici, Professor of Neurology, Edward Fein, and the Pearl Landrith Endowed Professor of Memory and Aging at UCSF
• Anne Suskind, Associate Professor of Urology and of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, and Director of Faculty Development in Urology at UCSF
• Kristine Yaffe, Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Epidemiology, and the Roy and Marie Scola Endowed Chair of Psychiatry
• Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Professor and Chair of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and Vice Dean for Population Health and Health Equity in the School of Medicine at UCSF

Administrative oversight for StARR is provided by Christian Leiva, the administrative manager for the UCSF CTST Resident Research Training Program.

I’m interested in basic science, rather than clinical & translational science. Am I eligible for StARR?

This StARR program is designed to support residents in pursuing clinical and translational research. While this may include some forms of pre-clinical research, laboratory research that does not involve any human tissues does not fall within the scope of our program.

I'm interested in quality improvement, does the StARR program support this type of scholarly activity?

Research projects directed at improving or studying the quality of care are supported by this StARR program, provided that the research is designed and conducted in a way likely to create generalizable knowledge.

I’m a UCSF resident from a department other than one of the ones mentioned on this website. Can I apply to be a StARR scholar?

Residents from other departments may be considered for StARR, but additional legwork may be required to determine whether residents’ programs/departments can provide necessary co-support as well as confirm that StARR is compatible with training requirements for board eligibility in their discipline.

I’m a resident who is interested in research but don’t yet know if I want to make this the focus of my future career. Is StARR a good program for me?

One of the goals of StARR is to help promising residents who are interested in research to assess whether a career involving research is right for them. Residents should already have enough interest in research to devote themselves to research-related activities for one year (the StARR year), while continuing to be active in clinical care.

I’m interested in obtaining an MPH or other master’s degree relevant to clinical research. Can StARR be used to pursue this?

The NIH has indicated that StARR program funds cannot be used to obtain a degree. However, residents may use StARR funds to pursue other structured training programs that provide a strong methodological foundation for conducting research, such as the Advanced Training in Clinical Research (ATCR) certificate program, and may in some cases apply coursework toward a future degree.

I'm interested in research, but I don't want to study health issues relevant to aging or older adult health. Can I use StARR to conduct research in other disease areas?

Since this StARR program is funded by the NIA, StARR residents must identify at least one research project during their StARR year that is relevant to aging or older adult health. However, this program supports residents with a wide variety of perspectives on health; it is not restricted to residents planning to become geriatricians.