WASHINGTON (May 2, 2019) – Howard University and the National Institutes of Health today launched a pilot program called the NIH-Howard University Intramural Research Collaboration (NIH-HUIRC). The collaboration aims to successfully position Howard junior faculty on the path to becoming seasoned research investigators.

The first phase of the NIH-HUIRC will be a two-year pilot to engage junior faculty, graduate and medical students to identify innovative ways to address routine and recurring issues that arise in scientific research collaborations. Upon successful implementation of the pilot, the partnership’s subsequent phases will expand to include faculty and students from other academic programs in the University.

“The purpose of the NIH-HUIRC collaboration is to engage in collaborative scientific discovery through research and development of joint training programs between NIH and Howard University,” said Dr. Hugh E. Mighty, dean of the College of Medicine and Howard University’s vice president of clinical affairs. “We expect junior faculty who participate in the NIH-HUIRC to develop the requisite skill sets to procure external grants and enhance scholarly productivity.”

NIH-HUIRC is expected to become a beacon of intellectual exchange and mentorship. It will establish a cadre of NIH researchers who are interested in undertaking a mentorship role. Lecture exchanges, shared equipment, and student training initiatives in biomedical research are also a component of this innovative partnership.

“NIH is delighted to have Howard University as a partner,” said John I. Gallin, M.D., chief scientific officer, Clinical Center, and associate director for clinical research at the NIH. “We are excited about the prospect of leveraging our diverse communities to optimize the research and training at both our institutions.”

Howard University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anthony K. Wutoh said,  “We are very excited about this opportunity to partner with NIH, in order to further position our biomedical faculty and graduate students to become successful researchers. This is a key element in further strengthening our research portfolio and training programs.”

Howard University Vice President for Research Bruce A. Jones said, "This partnership serves as a model for developing and implementing large-scale institutional relationships that are longstanding and research focused."

Researchers within the College of Medicine who are interested in participating in the collaboration should contact Dr. Celia J. Maxwell, the associate dean for research, at cmaxwell@Howard.edu 

For media inquiries, contact Sholnn Freeman, Office of University Communication, sholnn.freeman@howard.edu

ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars, and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu