The original postbaccalaureate training opportunity was catalyzed by a joint funding effort between 博彩网站’s Chief Research Officer, Dr. Peter Barr-Gillespie and Vollum Institute Senior Scientist, Dr. Gary Westbrook. Developed and directed by Dr. Letisha Wyatt (Associate Professor of Neurology), in 2018 the 博彩网站 Neuroscience Post-Baccalaureate Initiative (NPBI) was launched to provide one-year of full-time, paid research opportunities and skill development to recent college graduates whom identify as individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM.

Three successful years of 博彩网站 NPBI resulted in 100% matriculation of our postbaccalaureate alumni into Ph.D.-conferring neuroscience programs at competitive universities around the country. The early success of the 博彩网站 NPBI program served as preliminary evidence for the need for a postbaccalaureate program that encompasses not only the neurosciences, but all fields of biomedical research at 博彩网站. Thus, in 2021 Dr. Wyatt and Dr. Gary Westbrook received funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to develop 博彩网站 PREP. Funding from NIGMS, 博彩网站 Research & Innovation Office, and the Vollum Institute allowed 博彩网站 PREP to admit 5-6 PREP scholars each year.