Georgia CTSA Scholars Receive PeRSEVERE Support


nine scholars

Emory School of Medicine (SOM) has been awarded support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation COVID-19 Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists to implement Program for Retaining, Supporting, and EleVating Early-career Researchers at Emory. PeRSEVERE is a one-year supplemental research fund that will support the research productivity and retention of early career faculty with family caregiving responsibilities or other issues caused by COVID-19.

Emory SOM is aware that clinician scientists, among others, have encountered multiple challenges to their research programs including family caregiving responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will allow SOM early career faculty to maximize the impact of research supplements, research and grant administrative support, institutional resources to offset caregiving expenses, and enhanced access to professional development, mentorship and sponsorship activities at this critical career stage.

Sixteen recipients were selected including nine Georgia CTSA Scholars listed below. The Georgia CTSA Research Education program focuses on long-term didactic and mentored clinical and translational research training through a variety of initiatives. The program provides clinical and translational research training opportunities including the Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) degree, KL2 for junior faculty, TL1 for predoctoral (PhD, MD, and PharmD students) and postdoctoral (residents/clinical fellows), and a Certificate Program in Translational Research (CPTR).

  • Olamide Alabi – current MSCR student
  • Sara Auld – MSCR graduate
  • Nitya Bakshi – MSCR special standing (Fall 2018)
  • Lauren Collins – current KL2 scholar, former TL1 trainee, MSCR graduate
  • Grace Gombolay – current KL2 scholar
  • Alanna Morris – MSCR graduate
  • Michelle Schoettler – current MSCR student
  • Megha Shah – former KL2 scholar and CPTR graduate
  • Michael Woodworth – MSCR graduate

An “Extra Hands” Resource Guide is available to ensure that the PeRSEVERE awardee cohort has the skills and support they need to succeed in clinical research. Georgia CTSA Collaboration & Multi-Disciplinary Team Science Program Director Kathy Griendling, PhD, serves as the PeRSEVERE Program Director and provides individualized coaching along with PeRSEVERE Co-Directors Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, and Allan Levey, MD, PhD. Mentoring resources include the Georgia CTSA TEAMS Mentoring Program. Additional resources available from Georgia CTSA include Clinical Research Coordinators, Biostatistics support, Studio and Grant Wise Consultations, and Team Science Workshops.