Winn CDA Frequently Asked questions

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Q: What is the goal of the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA)?

A: Ultimately the goal is to improve health equity by improving healthcare for underserved and vulnerable people. This program will tackle the challenge by: working within communities, establishing a career development program to train Early Stage Investigators (ESI) URM clinicians, or those with a demonstrated commitment to diversity in clinical trials and building a pipeline of diverse healthcare workers (through an investment in diverse medical students), all of which will help increase the number of underrepresented patients who participate in clinical trials. More participation by people of color in clinical trials will help healthcare providers to better treat the diseases that impact them.

Q: How will this program achieve its aims – and what makes it different than other efforts?

A: The Winn CDA will provide training and resources to build a network of 250 underrepresented ESI minority clinical investigators, or ESI investigators from non URM categories who have demonstrated a commitment to increasing diversity in clinical trials, who will be experts in community engagement as well as clinical research. Also, it will expand the number of community-based sites with the capacity to conduct clinical and translational research, through a clinical trial site development infrastructure fund. Over the longer term, it will increase the diversity of the clinical research pipeline through an investment in 250 URM medical students, equipping them to lead to lead or participate in clinical trial research via an immersive experience in clinical trials and community engagement.  

This program is unique because no other program:

• includes Community Outreach and Engagement
• has an investment in a diverse researcher pipeline (an investment in 250 URM medical Students)
• has an infrastructure fund to increase the diversity of the sites where trials take place

Q: What are you going to do to ensure success beyond the just provided training (e.g., what will you measure beyond numbers trained?)  

A: 1. For the newly trained/ graduated Clinical Investigators: 

• # of studies they are participating in
• # of studies they are leading

2. Increase in enrollment of diverse patient populations in clinical trials (over time compared to baseline)

3. # of RO1 grants for NIH received. Institutional resources connected to scholars (compared to baseline)

4. # of Graduates that built capacity to conduct clinical trials in diverse trial sites. 

Q: Why is the Winn CDA focused on the disease areas of Cancer (Hematology and Oncology), Cardiovascular Disease and Immunologic Disorders?

A: These are the therapeutic focus areas of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. The strategy of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation is to fund innovative demonstration projects in these areas.

Q: Is the mentor stipend included in the annual $120,000 budget?

A: The mentor’s stipend is not included in the $120k/yr.  You do not have to include the mentor's stipend in your budget. 

Q: Am I proposing my own research study or am I writing about my mentor's research study?

A: Each Scholar shall be mentored by an experienced clinical investigator at an established clinical trial site and participate substantively in the mentor's active clinical trial. It is not expected that the scholar will have their own clinical trial.

Q: Why is expanding clinical trial diversity so important?

A: Clinical research is necessary to generate evidence for the efficacy and safety of new therapies and some subgroups of patients may respond differently to medical therapies due to genetic make-up. The difference between the characteristics of clinical trial patient participants and those of patients with a specific disease can be seen across the many dimensions of diversity (both demographic and non-demographic characteristics), limiting our understanding of how our treatments might impact different patient groups, and therefore impacting the quality of our data.

Therefore, diversity of clinical trial participants is needed to help ensure that the trial population is representative of the patients who will use the medicine or medicinal product and ensure that the results are generalizable. Further, clinical trial diversity advances equity in provision of health care and accuracy of ethnicity-specific subgroup analyses.     

Q: Must I be Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) to participate in this program?

A: While physicians from groups underrepresented in medicine are encouraged to apply, you do not have to fall under the URM population to participate in this program. If you have a demonstrated commitment to increasing diverse patient population in clinical trials, you may submit an LOI.

Q: I have a PhD only. Am I eligible to apply for this program?

A: Unfortunately, as of right now, candidates must hold the degree of MD, MD/PhD, DO or DO/PhD only. 

Q: Must I be a US Citizen to participate in this program?

A: Eligible candidates will need to be US Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) as defined by the US Department of Homeland Security or hold a H-1B or O-1 Visa. The Visa must be valid during the full program period. 

Q: I have some experience assisting with clinical trials and completed my medical residency 15-years ago. Do I still qualify for this program?

A: As defined by NIH, a new investigator has completed his or her terminal research degree or medical residency—whichever date is later—within the past 10 years and has not yet competed successfully for a substantial, competing NIH research grant. (Applicants with an RO1 or RO1 equivalent are ineligible.) 

Q: In the Winn CDA’s current model, is the mentor expected to dedicate 6-hours per week specifically to the clinical trial proposed in the application?

A: The mentor is expected to dedicate 6-hours per week to clinical trial mentoring on one or more trials.

Q: Am I allowed to have more than one mentor?

A: Yes, each Scholar can have more than one mentor; however, only one mentor will receive the honorarium and only one mentor letter and biosketch should be included with the application.

Q: Who is my mentor?

A: Your mentor is the mentor you submitted during the application stage. The Winn CDA team does not assign mentors for the awardees. If you would like to confirm your mentor, please email us at winncda@vcu.edu for more details. 

Q: Does my mentor need to be at my same institution? 

A: Not necessarily. Although ideal, your mentor can be at another institution. Please be sure to update the Winn CDA team with any institution changes for your mentor along with updates to contact information as they occur by emailing winncda@vcu.edu. 

Q: Does my mentor receive a stipend? 

A: Yes, your mentor will receive a $4,800 stipend each year of the program.

Q: If I have more than one mentor, will the secondary mentors on my mentor team receive a stipend as well?  

A: Although we are grateful to the support you receive from your mentorship team and other secondary mentors, only the primary mentor is compensated for their time. 

Q: How often do I need to meet with my mentor? 

A: Scholars should meet with their mentors once a week (4 times a month). Ideally 3 of those meetings should occur as in-person meetings to facilitate open discussions and strong relationship building. 

Q: What if the mentor identified in the application is no longer available to support me in the program?  

A: If mentor changes are required, please email the Winn CDA team to see how to best proceed at winncda@vcu.edu.

Q: Is there a mentor onboarding so that my mentor understands their role?   

A: Yes! Mentors are all invited to a Virtual Orientation shortly after the program begins. 

Q: What will the clinical trials training consist of? Will this be formal coursework (i.e. biostats, epidemiology, writing trials/grants), practical instruction on developing and running investigator-initiated trials and industry-sponsored trials, or a combination of the two?

A: The 2-year Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Community-oriented Clinical Trialist Training (Winn COCT Training) will be delivered in a variety of formats (e.g., didactic lectures, practical workshops, expert panels, and roundtable community discussions) and will provide comprehensive training in clinical research design, funding, and implementation, and in trauma-informed community engagement methods and strategies. An intensive 6-day training in clinical research, designed and hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), will precede and set the foundation for the Winn COCT Training.

Q: I am currently a clinician-researcher and dedicate a certain portion of my time to research and a certain portion to clinical care. Do I have to dedicate 40% of my FTE to research only? 

A: 40% of the Scholars FTE should be dedicated to research. If there are other research projects that already have a substantial amount of their time taken up, the Scholar may not have time to participate in this program.

Q: How many days or hours per week are required? Will there be specific days of the week or times that need to be dedicated to participation in the program? Can the work be completed after-hours or on the weekends?

A: As this is the first year of this program, we are working to finalize all of the different components. The following are current guidelines, but they are not definitive and will continue to evolve:

• The expectation is that 40% (roughly 2 days/wk) of the Scholar’s time should be allocated (protected) to participate in Winn CDA-related activities. The specific schedule will vary based on each individual’s situation. Time working with the mentor on his/her clinical trial and other mentoring activities will be determined between mentor and mentee. 
• The schedule may be different for each cohort. For example, there will be an intensive 6-day training toward the beginning of the program (year 1 only), there will be an annual convening, a series of webinars/learning days, and other activities. It is anticipated that all activities will be virtual for at least the first 6 months of the program. This will depend on what the COVID situation is at the time. Currently, the first Cohort meets virtually on a bi-weekly basis (every other Friday).

Q: Do I need to have an affiliation with a safety net hospital or community health clinic to be considered?

A: The Scholar will need admitting rights to whatever institution that is associated with their mentor’s clinical trial.

Q: When will accepted scholars be notified?

A: Accepted Early Decision applications will be notified in early-February 2023. Accepted Regular Decision applicants will be notified in mid-March 2023. 

Applicants who are not accepted for Early Decision will automatically be considered for Regular Decision.

Q: Are US permanent residents (green card holders) eligible to apply for Winn CIPP?

A: Yes, US citizens, US permanent residents, and students with DACA approval are all eligible to apply for Winn CIPP. Proof of status may be required upon acceptance.

Q: How are accepted students matched with a program city?

A: Factors include applicant preference, local services (i.e., available housing, childcare, etc.), and availability during the program period. Please note the cities are subject to change.

City and site matching may take place after the official award notice, particularly for students who are awarded Early Decision.

Q: What are my weekly hours for Winn CIPP?

A: Most site partners operate on a business schedule (i.e., 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on weekdays), but this may vary by site. Students will follow the schedule established by the placement site.

Q: What is my day-to-day going to be like on site?

A: The daily schedule will vary by site. All students will have exposure to clinical research activities, opportunities for community engagement, learning days, meetings with site leaders, and mentoring by an early-career physician.

Q: May I miss a few days of the program?

A: Winn CIPP spans only six-weeks, and students may not miss time on site. For prior school-related obligations, students are required to have their time off approved by their site placement and Winn CIPP staff well in advance.

Q: Will I have to be vaccinated from COVID-19 to participate in Winn CIPP?

A: Yes, each student will need to provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Winn CIPP is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine requirement to include a booster shot. 

Most sites will require additional health screenings and proof of full series immunizations in order for students to be present on-site. Winn CIPP staff will provide site-specific requirements upon site assignment and will work with the sites to ensure students are ready to go on their first day.

Q: What deliverables am I expected to submit at the end of Winn CIPP?

A: In addition to full participation in programming, students are required to submit a final paper, poster and presentation on their team-based service learning project. Students will present their work at a Culminating Event at their site on the final day of the program. 

Students will also be required to report on their program participation via surveys, timesheets and weekly status reports.

Q: What kinds of site projects can I expect to work on while participating in CIPP?

A: Projects will vary by site but generally include community needs assessments and implementation of patient initiatives (education, outreach, and/or informational programs). Sites will provide the goal and objectives of the project, but students will have input into design, activities, etc. 

Examples of projects completed by previous cohorts included the following:

• Analyses of ongoing clinical trial enrollment methods and demographics
• Assessing vaccine accessibility and availability in underserved communities
• Developing models to increase patient accessibility to treatment (e.g. cancer, mental health, congenital disorders)