A University of Florida program that bridges chemistry and biology to train future biomedical scientists has received renewed support from the National Institutes of Health.
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the NIH, has awarded more than $1 million over five years to continue funding the UF Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Program, a multidisciplinary initiative that prepares predoctoral researchers to address complex challenges in biomedical science.
The program is led by Chenglong Li, Ph.D., chair of medicinal chemistry and the Nicholas Bodor Professor in Drug Discovery in the UF College of Pharmacy, and Michael Harris, Ph.D., a professor of chemistry in the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. More than 30 faculty mentors from 10 departments and five colleges across UF provide Ph.D. graduate students with expertise spanning chemistry, biology and related fields.
Since receiving its initial funding in 2020, the program has supported the development of more than a dozen aspiring scientists through interdisciplinary research experiences and professional development opportunities. The renewed award will enable UF to continue advancing the program through a collaboration between the UF College of Pharmacy’s Department of Medicinal Chemistry and the Department of Chemistry in the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, along with the other eight departments.
Students interested in joining the next cohort of the Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Program should apply by July 15. More information and application materials are available on the CBI Training Program website.