David M. Dooley, President of the University of Rhode Island:“The INBRE program has been truly transformative for Rhode Island’s research community. We’ve contributed to expanding the opportunities for faculty research and trained hundreds of students who are now earning advanced degrees or are out in the workforce.”

Frank D. Sanchez, President of Rhode Island College:
“The Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (RI-INBRE) has advanced the sciences at Rhode Island College (RIC) in ways that extend far beyond a simple infusion of federal financial support. RI-INBRE has dramatically improved the college’s research infrastructure in biology, physical sciences and psychology by supplying young faculty with critical resources and renovated laboratory space to engage in cutting-edge biomedical research. Since 2001, RI-INBRE has provided approximately $9 million in funding to support RIC science faculty, students and laboratory equipment.

RI-INBRE also encourages successful collaboration among RIC’s faculty and students and faculty at Brown University, the University of Rhode Island and the other primarily undergraduate institutions in the network. Every summer more than 30 RIC students participate in the RI-INBRE funded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. These paid experiences expose our students to research opportunities and scientific practices that build fundamental skills and preparation for advanced training or for entering the workforce.”

Dr. James Padbury, Program Director for Advance Clinical and Translational Research (Advance-CTR), William and Mary Oh-Willam and Elsa Zopfi Professor of Pediatrics and Perinatal Research at Brown University, Pediatrician-in-chief of Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine, Women & Infants Hospital:

“The Rhode Island IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (RI-INBRE) award at the University of Rhode Island is an outstanding accomplishment for URI and all of the participating institutions. First begun as a BRIN (Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network) award in 2001 and then successfully transitioned to the RI-INBRE in 2004, this award has made outstanding contributions to participating institutions statewide. Particularly important has been support for primarily undergraduate institutions, which has enhanced the ability of students and faculty to gain opportunities and experiences in contemporary biomedical research. The Pilot Awards and the core facilities have raised the tide around all of us! For that we are enormously proud and grateful.”

Edward Hawrot, Alva O. Way University Professor of Medical Science at Brown University, senior associate dean of biology and program coordinator, Advance Clinical and Translational Research (Advance-CTR):

“Brown University, together with the Division of Biology and Medicine, is proud to be a continuous partner with the RI-INBRE Program since its inception. Over the past 15 years, 27 Brown faculty members have mentored 47 INBRE research investigators across Rhode Island’s academic institutions. These rewarding experiences have mutually enriched our research programs by broadening our scientific perspectives, leading to productive and long lasting collaborations. Twelve Brown research investigators have launched their externally funded research programs with data obtained through the INBRE Pilot Award research funding program. The mentoring components of the Early Career Development, Faculty Development, and Pilot award programs have strengthened research programs of the recipients, positioning them for success. In fact, several former mentees are now mentors and established investigators in their own right. We applaud the leadership of the RI-INBRE for developing, growing, and sustaining an exceptionally impactful program focused on a continuously improving statewide collaborative research network. We celebrate this program’s continued success and look forward to many new productive initiatives in the future.”

Hugh F. Lena, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Providence College:

“The support from RI-INBRE helps to cultivate a teacher-scholar model at Providence College where faculty can be both excellent teachers and top scholars who present at scientific meetings, co-author peer reviewed publications with their undergraduates, and obtain research grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes for Health. Providence College knows that undergraduate research is a transformative high-impact practice and is grateful for the support from RI-INBRE that allows so many students to work side-by-side with faculty. Over a 10-year span at Providence College, undergraduate research has grown from a few dozen students in the sciences to what we have today. Today, 37 percent of Providence College graduates from across multiple disciplines, report that they worked with a faculty member on a research project during their time at Providence College.”

Jane Gerety, President, Salve Regina University, Religious Sister of Mercy:

Salve Regina University (SRU) has been involved in the RI-INBRE program since the grant’s inception. During this time, the grant program has helped to improve the intellectual and research capacities of our University through statewide participation and collaboration. RI-INBRE has enabled advancement toward establishing independent faculty-mentored student research programs by providing resources and opportunities not available previously. Our faculty have also benefited in a number of other ways that have helped their individual professional and scientific development. SRU students, perhaps, have been the major beneficiaries of the RI-INBRE program. Participation in the RI-INBRE SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) program has provided significant research opportunities for students and has fostered noticeable increases in student enrollment and participation in our science curricula. This program has funded access to state-of- the-art equipment for student training at the core facility and in our research labs. These comprehensive research experiences increase student interest in biomedical careers and graduate/professional programs and give our graduates advantages when competing for these positions.”