Delaware: Where Great IDeA's Happen

Biomedical research funding in Delaware has grown six-fold in the past 20 years. More than $400 million in this research funding has been catalyzed by the National Institutes of Health - National Institute of General Medical Sciences Institutional Development Award (NIH-NIGMS IDeA). Delaware INBRE strives to increase biomedical research capabilities, improve outcomes for specific diseases, increase economic activity and enhance diversity in biomedical research. Delaware's portfolio of seven Centers of Biomedical Excellence (COBREs), one IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) and one Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) program have established a robust biomedical research community engaging its academic and clinical research partner institutions and expanding research facilities across basic, translational and clinical research areas in the state of Delaware, e.g.basic research including efforts to characterize the proteins in cell membranes which are currently the targets of more than 50% of therapeutics on the market. Teams are also working to find better treatments for osteoarthritis, which affects 27 million Americans. Other teams are working to develop biomaterials that can deliver drugs, or result in better outcomes for people after cardiac surgery. Delaware INBRE’s purpose is to continue building a self-sustaining basic and translational biomedical research capability in the state. It is composed of five main factors including shared operational management, mentoring expertise, core services for key programs (i.e.instrumentation, bioinformatics, education and professional development), internal oversight and external oversight. As a collaborative effort between the leading research university (the University of Delaware) and three primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) (Delaware State University, Delaware Technical Community College and Wesley College) and two clinical partner institutions (Christiana Care Health System and Nemours), today Delaware INBRE is a successful community focusing on biomedical research and education.  The Delaware INBRE program has four specific aims: foster a statewide network for biomedical research, develop independent and interdependent researchers and institutions, institutionalize DE INBRE initiatives and finally to enhance state’s knowledge of biomedical science and technology. It also serves to build the academic and research pipeline in Delaware by creating undergraduate research and mentorship opportunities involving a diverse cohort of undergraduate and graduate students in biomedical research to develop skills and credentials in pursuing advanced degrees and enter the biomedical workforce. Delaware is currently ranked #1 in the country in publications per 1000 doctorates as well as having a 97% on track graduation rate for undergraduate students who participate in the annual 10-week research intensive INBRE Summer Scholars Program.