Welcome to the IDEAL Research Program

Introducing IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Learner) Research 

IDEAL Research comprises the resources and services of the office formerly known as ORDT (Office for Research and Diversity Training) but with an expanded mission, objectives, and vision.  IDEAL Research is situated within the IDEAL Experience Program, which supports our diverse community of learners by cultivating a culture of equitable inclusivity across all PSOM education programs.


IDEAL Research’s signature programs include the Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) and PennPREP (Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program). These programs provide research training opportunities for undergraduates and recent graduates from under resourced backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in biomedical research. To enhance our reach, IDEAL Research has initiated the Recruitment Ambassadors Program to connect prospective trainees with current faculty, graduate students, and post-docs.

To expand its mission to the needs of current Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) graduate students and Biomedical Postdoctoral Program (BPP) postdocs, IDEAL Research is introducing the Trainee Advocacy Alliance (TAA). TAA is a collaborative group of BGS graduate students, BPP postdocs, and Penn faculty members from across the University who are committed to creating, nurturing, and maintaining a Penn biomedical research community that embodies inclusivity, diversity, and equity. With the full support and access to resources within IDEAL Research, TAA will provide trainee support for diverse members of the Penn Medicine research training community, especially individuals from under resourced backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the biomedical sciences.

Mission:

The mission of IDEAL Research is to ensure alignment between innovation and impact in biomedical research with a commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity that is necessary for research excellence by valuing, engaging, and embracing the diversity of identity within the Penn Medicine research community and ensuring access to opportunities for individuals from under resourced backgrounds to grow, contribute, and develop within it.

Objectives:
  1. Provide research training opportunities to undergraduates and post-baccalaureate scholars
  2. Recruit the next generation of biomedical research trainees
  3. Establish community driven support networks for trainee belonging, wellness, & advocacy
  4. Facilitate opportunities for community engagement and outreach
  5. Lead in grant administration and program evaluation
Vision:

The vision of IDEAL Research is to create, nurture, and maintain a Penn Medicine research community that embodies diversity, values inclusivity, and promotes equity. 

Latest Penn Medicine News

  • New findings on immune response to initial COVID vaccine Thursday, March 14, 2024

    Antibody responses to new SARS-CoV-2 variant infections and vaccinations are powerfully shaped by prior exposures to earlier SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, according to a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

  • “Dual-Target” cell therapy appears to shrink brain tumors Wednesday, March 13, 2024

    Early Phase I clinical trial results from six patients with recurrent glioblastoma show that a “dual-target” CAR T cell therapy approach may be a promising step towards developing cell therapies for solid tumors.

  • Penn Medicine at the 2024 HIMSS Global Health Conference Friday, March 8, 2024

    Members of the teams running and innovating technology used at Penn Medicine will be presenting at HIMSS 2024, the flagship conference of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

IDEAL Research Events

    More Events