Buckeye Otolaryngology Surgeon-Scientist Training (BOOST) Program

About This Grant

A sustained decline in practicing surgeon–scientists has been identified as a major contributor to the bench-to-bedside translation gap in otolaryngology. This R25 program directly addresses these barriers by implementing an interdisciplinary, structured, and holistic training program designed to launch successful, self-sustaining careers in a cohort of next-generation otolaryngology surgeon–scientists. The program will achieve this goal through three integrated objectives: (1) recruitment of a cohort of medical students and otolaryngology residents with strong potential for academic research careers; (2) delivery of a comprehensive training curriculum encompassing research methods, outcomes research, statistics, team science, scientific communication, grant writing, wellness, and professional development; and (3) creation of an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment that supports mentorship, team-science, and long-term career sustainability. By leveraging Ohio State University’s extensive translational research infrastructure, interdisciplinary faculty expertise, and trainee wellbeing, this program aims to strengthen the otolaryngology surgeon–scientist pipeline and advance NIDCD-relevant research across the lifespan.