The INSPIRE (Individual Scholarly Project and Independent Research Experience) Program

The Individual Scholarly Project and Independent Research Experience (INSPIRE) program is a fourth-year curriculum initiative at Icahn School of Medicine. Launched as a 12-week program in 2008, INSPIRE aims to enable students to conduct a strongly mentored research project so they may harness their critical thinking skills, while demonstrating their creativity and intellectual independence.

Projects in INSPIRE concentrate in areas of institutional strength and student interest. The specialization tracks are Clinical and Translational Research, Basic Research, Community-Based Research, Health Service and Health Policy, Global Health, Medical Humanities and Medical Education. Students identify a mentor and propose a project as part of their application to the program.

Regularly scheduled meetings are held to provide students with support, expose them to faculty members who are clinician-scientists and offer opportunities for members of the group to bond with one another. At the end of the program, students deliver oral presentations at INSPIRE Research Day.

Benefits of INSPIRE

Benefits of INSPIRE include opportunities to: work closely with a mentor, do something creative and meaningful during the 4th year, complete or write up a project begun during a Scholarly Year and have a unique topic to discuss during interviews. This experience earns students 12 weeks of elective credit and their participation is highlighted in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).

By helping students shape an individualized scholarly experience, we hope to produce more self-directed and personally fulfilled doctors, who are able to serve society with diverse expertise and are equipped with the necessary skills to become tomorrow's leaders in their respective fields.