Academic Research Programs Research Articles

Confirmation of Pathogen 'Burnout' in Mouse Colonies with Previous Evidence of Infection with Parvovirus and Rotavirus.

Pathogen monitoring and colony health management are critical components of any rodent research program. From an operational perspective, rodent facilities are protected from unwanted infectious agents by facility-specific bioexclusion criteria, sanitation of the physical environment, and personal protective equipment. Another important preventative measure is the use of room health levels to provide traffic patterns for animal care and research staff as they move between rooms of differing health status. For mice, our institution uses a tiered room level system with 6 defined categories, ranging from level 1 (strictest entry criteria) to 6 (least stringent entry criteria). Level 6 is defined as rooms with mice that have tested positive for mouse parvovirus (MPV) or mouse rotavirus (MRV) or both on sentinel serology at any point in time in the past and no decontamination. Because many of our mouse rooms had historically been positive for MPV and/or MRV and because of the high financial and logistic challenges of using repeated test-and-cull for elimination, we had tolerated the potential presence of MPV and MRV and had developed management practices that would promote 'burnout' (that is, elimination of infectious agents due to absence of susceptible hosts) of these pathogens. Analysis of sentinel data showed that we had 28 rooms in 4 facilities for which excluded pathogens had not been identified in 3 y or more. We therefore developed a hybrid testing strategy involving both PCR analysis and serology and implemented it in sentinels and in select colony mice to determine whether the rooms had undergone successful burnout and were free of MPV and MRV. All test results obtained during the assessment were negative for both viruses, and the rooms were subsequently upgraded to level 5 (free from excluded pathogens and allowing two-way movement in and out of housing room). All upgraded rooms have remained negative on subsequent quarterly routine sentinel serology for over 3 y. Our testing strategy for confirming pathogen burnout may be a useful and cost-efficient model for other academic rodent research programs that face a similar situation.

Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor Treatment and Survival Outcome Depends on Facility Type.

Gastric neuroendocrine tumors (gNETs) are rare cancers for which surgery may improve survival. We aim to determine if facility type affects treatment and survival outcomes. The NCDB was queried for patients with gNET from 2004-2016 and stratified into Academic/Research Program (ARP), Community Cancer Program (CCP), Comprehensive Community Cancer Program (CCCP), or Integrated Network Cancer Program (INCP). Overall survival along with clinical and demographic features was compared. Median survival was improved in patients treated at an academic program: 137.3 months versus 88.0, 96.3, and 100.2 for CCP, CCCP, INCP, respectively (P < .0001). Patients treated at academic centers were more likely to have surgery (64.2% vs 59.1%, 57.5%, 51.4%, P < .0001). After propensity matching for age, race, grade, stage, insurance status, and comorbidity score, survival benefit from treatment at an academic center remained (P = .03), particularly for patients undergoing surgery (P < .0001) and chemotherapy (P = .04). Patients with gNET treated at an academic hospital had improved median survival after propensity matching and may benefit from treatment at academic rather than community medical centers.

Treatment facility: Effects on stage IV osteosarcoma survival.

e23501 Background: Osteosarcoma is a malignant, bone-forming tumor that makes up approximately 20% of bone cancers. Osteosarcoma has an overall 5-year survival of 68%, so to see significant changes in survival, this study looks only at Stage IV osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is most commonly treated with a combination of chemotherapy and surgery, but no studies have been conducted to investigate the facility type at which treatment is received and its effect on survival outcomes. The goal of this study is to investigate the survival of patients with stage IV osteosarcoma based on treatment facility type. Methods: There were 1,634 patients with stage IV osteosarcoma identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB), with 657 including data on facility type. SPSS version 27 was used to generate both descriptive statistics regarding demographics and Kaplan-Meier curves to determine the impact treatment facility type has on overall survival. Results: Stage IV osteosarcoma was more common in males (59.5%) and white race (77%) with 55.4% receiving treatment at academic centers, 22.5% at comprehensive community programs, 16.9% at integrated cancer programs, and 5.2% at community cancer programs. Patients on Medicare also demonstrated a decreased overall survival when compared to all other insurance types (p &lt; 0.001). In stage IV osteosarcoma patients, there were statistically significant differences in survival outcomes when comparing each facility type to each other (with p values all &lt; 0.05), except for the comparison between comprehensive community cancer programs and integrated network cancer programs. Patients who received treatment at academic/research programs demonstrated the best overall survival with a median of 7.29 months when compared to community center programs, comprehensive community cancer programs, and integrated network programs (with p values of &lt; 0.001, 0.046, and 0.03, respectively). Patients treated at academic research programs were more likely to be white males with private insurance or Medicare. Conclusions: Patients treated at academic centers for stage IV osteosarcoma had better survival outcomes compared to those treated at nonacademic facilities. These patients were more likely to be white, insured individuals. African Americans and Medicare patients were associated with increased risk of mortality from stage IV osteosarcoma. Future studies can be done with multivariate analyses to determine other variables that may affect outcomes in this patient population.[Table: see text]

Reverse-Design toward Optimized Labeled Chemical Probes – Examples from the Endocannabinoid System

Labeled chemical probes are of utmost importance to bring drugs from the laboratory through the clinic and ultimately to market. They support and impact all research and discovery phases: target verification and validation; assay development; lead optimization; and biomarker engagement in the context of preclinical studies and human trials. Probes should display high potency and selectivity as well as fulfill specific criteria in connection with absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicology (ADMET) profile. Progress in fields such as imaging and proteomics increased the need for specialized probes to support drug discovery. Labeled probes carrying an additional reporter group are valuable tools to meet specific application requirements, but pose significant challenges in design and construction. In the reverse-design approach, small molecules previously optimized in medicinal chemistry programs form the basis for the generation of such high-quality probes. We discuss the reverse design concept for the generation of labeled probes targeting the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a complex lipid signaling network that plays a key role in many human health and disease conditions. The examples highlighted include diverse reporter units for a range of applications. In several cases the reported probes were the product of mutually rewarding and highly cross-fertilizing collaborations among academic and industry research programs, a strategy that can serve as a blueprint for future probe generation efforts.

Machine Learning in Antibacterial Drug Design.

Advances in computer hardware and the availability of high-performance supercomputing platforms and parallel computing, along with artificial intelligence methods are successfully complementing traditional approaches in medicinal chemistry. In particular, machine learning is gaining importance with the growth of the available data collections. One of the critical areas where this methodology can be successfully applied is in the development of new antibacterial agents. The latter is essential because of the high attrition rates in new drug discovery, both in industry and in academic research programs. Scientific involvement in this area is even more urgent as antibacterial drug resistance becomes a public health concern worldwide and pushes us increasingly into the post-antibiotic era. In this review, we focus on the latest machine learning approaches used in the discovery of new antibacterial agents and targets, covering both small molecules and antibacterial peptides. For the benefit of the reader, we summarize all applied machine learning approaches and available databases useful for the design of new antibacterial agents and address the current shortcomings.

Can Mental Tricks Effect Social Change?

Can Mental Tricks Effect Social Change?

Удачные последствия неудачного сватовства: Н. И. Тургенев в Англии (1829—1830) [Successful Consequences of a Failed Suit: Nikolai Turgenev in England (1829—1830)

The article of Prof. Vera Mil’china (RSUH / ИВГИ РГГУ, RANEPA / ШАГИ РАНХиГС) is based on Nikolai Turgenev’s unpublished correspondence, and explores an unknown episode from a Decembrist’s life story: his attempt to marry a daughter of a British squire. Turgenev’s letters show that this plan was one of the reasons why he reconsidered returning to Russia, where he had received in absentia a death penalty (later changed to a life-long hard labor term). In the beginning of 1830, Turgenev made the decision to return to Russia to affect a retrial that would allow him to overturn his conviction for high treason. However, none of this came to fruition: Turgenev did not marry Harriet Lovell and did not return to Russia. The article was written in the framework (and with the generous support) of the RANEPA (ШАГИ РАНХиГС) academic research program. Keywords: 19 th -Century Russian History, Decembrists, Brothers Nikolai Turgenev (1789—1871) and Alexander Turgenev (1784—1845), Prince Petr Kozlovsky (1783—1840), Honoré de Balzac (1799—1850), Countess Frances Sarah Guidoboni-Visconti (neé Lovell, 1804—1883), Clara Viaris (1814—1891), Correspondence, Microhistory.

Treatment at a high-volume academic research program mitigates racial disparities in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Racial disparities have long been a subject of concern between patients afflicted with pancreatic cancer in the United States. We believe that, in addition to a high-volume center, treatment at an academic research program (ARP) will mitigate racial outcome disparities. A total of 12,950 patients diagnosed with stage I-III pancreatic adenocarcinoma from 2003-2011 and at ACS Commission on Cancer (COC) accredited facilities [e.g., high-volume (≥12 cases/year) ARPs] were evaluated from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Sociodemographic, clinicopathological, and treatment variables were compared between Black (N=1,127) and White (N=11,823) patients. The Kaplan-Meier Estimator and Cox Proportional Hazards Model were used for survival analysis. P value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Black patients had a significantly higher overall survival (OS) than White patients, despite having a significantly lower household income, lower education level, more stage III disease, more Medicaid recipients, and higher comorbidity index (P<0.05). The 5-year unadjusted OS (28.6% versus 23.9%, a median survival time (months) was (25.2 versus 23.7 months for Black and White patients, respectively (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in surgical margin status or receipt of chemoradiation between the two cohorts. After adjusting for covariates, race was no longer a significant predictor of OS (P=0.096). Treatment at a high volume, ARP can mitigate racial disparities in pancreatic cancer.

The Association Between NRMN STAR Grantsmanship Self-Efficacy and Grant Submission.

Eliminating the NIH funding gap among underrepresented minorities (URMs) remains a high priority for the National Institutes of Health. In 2014, the National Research Mentoring Network1 Steps Toward Academic Research (NRMN STAR) program recruited postdoctoral, early-stage and junior faculty to participate in a 12-month grant writing and professional development program. The expectation of the program was to increase the number of grant submissions and awards to URM researchers. Although receiving a grant award is the gold standard of NRMN STAR, instilling confidence for postdocs and early-stage faculty to submit an application is a critical first step. Based on our previous study, a sustained increase in trainee self-efficacy score over a 24-month period was observed after completing NRMN STAR. The current study sought to determine the association between self-efficacy score and grant submissions among two cohorts of trainees. Grantsmanship Self-Efficacy was measured using a 19-item questionnaire previously described by and used in our own work, which was originally adapted from an 88-item Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory.2 A binary variable was created to identify trainees who submitted an initial or revised proposal vs those who abandoned their proposal or were still writing. Trainees were assessed prior to and following program completion with subsequent assessments at 6 and 12 months beyond participation. As of June 20, 2019, 12 of the 21 (57%) trainees had submitted a grant proposal (eg, NIH, other federal or non-federal grant). For every point increase in 12-month post assessments, Grantsmanship Self-Efficacy scores across all domains had a 44% higher prevalence of submitting a grant after controlling for race, sex, education level, academic rank, research experience, duration of postdoctoral training, institution type, and NRMN STAR cohort. Our findings demonstrate that NRMN STAR had a positive impact on trainees' confidence in grant writing and professional development activities, which resulted in higher grant submission rates.

A novel research platform for sudden cardiac death based on continuous, real-life, unlimited follow-up of a cohort of high-risk patients

Abstract Background/Introduction Currently, Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) prevention is mainly based on implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation in high risk patients. Real-time, prospective follow-up of such high-risk patients can afford a unique opportunity to improve SCD prevention. We previously conducted an exploratory retrospective project (DAIPP pilot program) focusing on &amp;gt;5 000 ICD recipients, which provided us with valuable information and knowledge to set up a wider, prospective project (1–11). Purpose We present here the organizational outline for an innovative research platform for SCD, based on a real-life cohort with continuous, unlimited follow-up. The overall aim is to garner high-value information which can help optimize individualized risk stratification, cardiac defibrillation, and preventive strategies to eventually decrease SCD burden. Methods and results The DAIPP Consortium is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicentre, independent, long-term, academic cohort study, focusing on patients at high risk of SCD and implanted with an ICD. More than 5 000 ICD recipients will be enrolled prospectively and consecutively through 17 French tertiary public and private hospitals during the first three years. All patients will be monitored continuously through a unique remote monitoring platform, and they will be linked to the national “Health Data Hub”, gathering information about medications, hospitalizations and outcomes. Quality and exhaustivity of the collected data will be regularly monitored through systematic monthly automatic indices in each center. Events will be centrally adjudicated. For the 2021–2023 period, 6 work-packages have already been created within the research platform, some being clinical and others translational research, including ischemic cardiomyopathy, new technologies, congenital cardiomyopathies, channelopathies, complications and artificial intelligence, to develop new approaches. Concomitantly, the consortium will be open to external collaborations, and an academic research program has been initiated with various European universities to enable Master, PhD and Post-doctoral students to conduct their research on SCD. Conclusion DAIPP is an investigator-initiated real-life continuous follow-up cohort of patients at high risk of SCD. This project will provide an open research platform to enhance the understanding of, and improve preventive strategies for SCD. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Inserm, Société Française de Cardiologie, Clinique Pasteur

Evolution of the concept of force in modern nanoscience: the perspectives of the experiential learning in research and teaching programs

Modern society requires to efficiently identify the new trends in sustainable development and their implications in future science, research and education. One of the major challenges in nanotechnology is the education and training of a new generation of skilled workers, that request the improvement of student understanding of the concept of force within the more broad scenery of modern nanoscience. The recent advancement in nanoscience and nanotechnology evidences the powerful methods of supramolecular approaches in modern nanoscience, which are based on the complex combinations of different forces acting both at the molecular and supramolecular levels. These forces represent the driving interactions for the efficient assembly of building blocks, and for the development of highly functional materials and devices with novel properties. Herein, a review of the evolution of the concept of force in connection with modern aspect of nanotechnology is presented. A special focus is devoted to the development of modern approaches taken from the academic research programs, that allows a fruitful understanding of the myriad of scientific discoveries that have characterized these last years. In this respect, the experiential learning method can be properly designed and delivered, with particular respect to the use of bio- and nanotechnology, and in ways that help the learners to efficiently develop the knowledge and skills needed in the modern age.

Is Independent Clinical Research Possible in Low- and Middle-Income Countries? A Roadmap to Address Persistent and New Barriers and Challenges

Cancer is an increasing and significant problem for both high- and low- and middle-income countries. Basic, translational, and clinical research efforts have been instrumental in generating the outstanding improvements we have witnessed over the last few decades, answering important questions, and improving patient outcomes. Arguably, a substantial portion of currently ongoing research is sponsored by the pharmaceutical industy and specifically addresses questions under industry interests, most of which apply to high-income countries, leaving behind problems related to the much larger and underserved population of patients with cancer in low- and middle-income countries. In this scenario, discussing independent academic research is an important challenge, particularly for these countries. Although different countries and institutions face different problems while establishing independent research agendas, some generalizable barriers can be identified. A solid regulatory and ethical framework, a strong and sustainable technical supporting infrastructure, and motivated and experienced investigators are all paramount to build a viable and productive academic research program. Securing funding for research, although not the only hurdle, is certainly one of the most basic hurdles to overcome. Noticeably, and as an added impediment, public and governmental support for cancer research has been decreasing in high-income countries and is almost nonexistent in the rest of the world. We propose an initial careful diagnostic assessment of the research resource scenario of each institution/country and adjustment of the strategic development plan according to four different research resource restriction levels. Although not necessarily applicable to all situations, this model can be helpful if adjusted to each local or regional situation.

Determinants of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Does location matter?

Bladder cancer care has been increasingly concentrated in high-volume metropolitan medical centres (ie, "regionalisation" of care). We aimed to assess the potential role of geographic factors, including facility region and distance to treatment centre, as determinants of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) delivery in patients with non-metastatic urothelial muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) using nationally representative data from the United States. We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients with cT2-cT4a, N0M0 urothelial MIBC who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) from 2006 to 2015. Patients who received radiation therapy, single-agent chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy or systemic therapies other than multi-agent chemotherapy were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of receiving NAC. A total of 5986 patients met the criteria for inclusion, of whom 1788 (29.9%) received NAC and 4108 received RC alone. Younger age, increased Charlson-Deyo score, increased cT stage, increased annual income, increased distance from cancer treatment centre, treatment at an Academic Research Program or Integrated Network Cancer Program and a later year of diagnosis were independently predictive of NAC receipt. Older age, Medicare insurance and treatment in the East South Central or West South Central regions were independently associated with decreased odds of NAC receipt. Distance to treatment centre and United States geographic region were found to affect the likelihood of NAC receipt independently of other established predictors of success in this quality-of-care metric. Access to transportation and related resources merits consideration as additional pertinent social determinants of health in bladder cancer care.

Variations in Persistent Use of Low-Value Breast Cancer Surgery

Through the Choosing Wisely campaign, surgical specialties identified 4 low-value breast cancer operations. Preliminary data suggest varying rates of deimplementation and have identified patient-level and clinician-level determinants of continued overuse. However, little information exists about facility-level variation or determinants of differential deimplementation. To identify variation and determinants of persistent use of low-value breast cancer surgical care. Retrospective cohort study in which reliability-adjusted facility rates of each procedure were calculated using random-intercept hierarchical logistic regression before and after evidence demonstrated that each procedure was unnecessary. The National Cancer Database is a prospective cancer registry of patients encompassing approximately 70% of all new cancer diagnoses from more than 1500 facilities in the United States. Data were analyzed from November 2019 to August 2020. The registry included women 18 years and older diagnosed as having breast cancer between 2004 and 2016 and meeting inclusion criteria for each Choosing Wisely recommendation. Rate of each low-value breast cancer procedure based on facility type and breast cancer volume categories before and after the release of data supporting each procedure's omission. The total cohort included 920 256 women with a median age of 63 years. Overall, 86% self-identified as White, 10% as Black, 3% as Asian, and 4.5% as Hispanic. Most women in this cohort were insured (51% private and 47% public), were living in a metropolitan or urban area (88% and 11%, respectively), and originated from the top half of income-earning households (65.5%). While there was significant deimplementation of axillary lymph node dissection and lumpectomy reoperation in response to guidelines supporting omission of these procedures, rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy in older women increased during the study period. Academic research programs and high-volume facilities overall demonstrated the greatest reduction in use of these low-value procedures. There was significant interfacility variation for each low-value procedure. Facility-level axillary lymph node dissection rates ranged from 7% to 47%, lumpectomy reoperation rates ranged from 3% to 62%, contralateral prophylactic mastectomy rates ranged from 9% to 67%, and sentinel lymph node biopsy rates ranged from 25% to 97%. Pearson correlation coefficient for each combination of 2 of the 4 procedures was less than 0.11, suggesting that hospitals were not consistent in their deimplementation performance across all 4 procedures. Many were high outliers in one procedure but low outliers in another. Interfacility variation demonstrates a performance gap and an opportunity for formal deimplementation efforts targeting each procedure. Several facility-level characteristics were associated with differential deimplementation and performance.

Primary Small Cell Carcinoma of the Kidney: Disease Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes.

Background: Primary small cell carcinoma of the kidney (PSCCK) is exceedingly rare and data on disease characteristics and outcomes are sparse. This study examines a nationally-representative cancer registry to better characterize PSCCK. Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients with histology-confirmed PSCCK from 2004 to 2015. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses were employed to assess predictors of mortality and estimate median survival time, respectively. Results: A total of 110 patients were included (47:53% female:male, 77% ≥60 years of age, 86% Caucasian). Significant predictors of mortality included female sex, age 60–69 years, treatment at an Integrated Network Cancer Program, stage cM1, and lack of surgical and chemoradiotherapy treatment. Independent protective factors were high socioeconomic status and treatment at an Academic Research Program. The estimated median overall survival time was 9.31 (95% CI 7.28–10.98) months for all patients. No differences in estimated survival time were observed across individual treatment modalities among those patients who underwent treatment (p = 0.214). Conclusions: PSCCK is an aggressive malignancy with a median survival time of less than one year. Future studies that correlate clinical tumor staging with specific treatment modalities are needed to optimize and individualize management.

Effectiveness of CSR Programs in The Development of Productive Economic Businesses in Semarang

The purpose of this research is to examine the effectiveness of CSR program distribution in developing productive economy in Semarang City. The study uses a mixed method approach that targets companies that distribute CSR and SMES beneficiary. The SMES sample was taken using the Purposive cluster random sampling technique in each kelurahan, including Culinary business, Agriculture business, Service business, and crafts. Research focuses include: type of company; type of activity ; and the effectiveness of CSR programs with indicators of targeting accuracy, objectives, and benefits. The results showed that 10 companies outside the BUMD that had channeled their CSR funds received a good category with an average value of 79.13 on the Community Development Index. With the highest score in the aspect of suitability of the needs of the community of 83.38 with a good category and the lowest score on the aspect of community involvement was 73.25 with a less good category. Research recommends: first, a pentahelix approach is needed in realizing CSR programs, both between academics as innovators, companies as donors, beneficiary communities and the government as regulators through program integration so that activities are useful; secondly, Bappeda should make a published map of public needs so that academic research and CSR programs are right on target and right on benefits; third, business actors are required to assist business licensing and product marketing through student engagement in KKN programs and promotions by the government both at national and international levels

Commission on Cancer Facility Type is Associated with Overall Survival in Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma in the United States.

In the United States, "high-volume" centers for gastric cancer treat significantly fewer cases per year compared with centers in Asia. Factors associated with oncologic outcomes, aside from volume, are poorly understood. Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2015 were analyzed in the NCDB cohort. Commission on Cancer facility types were classified as either Academic/Research Programs (ARP) or Non-Academic Programs (NAP). Factors associated with treatment at facility type were assessed by logistic regression. Overall survival was compared between facility types by Cox proportional hazard models. Thirty-nine percent of patients were treated at ARPs. In multivariable analysis, patients treated at ARPs were younger, healthier (Charlson-Deyo score), and had lower AJCC stage. Treatment at an ARP was associated with superior median OS compared with treatment at a NAP (17.3months vs. 11.1months, respectively, P < 0.001,) and in each stage of disease. Treatment of stages II and III patients at ARPs increased over time. Among patients with stages II and III disease, adherence to therapy guidelines was higher and postoperative mortality was lower at ARPs. Although patients at ARPs tend to have favorable characteristics, superior overall survival may also be due to better adherence to therapy guidelines and capacity to rescue after surgical complications.

Treatment at a high volume academic research program mitigates racial/ethnic disparities in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

African Americans (AA) have lower overall survival (OS) rates from pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared with Caucasians (C). Socioeconomic status and biology are attributable factors. There is a paucity of data to show which factor(s) will mitigate such disparities. We determined whether treatment at a high-volume center and an academic research program reduces the racial disparity in pancreatic cancer outcomes.

Gaps and Barriers to Successful Integration and Adoption of Practical Materials Informatics Tools and Workflows

Preparation of the future materials workforce consistent with major imperatives rooted in integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) and the materials genome initiative (MGI) is most effectively pursued within the vision of a materials innovation ecosystem that spans across conventional engineering, science, and computing disciplines. The ICME foundation integrates principles of materials science with computational methods, including increasing reliance on modern data science methods that are savvy to digital information that recognizes hierarchical material structure and the need for correlative relations for process-structure and structure-property relations. We consider gaps in academic research and education programs related to systems engineering, uncertainty quantification of both experiments and computation, and data science methods. Barriers to the introduction of materials data science are discussed, as well as opportunities for innovation in educating the future MGI and ICME workforce.

360 Student Satisfaction Towards an Academic Research Program

The emergency department is a unique environment that co-exists within a larger organization where a wide range of medical issues are treated. As a means to reduce costs and increase visibility for prospective physicians, departments will frequently use voluntary undergraduate student support. The University of California, San Francisco Fresno Emergency Department’s (UCSFF) Academic Research Associates (ARA) program was evaluated to help guide volunteer placement decisions for future implementation. The evaluation measured each volunteer’s relationship within the organization, personal gain, and satisfaction with the program based upon the student’s grade point average (GPA). To measure volunteer satisfaction in a psychometrically sound way, Galindo-Kuhn and Guzley (2001) developed the Volunteer Satisfaction Index (VSI). Responses are recorded using a seven-point Likert Scale. Satisfaction and other volunteering aspects are measured through participant responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate volunteer satisfaction in a level 1 trauma emergency department within a teaching hospital. Furthermore, this study sought to determine best practice for program placement; satisfaction of volunteers based upon their GPA. Participants included 40 (55% female, SD=0.28) undergraduate students enrolled in Natural Science 110 at California State University, Fresno during a period of three semesters from Spring 2019 to Fall 2019. Of those participants, 95% were majoring in pre-medical studies. The initial assessment of each student contained basic demographic questions including GPA and sex. VSI questionnaires were administered to students. Participants indicated relationship within the organization, personal gain, and relationships with peers. Responses were used to identify satisfaction. Volunteers use a seven-point Likert Scale where 1 (very dissatisfied) to 7 (very satisfied) to indicate their level of satisfaction. Utilization of the VSI identifies specific problems experienced by volunteers. The survey scores of the top one-third of GPA will be compared against the students in the bottom-third of GPA during the course of four semesters. All the students participated in the survey. Of those participants, 95% were majoring in pre-medical studies. Their responses were averaged and their responses were tested against various variables such as sex, and major. A reliability analysis was carried out on the perceived task values scale comprising 26 items. Cronbach’s alpha showed the questionnaire to reach acceptable reliability, α = 0.94. All items appeared to be worthy of retention, resulting in a decrease in the alpha if deleted. There was no significant difference in satisfaction based on students who were paired versus students who worked individually. These variables did not show any significant variation. However, Pearson's correlation was computed to assess the relationship between GPA and volunteer satisfaction, r (18) =-.559, p=.005. There was a strong negative correlation between GPA and volunteer satisfaction. An increase in GPA correlates with a decrease in volunteer satisfaction.