Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP)
Application open Nov. 4, 2025 to Jan. 9, 2026.
Program Overview
The Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials: Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) is for medical students who want to explore careers in clinical research and are passionate about ensuring all communities have access to the latest advances in medicine.
Supported by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech, Winn CIPP is an immersive summer service-learning program designed to expose medical students to clinical research and community outreach early on in their training.
Through this program, we are building a future workforce of clinical trial researchers and physicians who have community-focused mindsets and are, therefore, better prepared to bring advances in science to the populations that are most difficult to reach.
Winn CIPP is one of the distinctive approaches of the Winn Awards that improves participation in clinical studies through workforce development. Through these programs, we are ensuring treatments are safe and effective for all who will use them – and that all communities have access to the most recent breakthroughs in care.
Program Details
The Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) is for medical students who want to explore careers in clinical research and who are passionate about ensuring all communities have access to the latest advances in medicine.
Winn CIPP students learn the basics of clinical trials and work in community-based clinical research organizations, for the purpose of advancing our mission of Better Science For All.
Students are assigned to a research site, to work with and be mentored by leaders in clinical research. During the six-week program, Winn CIPP students are exposed to three core areas as they complete service-learning projects:
- Clinical Research – Students develop short-term, team-based, service-learning research projects in collaboration with site supervisors.
- Community Engagement – Students develop team-based, service-learning projects where they conduct short-term capacity building interventions. This could include interventions like community needs assessments or implementing patient education, outreach, and/or informational programs. Students design and conduct their projects in collaboration with site supervisors.
- Leadership Development – Students are introduced to clinical research career development pathways and receive mentoring from their site leaders who support their development of community-oriented clinical research leadership skills. Additionally, a Winn CIPP student is matched with a Winn CDA scholar, who is an early-stage clinical investigator, for at least four mentorship sessions to discuss clinical research career pathways.
The program culminates in a weekend symposium, where all students come together for two days of learning, graduation, and celebration. The 2026 Winn CIPP Symposium location will be announced in February 2026.
Award Details
Students are awarded a $7,500 stipend for the six-week externship. The stipend is expected to cover travel, living, and lodging expenses during the program, which consists of six weeks at a clinical research site and culminates in a weekend symposium. The symposium is held in a different location each year at one of our partnering sites.
This award is made possible through the support of funding partners who share our commitment to Better Science for All — Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, and Genentech.
Frequently asked questions
Please have an updated CV prepared as well as the FAFSA Summary Submission, downloaded and ready for upload when completing your application.
Yes, US citizens, US permanent residents, and students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) approval are all eligible to apply for Winn CIPP. Proof of status may be required upon acceptance.
No, this program is an in-person summer externship. Accepted students are required to be available for the entire 6 week duration, to be on-site, and in-person regardless of what site they are placed at.
Factors include applicant preference, local services (i.e., available housing, childcare, etc.), and availability during the program period. Please note the cities are subject to change.
City and site matching may take place after the official award notice.
Yes! So long as students meet the eligibility requirements and can participate for the entire 6 weeks, students are more than welcome to apply again. We do ask that students ensure all of their personal statements are newly written and material is not recycled from one application to the next.
Winn CIPP spans only six-weeks, and students may not miss time on site. For prior school-related obligations, students are required to have their time off approved by their site placement and Winn CIPP staff well in advance.
Most site partners operate on a business schedule (i.e., 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on weekdays), but this may vary by site. Students will follow the schedule established by the placement site.
In addition to full participation in programming, students are required to submit a final abstract, poster, and presentation on their team-based service-learning project. Students will present their work at a culminating event at their site on the final day of the program.
Students will also be required to report on their program participation via surveys, timesheets, and weekly progress reports.
If you did not complete a FAFSA application, please upload a Word document stating why you did not complete FAFSA.
Only applications submitted by the deadline will be considered. If there are extenuating circumstances outside of the student’s control, they should email us at winncipp@vcu.edu.
The daily schedule will vary by site. All students will have exposure to clinical research activities, opportunities for community engagement, learning days, meetings with site leaders, and mentoring by an early-career physician.
Projects will vary by site but generally include community needs assessments and implementation of patient initiatives (e.g., education, outreach, and/or informational programs). Sites will provide the goal and objectives of the project, but students will have input into design, activities, etc.
Examples of projects completed by previous cohorts included the following:
- Analyses of ongoing clinical trial enrollment methods and demographics
- Assessing vaccine accessibility and availability in underserved communities
- Developing models to increase patient accessibility to treatment (e.g., cancer, mental health, congenital disorders)
COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer required to participate in the Winn CIPP program
Winn CIPP Student Spotlight
In this Q&A, Steven shares how the program has shaped his path, the importance of Indigenous participation in research, and how returning to serve the community that once supported him has been both empowering and personal.
Who can apply?
Citizenship or Immigration Status
Eligible candidates may need to provide proof of US citizenship, US permanent residency or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) approval.
Educational Status
Eligible candidates will be:
- Current 1st – 3rd year Medical Students
- Enrolled in MD, MD/PhD, DO or DO/PhD programs in accredited US medical schools, including Puerto Rico
All eligible applicants are welcome to apply. In alignment with the program’s mission, the Winn CIPP places particular consideration on supporting:
- Students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as defined by the AAMC. This may include applicants who have overcome socioeconomic, educational, or systemic barriers in pursuit of their medical education. Applicants who have faced such challenges are encouraged to share their experiences as part of their application.
- Students who are considered first generation as defined by the AAMC.
- Students with demonstrated motivation, commitment, and personal connection to the mission of promoting community engagement in healthcare and clinical research.
