Research in Academic Pediatrics Investigator Development (RAPID)

RAPID targets the professional advancement and leadership development of early clinician-investigators (junior faculty and senior fellows) in academic pediatrics.

Who Should Apply
RAPID’s goal is to encourage and support individuals who have experienced significant adversity and challenges to pursue a research career in academic pediatrics, including socioeconomic factors, growing up in rural areas, and other challenges, hardships, and unique life experiences. This includes an emphasis on a personal narrative regarding how societal factors have shaped the individual’s interests and preparedness to be a RAPID Scholar. Consistent with current applicable law, an individual candidate’s race, ethnicity, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender status) are not considered as a factor for purposes of program eligibility or in selecting participants or National Advisory Committee members.

History and Partners
This initiative began in 2012, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), providing mentorship and research opportunities to young scholars with specific interests in pediatric obesity, nutrition, sickle cell disease, as well as any pediatric field in NIDDK research areas (R25DK096944). In 2021, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) joined the initiative.  In 2022, the American Pediatric Society and the American Board of Pediatrics began supporting RAPID Scholars, and in 2023, Mead Johnson became a partner. These partnerships expand the scholarly areas for RAPID scholars, allowing applicants from any pediatric subspecialty to apply.

Conference
In addition to supporting RAPID Scholars, RAPID convenes its Annual Mentoring and Career Development Conference for other junior faculty, fellows, and residents interested in pursuing an academic pediatric career. The Conference is open to participants, as noted above, who can benefit from early-career advising and support.