Learn More About the Midwest LEADRS Program

The overall goal of Midwest LEADRS is to prepare nurse scientists and scientists in aligned health professions to identify, measure, and develop interventions for specific, measurable non-biological factors that influence health outcomes. Through rigorous research, implementation science, and community-engaged research, Fellows gain the skills needed to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that improve health outcomes.

Midwest LEADRS is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health. The program was developed in response to the need for rigorous training in the conceptual frameworks, research methods, implementation science, and evaluation approaches needed to identify, measure, and develop interventions for non-biological factors that influence health outcomes. Midwest LEADRS addresses this need through structured, immersive, and applied research training.

Midwest LEADRS will train three cohorts of 20 Fellows. Each cohort includes:

• Eight Institutional Fellows (Indiana University-based trainees and early faculty)
• 12 Regional Fellows (Midwest-based scientists outside IU).

Each cohort participates in a nine-month experience built around three core pillars.

Who Should Apply?

We are seeking a diverse cohort of emerging leaders in health research.

Requirement: Must have an interest in developing intervention-focused research addressing non-biological factors that influence health outcomes.

The Three Pillars of Impact

Program goals

By the end of the program, Fellows will:

• Apply conceptual frameworks to identify and study non-biological factors influencing health.
• Develop skills in rigorous research methods, implementation science, and community-engaged research.
• Design intervention-focused research to improve measurable health outcomes.
• Collaborate with community and health system partners to address real-world research needs.
• Develop competitive research products, including grant applications, presentations, and publications.
• Contribute to a growing network of scientists committed to improving health outcomes through rigorous, practice-informed research.

Program structure

Each cohort participates in:

• A nine-month program
• A four-day in-person Research Intensive in Indianapolis
• Instruction from nationally recognized faculty
• Structured collaboration with community partners
• Monthly mentoring
  (In-person for Institutional Fellows; virtual for Regional Fellows)
• Development or refinement of an intervention-focused research proposal addressing non-biological factors influencing health outcomes.