Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine—which is located in Conroe—was awarded a $4.99 million four-year Research and Development Infrastructure grant from the U.S. Department of Education, according to a Dec. 12 news release.

The gist

The RDI program’s mission is to invest in research infrastructure, faculty expertise and workforce development, according to the news release. The grant SHSU-COM received will support the college’s ability to pursue initiatives such as planning and developing a master’s degree in applied biomedical sciences.

Quotes of notes

• “This grant underscores SHSU-COM’s dedication to advancing healthcare research and education while addressing critical workforce needs in Texas and beyond,” COM Dean Thomas Mohr said via news release. “It represents an exciting step forward in positioning SHSU-COM as a leader in biomedical research and applied sciences.”
• “This grant will enhance SHSU’s research capacity, strengthen Texas’s healthcare pipeline and offer students unique opportunities to engage in critical research and public health projects,” neuroscience professor Vinoth Sittaramane said via news release.

Zooming out

The university broke ground on SHSU-COM in 2018, and the school opened in 2020, Community Impact previously reported.

This past May, the first class of 69 students graduated, according to prior reporting.