Ready to Explore the Breadth of Cardiovascular Research?
UH-CURE
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of Houston Cardiovascular Undergraduate Research Experience (UH-CURE) program engages motivated undergraduates nationwide in hands-on cardiovascular research spanning community-engaged and population-based studies, as well as basic, translational, and applied science. UH-CURE is grounded in the belief that solving today’s cardiovascular challenges requires interdisciplinary training that connects discovery to real-world impact.
Applications Open
Applications for the 2026 UH-CURE program are now open. The priority deadline is Monday, February 23, 2026, and the final application and letter of recommendation deadline is Monday, March 9, 2026.
Up to ten NIH research fellowships will be awarded to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors for a 10-week, full-time cardiovascular research experience under the mentorship of UH faculty. Fellows will engage in hands-on research and enrichment activities and receive a $6,000 stipend, on-campus housing at UH, travel to a national conference, and round-trip travel to and from UH at the start and end of the program.
All eligible students are encouraged to apply and to also consider our UH-HEART program.
Application Process
A complete application includes:
- One-page Personal Statement describing interest in cardiovascular research, career aspirations, and goals for the program
- Two Recommendation Letters, submitted directly by referees via the online portal (document titled “[Applicant Name] NIH 2026”). Applicants are responsible for sharing the submission link with their references
- Updated CV or Résumé (PDF format)
- Official transcript(s) (PDF format preferred); unofficial transcripts are acceptable if they include the applicant’s name, institution, and semester details
- All required application fields completed
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents
- Must have completed at least one undergraduate year at an accredited school or university
- Must be actively enrolled in an accredited school or university to be eligible for participation
- 3.0 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 GPA scale); Extenuating circumstances will be considered
Per participant:
- $6,000 stipend for participating in the 10 week summer program
- Additional funds to aid with travel to and from the University of Houston for summer research experience
- On-campus housing for the duration of the program
- Travel costs covered for travel to the internationally recognized American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions
If awarded, participants will receive on-campus housing at no extra cost. Students are expected to live on campus for the duration of the program.
- Full-time participation in research and enrichment activities
- Completion of necessary safety training and responsible conduct of research training
- Completion of progression surveys throughout the program and beyond
- Annual update on academic and career activities
- Priority Deadline: Monday, February 23, 2026
- Deadline for Applications and Letters of Recommendation: Monday, March 9, 2026
- Applicants Notified: As soon as possible, depending on number of applicants.
- Applicant Reply Deadline: Within 5 days of award notification.
- Virtual Orientation Week: Tuesday, May 15, 2026
- Program Start: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
- AHA Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Conference: July 13-16, 2026
- Program End: Friday, July 31, 2026
Mentors
Rajender Aparasu
College of Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy
Bettina Beech
Fertitta College of Medicine
Population Health
Krishna Boini
College of Pharmacy
Renal Pharmacology
Heather Caslin
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology
Hua Chen
College of Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy
John Craft
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Molecular Modeling
Gregory Cuny
College of Pharmacy
Medicinal Chemistry
Radbod Darabi
College of Pharmacy
Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Elena Grigorenko
College of Liberal Arts and Social Science
Developmental, Cognitive, and Behavioral Neuroscience
Preethi Gunaratne
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Genomics and Transcriptomics
Renita Horton
Cullen College of Engineering
Cardiac Biomedical Engineering
Ioannis Kakadiaris
Cullen College of Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Sai Sudha Koka
College of Pharmacy
Cardiometabolic Disorders
Ashok Kumar
College of Pharmacy
Muscle Pharmacology
Vivek A. Kumar
Cullen College of Engineery
Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering and Drug Development
Kirill Larin
Cullen College of Engineering
Optical Techniques and Biomedical Engineering
Bin Liu
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Precision Macromolecular Therapeutics
Xinlin Liu
Pharmacy
Drug Delivery, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics
Yu Liu
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Developmental Muscle Biology
David Mayerich
Cullen College of Engineering
Image Computer Engineering and Visualization Algorithms
Bradley McConnell
College of Pharmacy
Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Chandra Mohan
Cullen College of Engineering
Proteomics and Biomedical Engineering
Muna Naash
Cullen College of Engineering
Ocular Gene Delivery and Biomedical Engineering
Robert Schwartz
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Cardiac Developmental Biology
Ravi Singh
College of Pharmacy
Muscle Growth, Function, and Metabolic Adaptation
Mingfu Wu
College of Pharmacy
Cardiac Pharmacology
Yang Zhang
College of Pharmacy
Vascular Pharmacology
Guizhen Zhao
College of Pharmacy
Epigenetic and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Diseases
About the Program
Established in 2024 with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of Houston Cardiovascular Undergraduate Research Experience (UH-CURE) program invites motivated undergraduates nationwide to explore the full spectrum of cardiovascular research while preparing for impactful careers in science and medicine. Beyond the lab, UH-CURE emphasizes professional exposure and community. Participants attend and present at the American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Science Scientific Sessions, build lasting professional networks, and conclude the program with capstone oral presentations.
BCVS Conference
During this summer, the 2026 UH-CURE cohort will attend the American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) Scientific Sessions, a prestigious global conference renowned for groundbreaking cardiovascular research. At this conference, UH-CURE fellows will interact with fellow passionate scientists, immersing themselves in discussions and presentations concerning the latest advancements in cardiovascular disease therapeutics. They will have the opportunity to network with leading experts in areas such as microRNAs, cardiac gene therapy, tissue engineering, and beyond. Importantly, fellows will establish valuable connections with like-minded peers who share their enthusiasm for a career in research.
The BCVS event is scheduled to take place in Boston, Massachusetts, from July 13 to July 16. All fellows will have their lodging, travel, and registration expenses covered through their research stipend.