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Medical Scientist Training Program
The Medical Scientist Training Programs (MSTPs) are dual-degree training programs that streamline the education towards both clinical (typically MD) and research doctoral degrees. MSTPs are offered by some United States medical schools, who are awarded financial support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The goal of these training programs is to produce physician scientists who can translate laboratory discoveries into effective treatments for patients.
The NIH began awarding the MSTP designation in 1964. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Northwestern University, and New York University were the original three MSTP programs that were established. As of 2024, there were 58 NIH-funded MSTP programs in the US (56 MD-PhD, 4 DVM-PhD), supporting over 1000 students at all stages of the program.
The program has its origins in the non-NIH funded MD-PhD training offered at the nation's research-centric medical schools. An early dual-degree program began at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1956. Other prominent medical schools quickly followed this example and developed integrated MD-PhD training structures.
In 1964, the NIH created the Medical Scientist Training Program to begin funding this medical and research education. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Northwestern University, and New York University were the original three MSTP programs that were established.
In 2022, the NIH announced the Leading Equity and Advancing Diversity in the Medical Scientist Training Program (LEAD MSTP). The LEAD MSTP shares a similar goal to the MSTP by supporting dual-degree training programs, but at institutions that have not historically been well represented among NIH-funded MSTPs. LEAD MSTP awards are limited to programs at historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions in Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible states. The first LEAD MSTP program was established at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2024. As of 2025, there are 2 NIH-funded LEAD MSTP programs in the US.
Admission to MSTPs is the most competitive of all graduate medical education programs in the country.
In 2018, 672 of 1855 total applicants successfully matriculated into MD-PhD programs (36.2%), but only 513 of these slots were at MSTPs, making the matriculation rate for MSTPs nationally 27.7%.
In comparison, MD-only programs had 40,174 positions for a total of 95,797 applicants (a 41.9% matriculation rate). At each institution, these acceptance rates are varied and are often far more competitive than the national data. Applicants must have very strong MCAT scores and GPAs to be considered for positions in MSTP. Reflecting this fact, from 2018 to 2019 the average GPA and MCAT for matriculants to MSTPs were 3.79 and 515.6, respectively. MSTP applicants will often have very strong research experience as well, in addition to the typical qualifications required from MD-only applicants.[citation needed]
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Medical Scientist Training Program
The Medical Scientist Training Programs (MSTPs) are dual-degree training programs that streamline the education towards both clinical (typically MD) and research doctoral degrees. MSTPs are offered by some United States medical schools, who are awarded financial support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The goal of these training programs is to produce physician scientists who can translate laboratory discoveries into effective treatments for patients.
The NIH began awarding the MSTP designation in 1964. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Northwestern University, and New York University were the original three MSTP programs that were established. As of 2024, there were 58 NIH-funded MSTP programs in the US (56 MD-PhD, 4 DVM-PhD), supporting over 1000 students at all stages of the program.
The program has its origins in the non-NIH funded MD-PhD training offered at the nation's research-centric medical schools. An early dual-degree program began at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1956. Other prominent medical schools quickly followed this example and developed integrated MD-PhD training structures.
In 1964, the NIH created the Medical Scientist Training Program to begin funding this medical and research education. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Northwestern University, and New York University were the original three MSTP programs that were established.
In 2022, the NIH announced the Leading Equity and Advancing Diversity in the Medical Scientist Training Program (LEAD MSTP). The LEAD MSTP shares a similar goal to the MSTP by supporting dual-degree training programs, but at institutions that have not historically been well represented among NIH-funded MSTPs. LEAD MSTP awards are limited to programs at historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions in Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible states. The first LEAD MSTP program was established at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2024. As of 2025, there are 2 NIH-funded LEAD MSTP programs in the US.
Admission to MSTPs is the most competitive of all graduate medical education programs in the country.
In 2018, 672 of 1855 total applicants successfully matriculated into MD-PhD programs (36.2%), but only 513 of these slots were at MSTPs, making the matriculation rate for MSTPs nationally 27.7%.
In comparison, MD-only programs had 40,174 positions for a total of 95,797 applicants (a 41.9% matriculation rate). At each institution, these acceptance rates are varied and are often far more competitive than the national data. Applicants must have very strong MCAT scores and GPAs to be considered for positions in MSTP. Reflecting this fact, from 2018 to 2019 the average GPA and MCAT for matriculants to MSTPs were 3.79 and 515.6, respectively. MSTP applicants will often have very strong research experience as well, in addition to the typical qualifications required from MD-only applicants.[citation needed]