The original postbaccalaureate training opportunity was catalyzed by a joint funding effort between Dr. Peter Barr-Gillespie and Vollum Institute Senior Scientist, Dr. Gary Westbrook. Developed and directed by Dr. Letisha Wyatt (Associate Professor of Neurology), in 2018 the OHSU Neuroscience Post-Baccalaureate Initiative (NPBI) was launched to provide one-year of full-time, paid research opportunities and skill development to recent college graduates whom identify as individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM.

Three successful years of OHSU NPBI resulted in 100% matriculation of our postbaccalaureate alumni into Ph.D.-conferring neuroscience programs at competitive universities around the country. The early success of the OHSU NPBI program served as preliminary evidence for the need for a postbaccalaureate program that encompasses not only the neurosciences, but all fields of biomedical research at OHSU. Thus, in 2021 Dr. Wyatt and Dr. Gary Westbrook received funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to develop OHSU PREP. Funding from NIGMS, OHSU Research & Innovation Office, and the Vollum Institute allowed OHSU PREP to admit 5-6 PREP scholars for five years.

In Fall 2025, OHSU PREP transitioned to OHSU PROPEL. The program continues its focus on broadening participation in STEM by fostering supportive and inclusive academic environments where postbaccalaureate scholars can develop as scientists. PROPEL provides professional and educational skill-building to prepare scholars for successful matriculation into biomedical graduate programs. Participating OHSU faculty mentors host the postbac scholar and provide salary and benefits while the scholar works as a research assistant in their lab.