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This page is a resource for discovering research training opportunities available outside of the Carolina Medical Student Research Program. Some programs offer students grants to conduct their research at the institution of their choice, including here at UNC. Other programs offer stipends for students to come specifically to their training facilities to conduct research. The listings below give a brief program description in alphabetical order by Agency. When you find a program that interests you, please go to that program’s website to learn more about their application deadlines and procedures.

The Office of Medical Student Research is always looking for opportunities that suit each student’s interests and availability. Please contact us with any additional research training opportunities that should be listed on this page.

There are many opportunities for research on our campuses:

Asheville: offers multiple opportunities through collaboration with our research team, faculty, and residents. The longitudinal program lends itself well to medical students participating in research given that students have flexibility in their schedule and learner-centered time. Some ongoing research foci include health care workforce development, medical education and practice, substance abuse, and community-based participatory research.

For more information, see link below and/or contact Dr. Robyn Latessa: robyn.latessa@mahec.net
https://mahec.net/innovation-and-research/research

Wilmington: medical students have an opportunity to explore and develop skills in clinical research. Our Research Department is led by Lynette McFayden, RN, MSN who has years of research experience and experience assisting learners who are interested in research. Working with our faculty and research team, we can assist students in making connections to engage in clinical research if it is an area of interest. In fact, we recently celebrated an Application Phase student who completed a project in the outpatient setting. He submitted his work at the North Carolina American College of Physicians (ACP) student poster presentation where he won first prize. He has been invited to present his work and poster at the National ACP meeting Los Angeles later this spring.

For more information, see link below and/or contact Dr. Joseph Pino: Joseph.Pino@seahec.net

Charlotte: offer multiple short and long term research opportunities. There are even paid research opportunities. Areas include, trauma, orthopedics, and health services research.

For more information, see link below and/or contact Dr Heather Tarrantino: Heather.Tarantino@atriumhealth.org
https://atriumhealth.org/education/graduate-medical-education/medical-student-summer-scholars-program

The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Summer Research Experience

Agency: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Our 10-week research program is specifically designed for medical students who are interested in hands-on basic biomedical, translational, or clinical research and have completed their first year of medical school. Students are paired with one of our distinguished research or clinical faculty and are assigned individual projects that reflect the ongoing research efforts of the institution’s clinical and laboratories. In addition to hands-on investigative research, the program also includes interview workshops and lectures fom experts in the field of oncology. Students create valuable connections and indelible tools that can be used to assess their individual career goals relating to research and patient care in oncology. Participants receive a stipend of $5,000 for the complete 10-week period. The stipend is not a salary but is provided to subsidize all research-related expenses, housing, meals and travel.

Our program is looking for students that demonstrate a commitment to scientific exploration and share the spirit of academic excellence. Students must be in good academic standing and exhibit an interest and aptitude for scientific investigation.

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MSKCC Medical Student Summer Fellowship Program

Agency: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

This eight-week research program is offered to medical students who have a career interest as a physician-scientist in the field of oncology and/or related biomedical sciences.  Supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), MSKCC Office of Diversity Programs in Clinical Care, Research, and Training, and MSKCC Brain Tumor Center , the summer fellowship program offers students who have completed their first or second year of medical school the opportunity to conduct basic laboratory or clinical research mentored by MSKCC faculty. Students in the program will:

  • Gain clinical or laboratory research experience mentored by MSKCC faculty
  • Interact with MSKCC physicians, PhD investigators, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students
  • Attend a weekly education lecture series presented by world-renowned MSKCC faculty
  • Attend additional institutional lectures, departmental conferences and lab meetings
  • Present their summer research to fellowship peers and MSKCC faculty during the final week of the program
  • Receive a $5500 stipend
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Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools

Agency: The Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS)
Program Description: The HSHPS Graduate Fellowship Training Program Overview (GFTP) provides paid and unpaid training opportunities for graduate and doctoral students, and recent graduates, interested in working on Hispanic health research. Fellows are placed throughout the United States and Latin America within government agencies and academic institutions.

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Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships

Agency: Alpha Omega Alpha
Program Description: Summer Fellowships support one student from each school that has an active Alpha Omega Alpha chapter. The student is supported for clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, or social science/ health services research.
Project Location: UNC
Duration/ Stipend: summer / $4,000

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Summer Fellowship Medical Student Grant

Agency: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Program Description: Summer fellowship grants provide stipends to medical students who wish to pursue research projects over the summer. Eligibility is limited to full-time medical students residing in the U.S. or Canada who have successfully completed one year of medical school.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: summer / $2,000

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Jeanne Spurlock Minority Medical Student Clinical Fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Agency: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Program Description: The clinical training experience must provide for significant contact between the student and the mentor. The plan should include program-planning discussions, instruction in treatment planning and implementation, regular meetings with the mentor and other treatment providers, and assigned readings. Clinical assignments may include responsibility for part of the observation or evaluation, conducting interviews or tests, use of rating scales, and psychological or cognitive testing of patients. The training plan also should include discussion of ethical issues in treatment.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 12 weeks/ $3,000

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Abbott Medical Student Clinical Preceptorship

Agency: American College of Rheumatology
Program Description: This program is designed to introduce students who are between first and second year of medical school to the specialty of Rheumatology by supporting a full-time clinical experience.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 4 or 8 weeks/ $1,500 per 4 week block plus $1,000 in travel funds to attend the ACR Annual Scientific Meeting

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MSTAR

Agency: The American Federation for Aging Research
The MSTAR Program provides medical students with an enriching summer experience in aging-related research and geriatrics, with the mentorship of top experts in the field. Students participate in structured research, clinical, and didactics in research and geriatrics. Research projects are offered in basic, translational, clinical, or health services research relevant to older people. Students will submit an abstract to present a poster at the Annual American Geriatrics Society Scientific Meeting (AGS) which occurs in May.

Program Locations: UNC-Chapel Hill, Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, University of California Los Angeles, University of California San Diego, University of Texas San Antonio and six partner site locations.
Duration/Stipend: 8-10 weeks, duration varies by location/ $1,987 a month

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Summer Medical Student Fellowship

Agency: American Foundation for Urologic Disease
Program Description: This is an introductory research fellowship to attract medical students to work in urologic research laboratories during the summer. An accredited medical research institution/department must sponsor the candidate by guaranteeing adequate support, including responsibility for the adequacy of the environment for research and development.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: Summer

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AGA Student Research Fellowship Award

Agency: American Gastroenterological Association / Foundation for Digestive Health & Nutrition
Program Description: This program offers support for students to spend time performing research in the areas of digestive diseases or nutrition. Up to 20 students are funded each year and 7 of these slots are saved for underrepresented minorities.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: minimum of 10 weeks/ $2,000 – $3,000

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Student Scholarships in Cerebrovascular Disease

Agency: American Heart Association
Program Description: This program is offered to stimulate interest, knowledge and investigative work related to cardiovascular disease, stroke and basic sciences early during  pre-doctoral training.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: minimum 2 months/ $2,000 plus $750 in travel fees to attend the International Stroke Conference

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Medical Student Summer Fellowship

Agency: American Parkinson Disease Association
Program Description: Summer Fellowships of $4000 will be awarded to medical students to perform active supervised laboratory clinical research on Parkinsons Disease, its nature, manifestation, etiology and treatment.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: summer/ $4,000

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Student Research Program

Agency: American Pediatric Society, Society for Pediatric Research
Program Description: This program is offered to encourage gifted medical students to consider careers in research related to pediatrics. This program is specifically designed for students seeking a research opportunity at an institution other than at their own medical school.
Project Location: Any institution other than your own medical school that is listed in their directory of participating programs. They have nearly 300 laboratories and research experiences available for students to choose from.
Duration/Stipend: 8-10 weeks/ up to $4,270

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Summer Institute for Medical Students

Agency: Betty Ford Center
Program Description: This unique program is open to all medical students. Student recipients may be selected to participate in either the inpatient or family treatment program for 5 days at the Betty Ford Center.
Project Location: Rancho Mirage, California
Duration/Stipend: 5 days (year-round) / no stipend

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Summer Research Scholar Program

Agency: Carolinas Heathcare System – Charlotte, NC
Program Description: Medical students who are awarded this internship will work closely with mentors and their team performing original research in a clinical or laboratory setting.
Project Location: Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
Duration/Stipend: 10 weeks, full time/$5000
Contact: Celest C. Colcord 704-446-5556

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O.C. Hubert Student Fellowship in International Health

Agency: Center for Disease Control
Program Description: This program provides an opportunity for third and fourth year medical students to gain public health experience in an international setting. Fellows spend four to six weeks in a developing country working on a priority health problem in conjunction with CDC staff.
Project Location: Students can choose from ongoing projects in Kenya, Republic of Congo, Thailand and Peru
Duration/Stipend: 4-6 weeks / $3,000

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USC Summer Oncology Fellowship Program

Agency: Children’s Hospital LA
Program Description: Work at the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Participating students will be expected to attend a lecture series on aspects of pediatric oncology at CHLA designed specifically for them.
Project Location: Los Angeles, California
Duration/Stipend: 6-10 weeks/ $225 per week

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Student Traineeship

Agency: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Program Description: Student traineeships are offered to introduce students to research related to Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Applicants must be students in or about to enter a doctoral program. Each applicant must work with a faculty sponsor on a research project related to CF.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 10 weeks/ $1,500

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Summer Research Fellowships

Agency: Endocrine Society
Program Description: Medical students are given a stipend to participate in research projects under the guidance of an Endocrine Society mentor.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 10-12 weeks/ $4,000

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Health Sciences Student Fellowship

Agency: Epilepsy Foundation
Program Description: Three-month projects are funded in order to encourage career interests in epilepsy research.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 3 months/ $3,000

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Family Medicine Summer Research Fellowship

Agency: Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Program Description: Each summer, the Department of Family Medicine will accept up to eight first year medical students from UNC for a 2-month, paid fellowship designed to provide a flexible but high quality research experience. The Fellowship will help match students with faculty who have ongoing, exciting projects that are relevant to clinical medicine and/or population health.  In addition to one-on-one mentorship by faculty, our summer research fellows will participate in structured seminars and spend time in clinical settings with Family Medicine residents and faculty.
Duration/Stipend: 8 weeks/contact Dawn Morriston (dawn_morriston@med.unc.edu) for stipend information

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Grass Fellowships in Neuroscience

Agency: Grass Foundation
Program Description: This program provides a first opportunity for neuroscientists during late stages of predoctoral training or during postdoctoral years to conduct independent research for scientific discovery on their own at the Marine Biological Laboratory each summer.
Project Location: Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Duration/Stipend: 14 weeks

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Himalayan Health Exchange Student Program

Agency: Himalayan Health Exchange
Program Description: This program’s mission is to provide medical and dental care to the underserved people living in remote regions of the Indian and Nepal Himalayas and to uplift two orphanages located in the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
Project Location: Indian and Nepal Himalayas
Duration/Stipend: 2-3 weeks/ contact program directly for more information
Program Contact: info@himalayanhealth.com

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Scaife Foundation Advanced Medical Student Clerkship

Agency: Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions
Program Description: This program offers students hands-on training in Addiction Services.
Project Location: Pittsburgh, PA at the Institute for Research Education and Training in Addictions
Duration/Stipend: 3 weeks, summer/ $650 plus meals and boarding

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International Experiential Learning Program

Agency: International Alliance in Service and Education Programs
Program Description: This program’s focus is on health and education in the area of primary care, public health community-based research projects, mental and chronic disease management, nutrition, tropical and infectious diseases, and topics and services that are relevant and identified by the local community.
Project Location: South Africa & Mexico
Duration/Stipend: 4-8 weeks/ contact program directly for more information.

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Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth

Agency: Johns Hopkins University
Program Description: Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth provides academically talented young students aged 8-16 the opportunity to take rigorous summer courses in mathematics, science, computer science, humanities and writing. We are recruiting medical students for the position of health assistant. The health assistant is reponsible for maintaining the medical records of all of the students at the site, escorting children to clinics and emergency rooms as needed, and helping to administer prescribed medications and basic first aid to the students.
Project Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Duration/Stipend: 3 weeks/ $1,940-$2,940 dependent on education and experience

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Gina Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship

Agency: Lupus Foundation of America
Program Description: To foster an interest in systemic lupus erythematosus in the areas of basic, clinical or psychosocial research under the supervision of an established investigator.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: summer/ $2,000

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NIH Summer Research Fellowship Program

Agency: National Institute of Health
Program Description: This program is designed to provide training in research procedures and principles of independent investigation.
Program Location: Bethesda, MD
Duration/Stipend: 8-12 weeks/ $2,200

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Summer Program in the Neurological Sciences

Agency: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Program Description: Unique opportunity to get hands-on experience working with leading scientists in the Institute’s Division of Intramural Research.
Program Location: Bethesda, MD
Duration/Stipend: 10-12 weeks/ $2,000 per month

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Summer Training on Aging Research Topics – Mental Health

Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
Program Description: This program gives selected students an opportunity to gain research experience and work closely with established mentors/investigators in the field of aging and mental health research.
Program Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 10 weeks/ $6,250

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Jewish Medical Ethics and Israel Experience Program

Agency: New England Institute of Jewish Studies
Program Description: This program is offered to Jewish medical students and consists of a 4 week course on Jewish medical ethics combined with seminars on Jewish thought and tours of Israel.
Project Location: Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
Duration/Stipend: 4 weeks/ $2,400

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David E. Rogers Fellowship Program

Agency: New York Academy of Medicine
Title: David E. Rogers Fellowship Program
Program Description: National fellowship for medical and dental students in support of a project initiated during the summer between first and second years of school. Projects should serve the needs of underserved or disadvantaged patients or populations.
Project Location: Special consideration is given to projects conducted in New York City
Duration/Stipend: 8 weeks/ $3,462

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Student Research Participation at the National Center for Toxicology Research

Agency: Oak Ridge Insitute for Science & Education
Program Description: This program is for opportunities to participate in research on biological effects of potentially toxic chemicals and solutions to toxicology problems that have a major impact on human health and the environment.
Project Location: Jefferson, Arkansas
Duration/Stipend: 2-12 months/ $500 per week plus $75 per week housing allowance

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Summer Research at the Oregon Hearing Center

Agency: Oregon Health & Science University
Program Description: The Department of Otolaryngology/ Head & Neck Surgery, and the Oregon Hearing Center, is offering summer research fellowships to medical students. Students will work with a faculty member on a ENT-related project already in progress.
Project Location: Portland, Oregon
Duration/Stipend: 2-3 months/ $1,371 per month

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Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Fellowship Training Program

Agency: Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
Program Description: This fellowship supports medical students to study Parkinson’s Disease and related disorders under the supervision of an established investigator.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 10 weeks

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Summer Oncology Research Program

Agency: Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Program Description: This program is designed for medical and dental students to engage in clinical and/or basic science research in oncology.
Project Location: Buffalo, New York
Duration/Stipend: 8 weeks/ $2,240

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Summer Student Fellowship Program

Agency: Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation
Program Description: This award is intended for dental and medical students interested in conducting Sjogren’s related research under the guidance of a mentor.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: summer/$2,000

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Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Medical Student Research Grant

Agency: Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Program Description: This grant is co-sponsored by the Emergency Medical Foundation. The purpose is to encourage research in emergency medicine. The funded medical student must have a qualified research mentor and a specific research project proposal.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 3 months/ $2,400

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Medical Student Stipends for Research in Gynecology

Agency: Society for Gynecologic Investigation
Program Description: The Society for Gynecologic Investigation is committed to expanding interest in research in reproductive biology. To this end, five (5) awards of $2,000 each will be made for research related to reproductive biology to be carried out by medical students.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: summer/ $2,000

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Special Olympics Health Professions Student Grant Program

Agency: Special Olympics
Program Description: The purpose is to promote short-term projects with a focus on the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programs and Special Olympics athletes, as well as the health and well-being of all persons with intellectual disabilities. Projects may include: data collection and analysis on issues impacting persons with intellectual disabilities; measurement of attitudes, opinions and behaviors of health professionals, coaches, family/caregivers and athletes; follow-up assessments of existing programs; or health promotion projects. Projects that involve collaborations with Special Olympics Programs or other CDC grant recipients (e.g., state and local health departments) are encouraged.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 8 weeks – 12 months/ $3,500

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ediatric Oncology Education Program

Agency: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Program Description: The Pediatric Oncology Education Program offers a unique opportunity for students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, allied health, and veterinary medicine to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. The program provides short-term training experiences in either laboratory research or clinical research. Trainees will attend a core lecture series as well as weekly conferences.
Project Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Duration/Stipend: 9-12 weeks/ $8.00/hr

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Strong Children’s Research Center Summer Training Program

Agency: Strong Children’s Research Center
Program Description: The Strong Children’s Research Center supports basic and clinical research directed to the cause, prevention, and treatment of the diseases of infants, children, and adolescents, as well as studies of developmental biology, child and adolescent development, the delivery of health services, and interventions designed to improve the outcomes of clinical pediatric practice. Student trainees will participate in research and clinical seminars, and will associate with each other as well as trainees enrolled in similar programs in the Medical Center.
Project Location: Rochester, New York
Duration/Stipend: 10 weeks/ $3,000

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Summer Course on International Health

Agency: University of Arizona
Program Description: University of Arizona School of Medicine offers a multidisciplinary, case-based, problem-solving course that prepares medical students and primary care residents for health care experiences in developing countries.
Project Location: Tuscon, Arizona
Duration/Stipend: 2 weeks in July

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Belize Wilderness and Tropical Medicine Rotation

Agency: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Program Description: These unique rotation experiences combines didactic teaching and guided independent study with actual field training in wilderness and tropical medicine; wilderness, cave, and river rescue; and related disciplines.
Project Location: Belize, Central America
Duration/Stipend: contact program director for more information
Program Contact: Dr. Keith Brown, drkeithbrown@yahoo.com

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MD Anderson First-Year Medical Student Program

Agency: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Program Description: The First-Year Medical Student Program is a 10-week program that offers hands-on experience in biomedical, translational or clinical research. Students who have completed their first year of medical school are eligible to apply.

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