The Dellavalle/Dunnick Dermato-Epidemiology Lab uses an open-access, inclusive model for student participation. When students learn about the laboratory through the website, a conference presentation, or word of mouth, they email CAD and/or RPD. One of the unique aspects of our laboratory is that students are not required to apply or be selected to join. Instead, interested students are provided the Zoom link and the shared laboratory Google Doc (Textbox 1 and Multimedia Appendix 1). They are invited to attend weekly meetings without expectations of prior research experience.

New participants are encouraged to observe their first few meetings to gain familiarity with the laboratory’s structure and active projects. As they become more comfortable, they are encouraged to contact established laboratory members to join projects that interest them. This approach reduces barriers to participation and allows self-directed engagement based on availability, interest, and experience.

Consistent, weekly Zoom meetings serve as the backbone of laboratory operations. The meetings follow a structured format, including a “popcorn-style” check-in, where each member introduces themselves, their role, medical school, and current location. After the check-in, we engage in personal development activities, such as discussing key insights from recent conferences or watching brief faculty development videos from the Association of Professors of Dermatology [3].

Following the professional development segment, we review the current list of ongoing projects. This includes updates on submitted projects awaiting decisions, projects needing revisions, and new ideas. Laboratory members provide updates on their respective projects, and if papers or posters need review, the members will share their screen to go through the material with the group. We then go over any upcoming deadlines for conferences or grant applications. The meeting ends with a final “popcorn-style” check-out with the opportunity to provide any last-minute updates.

The shared laboratory document is key to our operations and is essentially the “holy grail” of the laboratory. This Google Doc is a centralized hub for all essential information related to laboratory activities. It includes a comprehensive list of laboratory members’ contact details, ensuring easy communication across our collaborative network.

Key sections of the document include the following:

The shared laboratory document lists the names of the members currently working on each active project, IRB protocol, and grant. This ensures that all laboratory members can stay updated on who is involved in each initiative and fosters a collaborative, transparent research environment. The document is updated weekly to ensure all members can access current information and deadlines.

Participation in the laboratory is self-motivated, and each member is encouraged to develop their own unique research ideas. Once an idea is proposed, our principal investigators, along with other laboratory members, offer suggestions and support to help get the project started. In addition to individual project ideas, our principal investigators often provide project concepts and assemble teams to work on them. After a project is initiated and a team is formed, smaller, more focused meetings take place outside of the weekly laboratory meetings to continue project work.

The laboratory operates without dedicated, laboratory-specific funding. Instead, students are encouraged to seek financial support for their research projects through grants available at their home institutions or from national sources. While many projects do not require funding beyond literature access and student time, grant opportunities are essential for supporting conference travel, publication fees, and community outreach efforts. Students who secure funding are encouraged to share their grant proposals with other laboratory members as templates, creating a cycle of shared learning and resource building. The shared Google Doc also lists all active grants that laboratory members have received, as well as open grant applications, providing students with up-to-date opportunities to apply for funding. By using this collaborative approach to funding, the laboratory fosters a culture of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness, allowing students to secure financial support for their community-based research endeavors.

Every successful research program begins with a clear set of objectives that guide its mission and outcomes. The Dellavalle/Dunnick Dermato-Epidemiology Lab operates with well-defined goals rooted in the desire to offer students substantial research opportunities and mentorship while promoting the exploration of novel scientific questions. Key goals include providing professional mentorship, fostering a collaborative research environment that encourages scientific curiosity, and enhancing student research opportunities. These objectives are not only important for the success of the laboratory but are also critical for helping medical students navigate the competitive landscape of dermatology residency applications, which became more difficult with the transition of the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step I exam to pass/fail grading in 2022 [4,5].

To replicate this model, laboratory groups must first identify their core objectives. These could include goals such as improving students’ exposure to field-specific research, encouraging scientific curiosity, providing mentorship opportunities, and offering access to high-impact, publishable projects. Once these objectives are established, they will serve as a framework for the program’s success and provide clarity on how to best serve the students involved.

The success of the Dellavalle/Dunnick Dermato-Epidemiology Lab is heavily dependent on its strong organizational structure and clear communication channels. To maintain the flow of projects and ensure consistent progress, the laboratory holds weekly meetings where students and faculty members provide updates on ongoing research, discuss any challenges, and plan the next steps. These regular check-ins foster a sense of continuity and accountability, which is especially important when managing research teams spread across multiple campuses. One of the key benefits of this structure is that it allows students from various institutions to remain engaged, regardless of their geographic location.

Weekly meetings and centralized documentation keep research organized and moving forward. Using tools like Google Docs supports team transparency and accountability. Replicating this model involves consistent communication, flexibility, and logistical coordination across institutions. In addition, it’s important to maintain a flexible, adaptable approach to account for the varying schedules and needs of participants from different institutions.

The laboratory’s success can be attributed to its focus on creating a collaborative environment where students feel valued and empowered to contribute to meaningful research, regardless of their academic background. This ethos is reflected in the laboratory’s recruitment policy, which invites students from institutions with and without established dermatology programs to participate in research. This inclusive approach fosters camaraderie between MD and DO students, enhancing professional networks and building connections early in their careers.

Replicating such an inclusive environment requires institutions to recruit and include participants consciously and to create a culture that values all contributions, regardless of a student’s institutional affiliation. Offering mentorship and guidance from experienced researchers and ensuring that students from various backgrounds have equal access to resources and support are essential steps in creating a thriving research community.

Long-term sustainability of a virtual collaborative research program requires strategic planning, flexible leadership, and efficient resource management. Many collaborative research programs rely on extramural grants and institutional support to finance operations. Program leaders should prioritize securing long-term funding sources, including government grants, philanthropic support, or institutional backing, to ensure the sustainability of the research program. Since most academic institutions already provide access to platforms like Zoom and Microsoft 365, investing in a solid technology infrastructure can significantly streamline communication and enhance collaboration.

To replicate the success of the Dellavalle/Dunnick Dermato-Epidemiology Lab, it’s important to focus on several core principles, outlined in Textbox 2.