Southeastern Predoctoral Training in Clinical Research (SPTCR)

The MUSC Southeastern Predoctoral Training in Clinical Research (SPTCR) program is designed to increase the number of well-trained clinical researchers who will assume leadership roles in the design, conduct, and oversight of future multidisciplinary clinical investigations critical to the mission of National Institute of Health (NIH). The program is designed for students who are currently pursuing doctoral degrees in the six colleges (Medicine, Dental Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Graduate Studies, and Health Professions). The training program will provide early exposure and appropriate training in clinical research methodology, the application of cutting edge technology to clinical research, and address pipeline issues by stimulating interest from doctoral students in health- and disease-related disciplines.

MUSC's goal is to train individuals to become rigorous, high-quality, and proactive clinical investigators by teaching the principles and practice of clinical investigation and the application of cutting edge technology to clinical research. The training program focuses on providing doctoral students from the six colleges with clinical research training including development of basic skills in biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical trials, health services research, measurement, recruitment and retention of diverse populations in clinical research, and in the application of cutting edge research technologies.

The training offered will be a carefully designed, yet flexible, curriculum that enables students to ultimately function as clinical investigators in a multidisciplinary environment. The interactive program environment involves students, faculty members, and mentors and is structured around activities such as a program introduction, an intensive summer session, a one year "pull-out", and the possibility of a Ph.D. clinical track in the M.S.T.P. and D.M.D./Ph.D. programs.

Table of Contents

• NIH definition of Clinical Research
• Who is eligible to apply?
• Selection Criteria
• Scope of Program
• Benefits to Students
• Program Descriptions
  • Program Introduction
  • Summer Program
  • One-Year Pull-Out Program
  • Ph.D. Option for M.D.’s, D.M.D.’s
• Additional Requirements
• For Additional Information

NIH definition of Clinical Research

Using NIH terminology, clinical research is defined as: patient-oriented research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects. Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues that cannot be linked to a living individual. Patient-oriented research includes:

• (a) Mechanisms of human disease,
• (b) Therapeutic interventions,
• (c) Clinical trials,
• (d) Development of new technologies,
• (e) Epidemiologic and behavioral studies, and
• (f) Outcomes research and health services research.

Who is eligible to apply?

• MUSC, USC, and MCG students in a doctoral program (M.D., D.M.D., Pharm D, Ph.D., D.H.A., D.P.T.)
  • 12 slots funded by grant on a competitive basis
    • 5 additional slots funded by MUSC Colleges and the Provost on a competitive basis

Selection Criteria

• Qualifications (transcripts, other information)
• Essay
  • Previous research experience
  • Current clinical research interest
  • Why do you want to pursue this program
  • Your long range goals
• Resume/Personal History
  • Past employment
  • Undergraduate or summer research experiences
  • Publications
  • Academic honors, awards
  • Membership in professional organizations
  • Minimum of One (1) letter of reference

Scope of Program

• Program introduction open to ALL students in the six colleges at MUSC to develop pool of interested applicants
• Two session training program (for students selected for program)
  • Summer Long Program plus
  • One Year Program (full time pull-out)

Benefits to Students

• Advanced training in clinical research
  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology
  • Clinical trials
  • Health services research
• Exposure to cutting edge technology
  • Proteomics
  • Genomics
  • Functional MRI
  • 64 slice CT
  • DNA Microarray
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Viral Vector Core
  • Zebra Fish Facility
• Mentoring in clinical research
• Masters of Science in Clinical Research degree awarded at graduation
• Stipend and tuition
  • 2-month stipend for summer program at NIH level for students in doctoral programs
  • Stipend for year pull-out at NIH level for students in doctoral programs
  • Tuition and fees, insurance, books, and software
• Travel
  • 1 trip to scientific meeting to present a research project.
• Housing Not Included- will work with MCG & USC Students on finding Housing

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Program Introduction

• Offered to all doctoral students in the six colleges at MUSC during the week immediately preceding the official start of their first year classes
• Students must register in advance
• Goals
  • develop an understanding/appreciation for
    • Domains of clinical research
    • Role of new technology in clinical research
  • Develop an interest in a clinical research career
  • Provide a pathway in each discipline, to that career choice
  • Determine if student wishes to apply to the training program
• Dates for upcoming programs

Summer Program

• Students must apply for acceptance to the summer and the one year program.
• 7 weeks for academic credit toward Masters in Clinical Research
• Participation lectures, seminars, courses, and rotations
• Out of class readings and assignments
• Dates for upcoming programs
• Goals
  • Choose a domain of focus for one-year pull-out
  • Develop understanding of the integration and dynamic nature within, and between, clinical research domains
  • Complete a small research project
  • Identify research mentor

One-Year Pull-Out Program

Students leave their current doctoral program for one year and concentrate fully on this training program. Must be preceded by acceptance into summer program and successful participation in the summer program but does not need to be contiguous. Some students may have one or more years between the summer and year long pull-out.

• First semester (fall)
  • MSCR courses and the Application of Cutting Edge Technologies in clinical Research (new course)
  • Formulate thesis research project
• Second semester (spring)
  • MSCR courses
  • Continue clinical research project
• Final semester (summer)
  • MSCR courses
  • Complete mentored clinical research project and thesis (background, one publishable paper, conclusions, future research sections)
• Required MSCR courses (http://biometry.musc.edu/)
• Journal Club or seminars (all semesters)
• Dates for upcoming programs

Ph.D. Option for M.D.’s, D.M.D.’s

M.D. or D.M.D. students who successfully complete the one-year pull-out and have an identified mentor or sponsor who will provide support for them may apply to go on for a Ph.D. This extended program entails:

• Additional course work and/or clinical/laboratory rotations
• Stipend/tuition support from college or mentor
• Dissertation
  • Three publishable papers with background, conclusions, future research section

Additional Requirements

• Students are required to meet with their College representative prior to applying. See Contact information for college specific contacts.
• Students are expected to have laptops for summer and one year pull-out programs with wireless connection capabilities and ability to run SAS.

For Additional Information

SPTCR Program Coordinator
135 Cannon Street, Suite 303
PO Box 250835
Charleston, SC 29425
Program Coordinator's phone: 843-792-8449
Program Assistant's phone: 843-792-7781.
Fax: 843-792-0227
Email: sptcr@musc.edu