The Master of Science Degree in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) Program emphasizes the development of strong clinical investigation skills based on a solid foundation in study design, conduct of observational studies and randomized trials, clinical epidemiology, and biostatistics. Students acquire excellent writing and oral presentation skills through formal classroom work as well as by participating in several oral presentations. Trainees completing the MSCI Program acquire the necessary skills to successfully design, conduct, and analyze the results of clinical investigations at the individual and population-wide level. design and analyze the results of studies that provide insights into the molecular pathophysiology of disease.
Trainees are grounded in the principles of clinical investigation with a flexible multidisciplinary focus providing curriculum tailored to their needs and interests as young researchers aspiring to become successful independent clinical investigators. Our clinical investigation research program is primarily intended for individuals already trained in the medical sciences as well as others with relevant scientific backgrounds and experiences who desire further training in research design and methodology. This includes physicians, nurses, dentists, medical students, and other health care professionals. Course Requirements
Students in the MSCI Program complete a structured series of courses, seminars, and workshops related to the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical research. The core curriculum is enhanced with presentations by invited speakers, a monthly journal club, research conferences, and extensive contact with their mentors.
Students must satisfactorily complete a total of 44 - 48 credits to obtain the Master’s Degree. This includes 27 credits in the core curriculum, six credits in elective courses, and 11 -15 credits for the satisfactory completion of their thesis research. Students complete the majority of their course work during their first academic year.
In the second year, students take elective courses and complete independent research and a thesis project with an approved faculty mentor and advisor. Students also attend a bi-weekly study design course and journal club to augment their study design, practical, and analytical skills. For the satisfactory completion of a thesis, students must design a research project, develop a formal proposal, perform the described study, and prepare a scholarly scientific paper on the principal study findings. The thesis must be relevant to the student’s concentration track and written in the format of an article suitable for submission to a scientific journal. The initial thesis project, and final write-up of the research project must be approved by the student’s Thesis Committee which is comprised of three faculty members from the GSBS.
Admission and Graduation
Applicants admitted to the MSCI Program are expected to demonstrate a high degree of motivation and commitment to a career in patient-oriented clinical investigation. The pool of applicants are derived from individuals who have an MD, PhD, DON (Doctorate in Nursing), or DDS degree and who are interested in carrying out independent clinical research. Consideration is also given to accepting to our program medical students and other health care professionals, including research nurses, clinical research study coordinators, and community outreach persons who are involved in ongoing clinical research activities.
United States Citizens, United States Permanent Residents, and International students are eligible to apply to the program. Members of underrepresented groups in the sciences and medicine are particularly encouraged. All accepted students must complete their general educational requirements in a satisfactory manner. An admissions committee, consisting of the Director of the Master's in Clinical Investigation Program, Dr. Robert Goldberg and three additional faculty from the GSBS review the applications and credentials of all applicants. Applications are reviewed by committee members in May and June of each year with offers of admission to be sent out by July of each year.
Each student enrolled in the MSCI Program is assigned a mentor to work with them in the selection of courses as well as in the development and write-up of their thesis project. In addition, students have a thesis committee of three relevant faculty that support them in their efforts to complete the program in a timely manner and maintain a high-quality experience in the design and conduct of clinical investigations. The expected timeline to complete the Master's Degree is two years, but consideration is given to those students who might take longer.
Curriculum and Faculty
The MSCI Program offers two concentration tracks: - population based clinical research.
- bench-to -bedside translational research.
These concentrations allow students to enhance their knowledge based on their current interests and career objectives. The participating faculty, representing the interdisciplinary nature of our MSCI Program, come from the disciplines of epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical research, biomedical informatics, molecular medicine, genomics, advanced therapeutics technologies, and drug development. |