Curriculum
Clinical Scholars carry out one or more patient-oriented translational research project(s) under the direct supervision and mentorship of a senior faculty member. This mentored, independent research project is complemented by a rigorous three-year core curriculum in Clinical and Translational Investigation. This curriculum provides training in the essentials of clinical and translational research, including the responsible conduct of research, biostatistics, regulatory and ethical issues, as well as standards for conducting clinical studies (“Good Clinical Practice”). Most of the core curriculum is taught as tutorials in which Clinical Scholars present topics of interest from the entire range of clinical and translational research topics, including technology transfer, clinical trial design, protection of human subjects, grant preparation, scientific writing and presentations, conflict of interest, data management, and legal aspects of human investigation. A “From Discovery to Health Enhancing Product” curriculum provides Scholars with an introduction to entrepreneurship, including key elements in drug and clinical development and licensing and commercialization. In addition, a humanities in medicine component includes group visits to theater, cinema, museums, and lectures, followed by discussion groups. Scholars develop grant writing skills by submitting a research grant or a fellowship application to an appropriate funding agency during the program. The Scholars actively participate in a course on the molecular pathogenesis of diseases, which consists of a weekly lecture by a distinguished clinical investigator, readings on the topic, and discussion with the speaker over lunch. In addition, all of the Clinical Scholars in the program are required to take one graduate-level course relevant to their clinical project in the Rockefeller graduate program and have the option of taking additional course offerings. Each Scholar receives a series of books including the latest edition of Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, which grew out of the NIH course in Clinical Investigation and provides a basic framework for selecting topics. Clinical Scholars are encouraged to submit grant proposals for pilot study funding up to $25,000 per year from the Rockefeller University Center for Clinical and Translational Science, which is funded by the CTSA.
Current Clinical Scholars are conducting innovative research to forge a better understanding of the treatment and biology of HIV infection, the genetics of autism, the role of inflammation in obesity and the metabolic syndrome, the autoimmune basis of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, immune dysregulation associated with hepatitis B and C, disorders of consciousness, smell, and face recognition, tumor metastases, enhancing viral vaccines, and the application of broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV therapy. Working with patients on a regular basis, while also conducting detailed bench investigations at the cellular, biochemical, molecular, and in some cases, atomic level, enables Clinical Scholars to make unique contributions to our understanding of disease and novel ways to prevent and treat illness. Thus, they divide their time between the laboratory and both the inpatient unit and the ambulatory research center of the Rockefeller University Hospital and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Clinical Scholars are usually appointed at the academic rank of Instructor of Clinical Investigation and the Hospital rank of Assistant Physician. If warranted the initial appointment may be at the Assistant Professor level.
The application process for the Clinical Scholars Program is open. The application and supporting documents are due December 6, 2024. For an online application, go to http://scholarapplication.rockefeller.edu. For additional information contact Dr. Barry S. Coller at collerb@rockefeller.edu.