Priming the Pump: Training Physician-Scientists in Translational Neuroscience

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案旨在继续和改进住院医师培训研究轨道，明确目标是招募MD/PhD和医学毕业生，并在进行研究方面有良好的记录。该计划提供早期接触临床研究的机会，以激发我们的基础科学学员对转化研究的兴趣。 在住院和门诊临床研究环境中，有7个月的转化研究，14.5个月的受保护时间用于指导的研究项目。这几个月将通过密集的指导来加强，由PI监督，作为“元导师”，以及专注于伦理，统计，研究设计和转化研究原则的导师。所有这一切都将在满足ACGME要求的同时实现，以便毕业生将有资格获得董事会资格。我们已经有早期的证据表明，这样一个为期4年的计划允许研究轨道居民“跳跃开始”他们的研究生涯，而仍然居民，使他们更好地为研究奖学金和K奖过程做好准备，最终导致职业生涯作为独立调查员。由于该计划导致董事会资格，我们为我们的学员提供了一个“无风险”的道路，以提高作为独立调查员成功的可能性。这种方法的目的是纠正目前的状况，其中MD，博士往往面临着“重新开始”他们的研究后，中断所造成的需要临床培训。我们期望教育医生，科学家，以加强翻译研究人员的管道，NIMH的一个关键目标。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal aims to continue and improve upon a residency training research track with the explicit goal of recruiting MD/PhD and medical graduates with a track record in conducting research. The program provides early exposure to clinical research to stimulate interest in translational research among our basic science trainees. There are 7 months of exposure to translational research in both inpatient and outpatient clinical research settings, and 14.5 months of protected time for a mentored research project. These months will be augmented by intensive mentoring, overseen by the PIs, functioning as "meta-mentors," as well as preceptorships focused on ethics, statistics, research design and principles of translational research. All this will be attained while meeting ACGME requirements so that graduates will be board eligible. We already have early evidence that such a 4-year program permits research track residents to "jump start" their research career while still residents, rendering them better prepared for research fellowships and the K award process, ultimately leading to careers as independent investigators. Because the program leads to board eligibility, we offer our trainees a "no-risk" path towards enhanced likelihood of success as independent investigators. This approach is intended to remedy the current state of affairs wherein MD, PhDs often are faced with "re-starting" their research after a hiatus created by the need for clinical training. We anticipate educating physician-scientists to enhance the pipeline of translational investigators, a key goal of the NIMH.