Undergraduate Clinical Scholars Program: Pathway to Clinical Research Careers

项目总结 利用包括疾病在内的学科将研究从床边转化为现实世界的实践 流行病学、生物统计学、比较有效性研究、证据合成、决策建模、质量 改进和实施科学对于改善人口健康至关重要。美国国家卫生研究院、食品和药物管理局 而其他组织也越来越认识到这种更广泛意义上的翻译的重要性 研究。然而，受过培训以进行此类研究的临床医生调查员人数有限，尤其是在 NIDDK任务所涵盖的领域。在这些学科中的培训需要与 传统的“湿板凳”研究；以及公共卫生和流行病学方面的本科生接触和培训 这种情况相对少见，导致这些领域在研究生培训中的代表性严重不足。这 合格临床研究人员的短缺在女性中尤为明显，而且任职人数不足 少数民族，2021年NIDDK研究战略计划的一个关键重点。 为了满足这些需求，我们于2017年建立了本科生临床学者计划(UCSP)，并 宾夕法尼亚大学创新本科生研究机会(URO)。的具体目标 UCSP有两个方面：AIM1。培养本科生对人文精神的浓厚兴趣 临床研究，重点是消化、胰腺、肝脏、肾脏和糖尿病的研究；以及目标2. 在有志于追求的本科生之间建立持久的指导关系 临床研究和辅助性教师导师。UCSP的基石是密集的临床- 需要与UCSP教员密切互动并由其指导的研究经验。UCSP 学生还将完成流行病学和生物统计学的结构化课程，并通过 统计实验室和伦理学讲座/讨论小组、科学写作和进入医学院的途径 招生(医学博士和综合学位课程)。面对面的项目以一项正式的研究结束 学生展示并为自己的工作辩护的座谈会。UCSP基础架构提供管理 在暑期项目结束后提供支持，以帮助维持导师关系。竞争激烈的项目 每年接待约500名申请者。到目前为止，我们已经有28名UCSP学生，其中包括13名 代表不足的少数族裔和15名妇女。学生们已经参与了13份同行评议的出版物， 获得了许多荣誉，包括2个马歇尔奖学金，8名学生目前在医学院 今年又有8人申请。总体而言，这一创新的URO成功地提供了一流的教师队伍， 卓越的科学资源和令人兴奋的智力环境，让学员接触和拓展 他们对临床和卫生服务研究的知识和兴趣，以及激励学员的关键成果 临床研究生涯，专注于消化、胰腺、肝脏、肾脏和内分泌相关研究。

PROJECT SUMMARY The translation of research from the bedside to real-world practice utilizing disciplines including disease epidemiology, biostatistics, comparative effectiveness research, evidence synthesis, decision modeling, quality improvement, and implementation science is essential to improve the health of populations. The NIH, FDA and other organizations have increasingly recognized the importance of this broader sense of translational research. However, the pool of clinician investigators trained to perform such research is limited, particularly in the fields encompassed by the mission of the NIDDK. Training in these disciplines requires the same rigor as traditional “wet-bench” research; and undergraduate exposure and training in public health and epidemiology are relatively uncommon, leading to a significant underrepresentation of these fields in graduate training. This shortage of qualified clinical investigators is particularly evident among women and underrepresented minorities, a key focus of the 2021 NIDDK Strategic Plan for Research. To address these needs, in 2017 we established the Undergraduate Clinical Scholars Program (UCSP), an innovative undergraduate research opportunity (URO) at the University of Pennsylvania. The specific aims of the UCSP are two-fold: Aim1. To foster a strong interest among talented undergraduates in human clinical research with a focus on digestive, pancreatic, liver, kidney, and diabetes research; and Aim 2. To establish durable mentoring relationships between talented undergraduates interested in pursuing clinical research and supportive faculty mentors. The cornerstone of the UCSP is an intensive clinical- research experience that entails close interaction with and mentorship by a UCSP faculty member. UCSP students also complete a structured curriculum in epidemiology and biostatistics that is enhanced with a statistics laboratory and lectures/discussion groups in ethics, scientific writing and pathways to medical school admissions (MD and combined degree programs). The in person program culminates with a formal research symposium where students present and defend their work. The UCSP infrastructure provides administrative support to help sustain the mentorship relations after the summer program. The highly competitive program receives approximately 500 applicants per year. To date, we have had 28 UCSP students including 13 underrepresented minorities and 15 women. Students have been involved in 13 peer-reviewed publications, received a number of honors including 2 Marshall Scholarships, and 8 students are currently in medical school with another 8 applying this year. In aggregate, this innovative URO has successfully provided superb faculty, exceptional scientific resources and exciting intellectual environment for trainees to be exposed to and expand their knowledge and interest in clinical and health services research with a key outcome to motivate trainees in clinical research careers with a focus on digestive, pancreatic, liver, kidney and endocrine related research.