Undergraduate Clinical Scholars Program: Pathway to Clinical Research Careers

项目摘要 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，证据综合，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。美国国立卫生研究院，FDA 和其他组织越来越认识到这种更广泛意义上的翻译的重要性， research.然而，接受过此类研究培训的临床研究人员数量有限，特别是在 NIDDK的使命所涵盖的领域。这些学科的培训需要同样的严格性， 传统的“湿台”研究;以及大学生在公共卫生和流行病学方面的接触和培训 相对罕见，导致这些领域在研究生培训中的代表性显着不足。这 缺乏合格的临床调查员在妇女中尤为明显，而且妇女人数不足 少数民族，2021 NIDDK研究战略计划的重点。 为了满足这些需求，我们在2017年建立了本科临床学者计划（UCSP）， 创新本科研究机会（URO）在宾夕法尼亚大学。的具体目标 UCSP有两个方面：目标1。培养优秀本科生对人类的浓厚兴趣 临床研究，重点是消化、胰腺、肝脏、肾脏和糖尿病研究;以及目标2。 在有兴趣追求的优秀本科生之间建立持久的指导关系 临床研究和支持教师导师。UCSP的基石是一个密集的临床- 研究经验，需要与UCSP教员密切互动和指导。UCSP 学生还完成了流行病学和生物统计学的结构化课程， 统计实验室和伦理学讲座/讨论小组，科学写作和通往医学院的道路 招生（MD和联合学位课程）。在人的程序高潮与正式的研究 研讨会，学生介绍和捍卫他们的工作。UCSP基础设施提供管理 支持，以帮助维持导师关系后，夏季计划。竞争激烈的项目 每年约有500名申请人。到目前为止，我们已经有28名UCSP学生，包括13名 少数民族和15名妇女。学生们参与了13个同行评审的出版物， 我获得了多项荣誉，包括2项马歇尔奖学金，目前有8名学生在医学院学习 今年又有8人申请。总的来说，这个创新的URO成功地提供了一流的教师， 卓越的科学资源和令人兴奋的知识环境，让学员接触和扩展 他们在临床和健康服务研究方面的知识和兴趣，并取得关键成果，以激励学员 临床研究职业，重点是消化，胰腺，肝脏，肾脏和内分泌相关的研究。

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.