171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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August 2006
Feature Story
Moving full-speed ahead in the race to train young researchers
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Thomas C. Hulsey, ScD, MSPH
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Barbara C. Tilley, Ph.D
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| Perry Halushka, MD, Ph.D. |
As the race to move knowledge from the bench to the bedside quickens, MUSC continues to keep the pace and, often, to lead the way.
The university is one of ten nationwide to receive an NIH grant to fund pre-doctoral training in clinical and translational research.
This is a very prestigious award," says Dr. Tom Hulsey, co-PI of the Southeastern Pre-doctoral Training in Clinical Research (SPTCR) T32 award, along with Drs. Barbara Tilley and Perry Halushka. "The need is to move knowledge learned at the bench into patient care more rapidly than has been done in past. In order to speed that process up, the NIH is putting more focused training programs, like this SPTCR grant, into place."
A five-year award, the grant aims to fund ten pre-doctoral students per year. It pays tuition and stipends, and is available to students from all six colleges at MUSC.
"In the past, most programs like this focused on individuals who had already received doctorate degrees. We largely ignored pre-doctoral students," explains Hulsey. "This award provides the opportunity for pre-doctoral students to become knowledgeable about career opportunities in clinical and translational research early in their careers."
The new award offers a one-week introduction program for all students.
In the introductory program, students are exposed to careers in clinical and translational research, and meet people who have chosen those careers. "It makes them aware of and familiar with what options actually exist," notes Hulsey.
There is also a summer-long program, which can be part of the one-year pull-out masters program. In this program, students explore in-depth classes and workshops on clinical trial design. "In this course, students will come to understand the translational aspect of clinical research," says Hulsey.
The year-long program allows these students to delve even further into clinical and translational research by pursuing a masters of science in clinical research. Students who complete this program finish with a dual degree-- a doctorate from their primary college, plus a masters of science in clinical research.
"The masters program has been in place since 2000, but until now was available only for post-doctoral students," explains Hulsey. "This new grant makes it possible for pre-doctoral students to participate in the program."
The T32 grant has also made it possible to offer another dual program, a three--year doctorate in clinical investigation.
Hulsey and his team hope to entice promising researchers to campus with these new opportunities. "We plan to use these options as recruitment tools for our students who are pursing a career in clinical research, since we're one of the few medical universities that allows them to begin that career path as students, before they finish their doctoral degree."
"It also allows MUSC researchers who may not work with disciplines outside of their own to begin to experience a 'cross-fertilization,'" he explains.
The expectation is that basic science students who traditionally have been mentored by scientists will also seek guidance from clinical researchers, says Hulsey. At the same time, clinical researchers will hopefully form stronger collaborations with basic scientists in order to strengthen their research.
"Having them work together with these students will help us understand how to better do it among our faculty as well," predicts Hulsey.
With awards like this one, MUSC continues to lead the competition and ready itself for a winning situation.
"This particular T32 award is a critical piece of the upcoming CTSA competition as GCRCs are replaced," adds Hulsey. Having received the SPTCR T32 puts MUSC that much closer to obtaining CTSA status.
"As MUSC begins to position itself to compete for a CTSA award, having both the T32 and the masters of science in clinical research places us in a very competitive position," says Hulsey.
For more information on the SPTCR T32 grant, go to www.musc.edu/sptcr.
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