C. Program Rationale
5. Regional, State, and National Factors
a. Comparable Programs Already Existing
The proposed M.S. in Translational Science would be the unique within Indiana and falls within the current NIH emphasis on catalyzing translational research through Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA). As 2008 CTSA recipients, this program in
Translational Science is a natural outgrowth of the planning and implementation of the Indiana Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Several other medical schools around the country have received CTSA grants from the NIH, but many of those focus primarily on the clinical component with very little integration of translational research into their curriculum.
The current program incorporates training in basic and clinical sciences along with introducing students to the various components needed to conduct translational research, such as
biostatistics, ethics, and research tools. Additionally, the student pool for the IU program is
predominantly pre-docs, fellows, post-docs, and junior faculty supported by training grants or
career awards specific to the institution. Therefore, relocation to other institutions for the
requisite training is not feasible. Please view table 8 for a presentation of the ten comparable
programs from around the country.
M.S. Proposal – Translational Science
34
TABLE 9: Overview of Existing Master’s Degree Programs
University
MS Degree Name
Credits Required
Length of
Program Required Course Info Mayo Clinic Clinical &
Translational Science
24 1 year • CTSC 5600: Statistics in Clinical Research
• CTSC 5601: Utilizing Statistics in Clinical Research
• CTSC 5300: Intro to Clinical Epidemiology
• CTSC 5000: Intro to Clinical Research
• CTSC 5310: Clinical Epidemiology II
• CORE 6000: Responsible Conduct of Research
• CTSC 5610: Intro Statistical Methods II
• CTSC 5010: Clinical Research Protocol Development
• CTSC 5390: Advanced Applied Epidemiological Methods
• CTSC 5720: Clinical Trials: Design & Conduct
• CTSC 5020: Regulatory Issues in Clinical Research
• CTSC 5690:Critical Appraisal of Statistical Methods in Medical Literature
Elective Courses ‐ 7 credits required Required Workshops:
Write Winning Grants
Writing for Biomedical Publication Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School
Clinical &
Translational Science
30 Incorporated with Medical
School program = extra year of
med school
Required Courses ‐ choice of 6, totaling 18 credits
• Statistics in Clinical and Translational Research
• Clinical Trial Design
• Ethics and Regulations in Clinical Research
• Commercializing Innovation*
• Basic Concepts in Drug Development*
• Leveraging Public and Private Funds for Translational Research*
Elective Courses ‐ choice of 2, totaling 4 credits
• Case Studies in Translational Research*
• Biomedical Informatics*
• Outcomes Measurements*
• Bioanalytical Methods in Research*
• Team Leadership and Project Management Workshop*
Thesis Project ‐ choice of 1, totaling 8 credits* Topic to be determined by student and mentor
University of Connecticut
Clinical &
Translational Science
24 18 months ‐ 3 years
• Principles of Clinical and Translational Research I
• Principles of Clinical and Translational Research II
• Principles of Clinical and Translational Research III
• Clinical & Translational Research Practicum (Students will also be required to complete 9 credits in research to provide them with competency in the implementation of research methods, including hypothesis formulation, research design, quantitative and
qualitative methods, data analysis and computer application.
••• Students will sit for a general examination, and will complete a written paper and a grant proposal.
Electives: Completion of one 3‐credit course from elective list.
University of Clinical & 24 2 years • Methods and Technologies of CTS
M.S. Proposal – Translational Science
35
University
MS Degree Name
Credits Required
Length of
Program Required Course Info Kentucky Translational
Science
• Interdisciplinary Protocol Development
• Ethical Issues in Clinical Research
• Biostatistics I
• Seminar
• Mentored research.
Thesis and related peer‐reviewed publication
12 credits ‐ tailored coursework from integrated CTS graduate programs.
University of Pennsylvania
Translational Research
Incorporated with Medical
School program = extra year of
med school
• Introductory Biostatistics
• Mechanisms of POR: Designing A Protocol
• Scientific and Ethical Conduct
• Analytical Measurement Course
Laboratory Units: Completion of 4 lab units is required but flexible in terms of timing.
University of Rochester
Clinical Translational Research
35 2 years • Introduction to Biostatistics
• Statistical Methods for Biomedical Applications
• Design of Clinical Trials
• Ethics in Professional Integrity – Clinical
• Introduction to Epidemiology
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Practical Skills in Grant Writing
• Introduction to Translational Research Methods
• Experimental Therapeutics REQUIRED WORKSHOPS:
• RCTRC Lecture Series
• Workshop in Scientific Communication Elective (choose 3 from elective table) Master’s Research Project/Paper University of
Vermont
MS in Clinical Translational
Research
31 ?? Years * Designing Clinical & Translational Research
* Analyzing Clinical & Translational Research
* Multivariate Methods for Clinical & Translational Research
* Conducting Clinical & Translational Research
* Reporting Clinical & Translational Research
* From Cell to Society
* Seminar in Clinical & Translational Research
* Workshop in Clinical & Translational Research Personalized Electives PLUS General Electives
* Intro to Secondary Data
* Intro to Biomedical Informatics
* Applications in Biomedical & Health Informatics
Journal Article Thesis; Comprehensive Exam; Dissertation Defense;
Research Mentor is required; 6 credits in Research Southeastern Clinical & 30 Up to 4 • Introduction to Translational Research
M.S. Proposal – Translational Science
36
University
MS Degree Name
Credits Required
Length of
Program Required Course Info Wisconsin Translational
Science
years • Biostatistics
• Clinical Trial Design
• Ethics Courses
12 Elective credits ‐ tailored to specific interests and needs of each individual student.
All students also complete a 6‐credit Masters Project.
University of Cincinnati
Clinical &
Translational Research
45 2 years • Epidemiology and Biostatistics Seminar
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• Introduction to Epidemiology
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Scientific Integrity or Ethics in Research Design
• Design & Management of Field Studies in Epidemiology
• Study Design & Analysis
• Clinical Research Scholars Seminar*
• Clinical Research Informatics
• Intro to Biomedical Informatics
• Intro to Bioinformatics
• Large Biological Databases
• Functional Genomics
• Intro to Functional Genomics
• Computational Genomics
• Decision Analysis & Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis
• Data Modeling & Database Design Three (3) credits in biostatistics **
• Introduction to SAS Programming or
• Statistical Analysis for Public Health Practitioners or
• Advanced Data Analysis or
• Any statistical programming course approved by your academic advisor
Wake Forest Molecular Medicine
35 2 years • Biomedical Research Computing (2 hrs)
• Molecular Biology I & II (6 hrs)
• Phys/Pharm II: Basic Physiology & Pharmacology. (4‐6 hrs)
• Biochemical Techniques (2 hrs)
• Applied Linear Models (3 hrs)
• Lab for Applied Linear Models (1 hr)
• Advanced Topics in Molecular Medicine Research (3 hrs)
• Grant Preparation Thesis Research (12 hrs)
Note: Students are required to take one of the following courses in statistics:
• HSRP 730. Introduction to Statistics. (4)
• HES 721. Data Analysis and Interpretation. (3)
• PSPR 741. Quantitative Methods in Behavioral Science. (2)
IUPUI Translational 30 2 years • Tools & Techniques in Translational Research
M.S. Proposal – Translational Science
37
University
MS Degree Name
Credits Required
Length of
Program Required Course Info
Science • Quantitative Aspects of Translational Research
• Ethic Courses
• Biostatistics I (or approved equivalent)
• Clinical Research Methods
• Techniques of Effective Grant Writing (or approved equivalent)
• Methods in Cell Biology (or approved equivalent)
• Biomedical Science I – Biochemical Basis of Biological Processes
• Biomedical Science II – Molecular Biology & Genetics or Methods in Molecular Biology & Pathology
• Mentored Basic Science / Translational Research Electives
M.S. Proposal – Translational Science