About Our Program
The Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Scholars Program (in collaboration with Howard University Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry) supports the career development of individuals dedicated toward a career in clinical investigation and who aspire to develop into future leaders in clinical research. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (Roadmap K12 mechanism and the National Center for Research Resources), these awards provides support for clinical research training and career development of persons in relevant disciplines and professions (including but not limited to internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, statistics, nursing, epidemiology and behavioral sciences psychology, and engineering) and their various specialties and sub-specialties.
Clinical research includes: 1) patient-oriented research, 2) epidemiology and behavioral studies and 3) outcomes research and health services research. For example, epidemiologic and natural history studies, translational research, patient-oriented research, clinical trials, and outcomes research are all possible types of research supported through this award. Clinical research embraces a spectrum of scientific disciplines (medicine, surgery, dentistry, nursing, pharmacology, statistics, psychology, engineering) that are employed by health professionals, often in specialties and sub-specialties (e.g., internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, cardiology, nephrology, and others) using a variety of study methodologies (e.g., epidemiology, observational, experimental, and others). Clinical research is a complex endeavor that is ideally performed by a multidisciplinary team using an integrated team approach. A multidisciplinary approach brings experts from diverse disciplines (for example, clinician, clinical researcher, clinical trialist, statistician, medicinal chemist, and pharmacologist) to address collectively a common complex problem. There is a well-recognized shortage of well-trained physicians and other health professionals performing clinical research in a rigorous, highly collaborative, team-oriented environment.
Fundamental elements of the training and career development in this program include: structured, core didactic coursework; practical training in various aspects of the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical research in team settings (e.g., protocol development, preparation of IRB applications, clinical research/trial management including patient accrual, data collection, analysis and manuscript writing); “hands on” conduct of a research project under the supervision of mentors and; engagement in related career development activities (e.g. seminars, conferences, grant writing).
The Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Scholars Program is a joint effort of many entities. The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research (and its Clinical Epidemiology Program) and the Graduate Training Program in Clinical Investigation (GTPCI), both multidisciplinary enterprises of the Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health provide the funding and career development support including rigorous didactic training in a supportive work environment as well as mentorship. The Program has a strong collaboration with the Howard University Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry. The Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing are also key components of the program.
