biomedical research: opportunities and benefits for medical students robin l. brey, md associate...
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Biomedical Research: Biomedical Research: Opportunities and Benefits Opportunities and Benefits
for Medical Studentsfor Medical StudentsRobin L. Brey, MDRobin L. Brey, MDAssociate Dean for ResearchAssociate Dean for ResearchUTHSCSAUTHSCSASchool of MedicineSchool of [email protected]@uthscsa.edu567-0611567-0611
Della Fritz, AssistantDella Fritz, [email protected] [email protected]
David L. Henzi, EdDDavid L. Henzi, EdDDirector of Office Director of Office of Academic Enrichmentof Academic EnrichmentUTHSCSAUTHSCSASchool of MedicineSchool of [email protected]@uthscsa.edu567-4469567-4469
Jennifer Bitoni, AssistantJennifer Bitoni, [email protected]@uthscsa.edu
Types of ResearchTypes of Research
Basic Science – Seeks to discover
new knowledge without necessarily focusing on improved human health
Translational – Takes Basic Science findings
and applies them to human health
Clinical Science – Involves research with
humans or human samples
Translational – Takes clinical research
findings and appliesthem to clinical practice
Successful Research ProjectsSuccessful Research Projects
Originate with a question or problemOriginate with a question or problem Require the clear articulation of a Require the clear articulation of a
goalgoal Follow a specific plan of procedureFollow a specific plan of procedure Divide the principal problem into Divide the principal problem into
more manageable sub-problemsmore manageable sub-problems
UTHSCSA Medical Student UTHSCSA Medical Student Research OpportunitiesResearch Opportunities
Medical Student Summer Research Medical Student Summer Research ProgramProgram• Program to provide stipends for medical Program to provide stipends for medical
students to do full-time mentored students to do full-time mentored research during the summer break research during the summer break between first and second year between first and second year
• Summer stipends are awarded for a 5-8 Summer stipends are awarded for a 5-8 week period in an amount equal to week period in an amount equal to $250/week$250/week
UTHSCSA Medical Student UTHSCSA Medical Student Research OpportunitiesResearch Opportunities
Medical Student Summer Research Medical Student Summer Research ProgramProgram• Applications due in March, 2008Applications due in March, 2008• Information is available on the School of Information is available on the School of
Medicine website: Medicine website: http://som.uthscsa.edu/research, includinghttp://som.uthscsa.edu/research, including
List of previously awarded stipendsList of previously awarded stipends List of MentorsList of Mentors Selection Criteria Selection Criteria Program GuidelinesProgram Guidelines
UTHSCSA Medical Student UTHSCSA Medical Student Research OpportunitiesResearch Opportunities
Medical Student Summer Research Medical Student Summer Research ProgramProgram• Since 2002 nearly 200 students have received Since 2002 nearly 200 students have received
stipendsstipends• Recent funding historyRecent funding history
2004 – 26 students2004 – 26 students 2005 – 31 students2005 – 31 students 2006 – 47 students2006 – 47 students 2007 – 58 students2007 – 58 students
• 32 Clinical projects32 Clinical projects• 28 Basic science projects28 Basic science projects
MD with Distinction in ResearchMD with Distinction in Research Program in its second yearProgram in its second year Provides UTHSCSA medical students with Provides UTHSCSA medical students with
an opportunity to do sustained mentored an opportunity to do sustained mentored work in basic, clinical, translational or work in basic, clinical, translational or social sciencessocial sciences
Students must commit to a minimum of 4 Students must commit to a minimum of 4 months during medical schoolmonths during medical school• First 8 weeks usually occur in the First 8 weeks usually occur in the
Medical Student Summer Research Medical Student Summer Research ProgramProgram
• Additional time spent in electives and Additional time spent in electives and during free timeduring free time
MD with Distinction in ResearchMD with Distinction in Research
MD with Distinction in Research MD with Distinction in Research Committee meets monthly to review Committee meets monthly to review applicationsapplications
Students may apply throughout their first Students may apply throughout their first and second yearand second year• Information is available on the School of Information is available on the School of
Medicine website: Medicine website: http://som.uthscsa.edu/research includinghttp://som.uthscsa.edu/research including
List of MentorsList of Mentors Selection Criteria Selection Criteria Program GuidelinesProgram Guidelines
MD with Distinction in Research MD with Distinction in Research ProgramProgram
Application includes Application includes Description of the research projectDescription of the research project A time-line for completing the projectA time-line for completing the project A mentoring plan written by the faculty A mentoring plan written by the faculty
mentor.mentor. Project must be done under the Project must be done under the
mentorship of at least one UTHSCSA mentorship of at least one UTHSCSA faculty member, who must play a role in faculty member, who must play a role in the project from beginning to endthe project from beginning to end
Research completed by the student prior Research completed by the student prior to entering medical school cannot be to entering medical school cannot be substituted for the research requirement substituted for the research requirement of this programof this program
MD with Distinction in Research MD with Distinction in Research ProgramProgram
Program RequirementsProgram Requirements Students must be in good academic standing Students must be in good academic standing
(minimum GPA of 2.5) and must maintain good (minimum GPA of 2.5) and must maintain good academic standing to continue academic standing to continue
Minimum of 4 months of research effortMinimum of 4 months of research effort Research log of time spent (verified by mentor)Research log of time spent (verified by mentor) Progress report every 6 months until Progress report every 6 months until
completion of the programcompletion of the program Approved manuscript written by the student Approved manuscript written by the student
with student as first authorwith student as first author
Evaluation Criteria for Entering the Evaluation Criteria for Entering the Program - StudentProgram - Student
Quality of the candidate's academic recordQuality of the candidate's academic record Commitment to research (1-page letter Commitment to research (1-page letter
from student describing reason for from student describing reason for applying to the program).applying to the program).
Quality of the letter of reference from Quality of the letter of reference from mentor named in the applicationmentor named in the application
5-page research plan5-page research plan• Usefulness as a vehicle for enhancing existing Usefulness as a vehicle for enhancing existing
research skillsresearch skills• Scientific and technical merit Scientific and technical merit • Time-line and feasibility of the research project Time-line and feasibility of the research project
over a 4-6 month time period. over a 4-6 month time period.
MD with Distinction in ResearchMD with Distinction in Research
Students who apply for the MD with Students who apply for the MD with Distinction in Research Program on Distinction in Research Program on or before the deadline for the or before the deadline for the Medical Student Summer Research Medical Student Summer Research Program will automatically have their Program will automatically have their application considered for a summer application considered for a summer stipendstipend
This avoids having to write two This avoids having to write two different applications for the same different applications for the same projectproject
MD with Distinction in Research MD with Distinction in Research ProgramProgram
17 current MS2s in the Program17 current MS2s in the Program 2 current MS3s have successfully 2 current MS3s have successfully
completed the program and will completed the program and will graduate with Distinction in Research graduate with Distinction in Research if they maintain their GPA>2.5if they maintain their GPA>2.5
Approximately 6-10 additional Approximately 6-10 additional current MS2s are planning to apply current MS2s are planning to apply for the program after their summer for the program after their summer research experienceresearch experience
Choosing a Research MentorChoosing a Research Mentor
Start early!Start early! Established record of research Established record of research
involvement accomplishmentinvolvement accomplishment• Peer-reviewed publicationsPeer-reviewed publications• Extramural fundingExtramural funding
Time and interest in traineeTime and interest in trainee Personal considerationsPersonal considerations Consider more than one mentorConsider more than one mentor
““Never, never, never give up.” Never, never, never give up.” (Winston Churchill)(Winston Churchill)