1. Duration of the Award
2. Professional Effort Devoted to the Program
3. Training in Clinical Research
4. Mentors
5. Clinical Research Facility
6. Attendance at WRHR Seminars, Annual Retreat, Core Courses, Other Activities
7. Attendance at annual WRHR meeting
8. Scholar career development plans, progress reports, and performance feedback
1. Duration of the Award
The maximum duration of support for a scholar is five years. The minimum is two consecutive 12-month appointments, and support is renewable annually up to five years total. Support is renewable at the discretion of the Program Director/Principal Investigator, contingent upon presentation of evidence of satisfactory progress to the Advisory Committee. Each year of funding is contingent on satisfactory participation in the WRHR K12 activities and progress toward the scholar's individual career goals, and continued support from the scholar's mentors and department.
2. Professional Effort Devoted to the Program
At least 75% of a scholar's full-time professional effort must be devoted to the WRHR K12 program for the training and research activities. The 75% effort is based on the entire amount of time worked in a typical week, and should include proportionate amounts of normal weekday time. The remaining 25% effort can be divided among clinical and teaching activities if these activities are consistent with the proposed goals of the WRHR program.
Phase 1: Scholars will spend 1-2 years in this training phase during which they will complete didactic courses, participate in seminars, launch mentor-sponsored research projects, and have very limited teaching or other service activity. Once scholars have finished Phase I, or for those scholars who have considerable prior research experience, they will continue to develop in a more tailored research program for 3 years as described for Phase II.
Training in Clinical Research
Formal training in a rigorous and comprehensive clinical research program is imperative for establishing independence as a clinical investigator and we believe that a secondary degree in a clinical research-related field is an important qualification. In general:
Clinical Research Scholars will be enrolled in the Training in Clinical Research (TICR) program through the CTSI Training Program. The TICR offers a broad array of educational opportunities for junior faculty, fellows, and postdoctoral health science students. TICR is comprised of 27 graduate level courses. Options for the WRHR scholars are the one year Advanced Training in Clinical Research Certificate Program; or the two year Master of Advanced Studies in Clinical Research (MAS-CR).
The ATCR is a one-year program intended for post-doctoral fellows and faculty members who desire rigorous training in the methods and conduct of clinical research. This includes instruction in the epidemiologic and biostatistical methods used in observational and experimental clinical research as well as training in the oral and written presentation of clinical research. In addition to required coursework, scholars are expected to develop and implement their research projects throughout the year and will have access to TICR faculty for methodologic guidance.
The Master’s Degree Program (MAS-CR) requires a two-year period of study during which scholars must complete rigorous training in the methods and conduct of clinical research. The great majority of courses take place in the first year to allow mentored independent research to become the major activity in the second year. Scholars will have access to senior clinical research faculty for methodologic guidance throughout the Master’s Program. Other elective courses will be available as needed to develop the research objectives of the scholar. Individuals who are selected as WRHR scholars and who will obtain a Master’s degree as part of their training plan must complete a separate application for a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research. Information and application materials are available on the Master's Program website.
Scholars who already have at least two years of advanced training in clinical research (ATCR, MPH, MAS in Clinical Research from UCSF, or equivalent), may opt out of the requirements for taking our Masters program, and instead take individual courses to complete gaps in or update previous training. These will ordinarily include our cornerstone Designing Clinical Research course, which provides an excellent review oriented toward efforts to design the scholar’s research of the next several years.
Training in Basic Science
Scholars will integrate their studies under the umbrella of the UCSF Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) Training Laboratory-based Research Program in the Biomedical Sciences Program (BMS), the Program in Biological Sciences (PIBS) and the Molecular Medicine Training Program (MMTP). These formal multidisciplinary graduate (BMS and PIBS) and postgraduate (MMTP) programs represent a confederation of over 150 UCSF faculty whose purpose is to provide opportunities for graduate training, to foster collegiality among different disciplines, and to facilitate development of new research activities that span traditional department boundaries. Depending on the laboratory-based research focus of the scholar, their mentoring team will assist scholars in choosing one of these as their focus.
BMS: The Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Program trains students studying for the PhD degree. The focus of the BMS is to apply molecular, cellular, and biochemical techniques to the investigation of how mammalian cells, tissues, and organs function in health and disease. The BMS program has eight major thematic areas of research: 1) Cancer Biology and Cell Signaling, 2) Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, 3) Human Genetics, 4) Immunology, 5) Neurobiology, 6) Tissue/Organ Biology and Endocrinology, 7) Vascular and Cardiac Biology and 8) Virology and Microbial Pathogenesis.
PIBS: The Program in Biological Sciences (PIBS) Graduate Program trains students studying for the PhD degree, and consists of five distinct programs: Biophysics, Immunology, Neuroscience, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and the Tetrad program composed of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, and Genetics.
MMTP: The Molecular Medicine Training Program (MMTP) offers post-residency research training to physicians who are committed to a career in basic biomedical research. At the time of acceptance into the program, MMTP scholars are guaranteed access to training positions in laboratories of Molecular Medicine or other appropriate faculty either in the affiliated Program in Biological Sciences or the Biomedical Sciences Program (BMS). Participating MMTP faculty are members of interdisciplinary programs including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Pathology, and Neuroscience. WRHR Scholars will have access to the wide variety of longstanding structured courses offered through both the, BMS, PIBS, and MMTP programs.
Phase 2: Scholars will then spend 2-3 years in a mentored research program structured around their needs and interests in Phase II training. Phase II represents the intensive, “hands-on” research portion of the scholar’s Career Development Plan. Scholars will focus on carrying out research projects that they have constructed in the first 2 years of Phase I (or projects they will have started or are continuing if they are just entering the WRHR program). It is anticipated that the Phase I research will generate preliminary data to help direct further studies in Phase II training. The major goal of Phase II is to develop a research program that builds sufficient data and research teams for the scholar to apply for an R01 application during the final stages of WRHR.
4. Mentors
Developing a successful clinical or lab-based research career requires strong relationships with mentors and a research team. Each WRHR scholar must have a lead mentor and may have other mentors based on the scholar’s research experience and need for intensive supervision and support. The mentors should be recognized as independent investigators, actively involved in basic, translational or clinical research, and who have a successful record of providing research training to fellows and junior faculty. Mentors should have faculty positions, and should be supported by NIH or other competitively awarded grants, and should be acknowledged experts in their fields. Mentors must be willing to interact closely with WRHR scholars to assist in developing a tailored career development plan for the scholar. Mentors need not be from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, and do not receive financial support from the career development award.
Lead mentors will have overall responsibility for helping scholars develop creative and independent careers in research. Lead mentors will provide guidance to the scholar to assure that projects are moving satisfactorily on the path to presentations, publications, and grant applications, and they will provide advice about career directions, national networking, and academic promotion. They will also help to assure that 75% of the scholar’s total work week is protected from clinical and administrative duties, and fully available for training and research. Co-mentors will be responsible for working with the lead mentor on these responsibilities, and will provide guidance in one or more complementary areas of expertise.
Scholars will meet frequently with the lead mentor, both individually and in conjunction with other members of the research team. Scholars will also meet regularly with their co-mentors, and at least twice a year with all their mentors as a group. Mentors are required to participate in at least one of the scholar's Work-in-Progress seminars each year, and to work with the scholar on a Career Development Plan. Mentors are also required to meet with the WRHR principal advisor of the scholar, and to participate in efforts to evaluate and improve mentoring at UCSF. Each scholar is also expected to meet periodically with her/his division head or department chair, who will oversee the scholar's departmental interactions and academic advancement.
We have assembled a large and diverse group of senior faculty from every clinical department, all divisions and centers within the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science who have agreed to serve as mentors for WRHR scholars. Each of these faculty members is a recognized independent clinical investigator with a successful track record of mentoring fellows and junior faculty. Candidates are encouraged to include at least one mentor from this list, but may choose other qualified mentors to complete their mentor team.
5. Clinical Research Facility
Each scholar will be provided space and a computer within the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science. Scholars will also spend a portion of their time at the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Clinical Research Facility at 185 Berry St, China Basin Landing, San Francisco where they will be able to occupy a “hotel” cubicle for the days they wish to work at the facility. Having attractive and functional space and dedicated personnel for the scholars embedded in a much larger set of clinical research activities and support technologies is an important strength of the WRHR Program, one that will optimize the scholar’s acquisition of skills in research methodology and ability to build and lead interdisciplinary teams.
We consider the time spent in physical proximity to each other, to other K12 Scholars at UCSF, and to clinical research expertise to be extremely important for forming a support group during a scholar’s first 1-2 years in the program. For this reason, scholars are encouraged to spend as much time as possible at the clinical research facility and will be required to spend at least one day per week in residence, on Fridays. Core CTSA K12 faculty will also be in residence on Fridays to make it easy for scholars to informally discuss issues regarding their research with faculty or arrange meetings if desired.
6. Attendance at WRHR Seminars, Annual Retreat, Core Courses, Other Activities
WRHR Scholars may wish to participate in the weekly Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Seminars sponsored by the CTSI K12 program, held on Friday mornings at the China Basin facility. The seminars serve as the glue for the UCSF K12 programs, an opportunity for scholars to meet regularly, review and contribute to each other's work and obtain expert methodologic advice, as well as be exposed to high quality clinical researchers from a variety of disciplines who will lead guest lectures throughout the year. These seminars will address a variety of topics, in keeping with our multidisciplinary mission, but will focus on methodologic issues as the unifying theme.
Each scholar is expected to lead 4-6 work-in-progress discussions each year, and to lead occasional methodologic seminars. In July, there will be a retreat to kick off the program and provide the opportunity for old and new scholars to get to know the program faculty and staff, and each other. In addition, there will be special activities scheduled throughout the year such as career development forums and opportunities to observe IRB proceedings. Scholars are also asked to participate as teachers and mentors in the training and career development of pre- and post-doctoral students. These activities are in addition to the coursework required by the Master’s Degree in Clinical Research.
7. Attendance at annual WRHR meeting
Scholars are required to attend the national annual WRHR meeting for WRHR scholars and program directors paid for by the scholar's WRHR travel funds, which provides an opportunity for the scholars to meet their scholar colleagues from across the nation and present their work.
8. Scholar career development plans, progress reports, and performance feedback
Scholar Milestones: Since our shared goal is for scholars to become independently funded by the end of their WRHR award period (or earlier), we set out these general guidelines for scholars to consider:
By the end of the 2nd year, and each year thereafter:
• 3 multdisciplinary peer-reviewed publications submitted
• One multidisciplinary extramural grant of any size submitted (typically R21, R03, or other federal, state, foundation or industry grant).
By the middle of the 3rd Year (or end of the 3rd year for scholars taking ATCR, Masters, other full time course work in the first year):
• One multidisciplinary, R01 grant (or equivalent) submitted.
Scholar Performance Reviews
July
• Scholars, in consultation with their mentors, create or update a “career development plan” for review by their "WRHR Advisor" (the WRHR Director or designee).
January
• Scholars update their career development plan for review with their mentors and with their WRHR Advisor. The mentors also meet with the WRHR Advisor in person or by telephone, and these assessments are reviewed at a WRHR faculty meeting. The meetings are the main opportunity to identify actions the scholar needs to take to assure continuation in the program the following July.
February
• Scholars complete an annual NIH progress report.