Research Training
General
Basic Science or Biomedical Engineering Track
Clinical Investigation and Epidemiology Track
Subsequent Years
General: Eighty percent of the first research year is devoted to research training. The fellow’s clinical duties comprise six weeks of inpatient service, occasional weekend calls and one half-day outpatient clinic weekly. This year will represent the beginning of the intensive research training. Early during this year and every year thereafter, all faculty and trainees will participate in a case-based discussion session related to ethical matters in research. Seminars in many departments at the Medical School and School of Public Health (immediately adjacent to the Medical campus) are available to trainees on a weekly basis. All trainees will be expected to participate in seminars pertinent to their area of research.
Basic Science or Biomedical Engineering Track: During the first research year, M.D. trainees interested in the Basic Science Track are strongly encouraged to take the 3-month Postdoctoral Research Training Program offered by the Medical School. This course covers the theory and practice of molecular biology methods, experimental design and analysis, basic cell physiology and hormone action. It includes hands-on laboratory experiences in molecular and cellular biology and teaches the trainee how to pursue a hypothesis-driven, appropriately controlled approach to experimental science. This course also provides trainees with personal introductions to the many scientists who comprise the faculty for this course. This course has been extremely effective in:
- Bringing fellows up to date on recent developments in cell and molecular biology.
- Reestablishing a thorough understanding of the scientific method.
- Providing a sense of the commitment and professionalism required to be a successful independent investigator.
It also serves to put Nephrology trainees in contact with other committed young scientists thereby forming a research network throughout the Institution. Course participants also get to know excellent basic scientists throughout the Institution who can provide help with problems that develop later during the research training.
Trainees in biomedical engineering will enroll in courses in the interdisciplinary Biomedical Engineering Program either with a “not candidate for degree” status or in some cases, through a series of courses aimed at attaining a Masters in Biomedical Engineering degree.
All trainees will work under the close guidance of a mentor with daily input over the first year as they develop expertise with the scientific method, experimental design, techniques, approaches to problem solving and interpretation of data. Although course work will depend on each trainee’s individual research program, a wide range of opportunities for course work are available at The University of Michigan. Trainees will be expected to attend the Journal Club and Renal Center Basic Science Seminars on a weekly basis (see Conferences page for more information), as well as seminars in the Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, BMRC, Biochemistry, Pathology, Physiology or School of Public Health programs, depending upon their specific area of interest. At the end of the first research year, each trainee will present his or her research results to the Internal Medicine Nephrology and Pediatric Nephrology faculty at a Renal Center Basic Science Seminar for evaluation and critique. Each trainee will also attend a national meeting appropriate for his or her research interests. This may be the annual meetings of the ASN, ASTP, cell and molecular biology or experimental biology, or another meeting that is approved by the Training Program Director and mentor.
Clinical Investigation and Epidemiology Track: The Clinical Investigation and Epidemiology Track has been designed to provide outstanding training for Nephrology trainees to perform funded research on important problems and questions in Nephrology. There are two distinct training options for trainees entering this track:
All trainees in this track will undergo extensive didactic training that may utilize the resources of the School of Public Health, Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Clinical Scholars Program, and the Center for the Advancement of Clinical Research at The University of Michigan. These trainees will complete a course of study leading to either a Master of Public Health degree in Biostatistics and Epidemiology or a program in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis (OJ/OC) leading to a Master of Science degree. This program gives an intensive exposure to clinical research design and execution.
Significant effort during the first research year will be devoted to attending classes and completing assignments. However, trainees will have substantial time available to pursue their projects. With the help of the mentor, each trainee will be expected to complete and submit a Human Studies application for their project to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) during the year. Trainees will present their work in progress mid-way through the year at the Nephrology Clinical Meeting and at the end of each year at the Renal Epidemiology Research Conference (Wednesday AM and Friday PM). This presentation will include a discussion of the trainee’s plans for further analyses in the next research year.
Outcomes and Epidemiology Option: In the first research year, the trainees will start their course work toward a Master Degree by enrolling in the Training Program in Clinical Research, which is a 2-year program. In addition, they will begin their specific research project under the guidance of their mentor. To enable trainees to become familiar with handling large data sets, trainees will be paired with a research assistant from the Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (KECC). The research assistant will provide hands-on training in working with data files, including mastering the software for manipulation of large data sets, querying the database and statistical analysis of data files. It is anticipated that research assistants will spend 6-8 hours a week with a trainee for 2-3 months. As part of the trainees’ course work toward a Master Degree, they will take a full load of courses during the first year. Although this will require a significant amount of effort, trainees will still have substantial time available to pursue their research projects. By the end of this year, trainees will have sufficient data for a year-end presentation to the Renal Epidemiology Research Conference. This presentation will include the trainee’s plans for further analyses in the following research year.
Clinical Research Option: As above, in the first research year the trainees will start their course work toward a Masters Degree by enrolling in the Training Program in Clinical Research. In addition, they will begin their specific research project under the guidance of their mentor. Trainees will be encouraged to work in any of several areas of active clinical research being pursued by the clinical Program Faculty. These include collaborative research projects between institutions supported in part by the Renal Research Institute (development of a multi-institutional Pre-ESRD database, monitoring mechanisms for vascular access, optimization of acute dialysis therapies), therapeutic and pharmacologic research projects in transplantation, treatment of glomerular diseases and other options. The course work during the first research year for Clinical Research trainees will be determined in conjunction with the trainee’s mentor, the Training Program Director and the Co-Director.
Subsequent Years: Trainees who move into a third research year will usually have their own independent salary support. Aside from time devoted to course work, the trainee’s effort will be intensively devoted to his/her individual project. It is anticipated that the trainee will present research findings at a minimum of one meeting during this year. The faculty mentor, Program Director and Co-Director will actively assist the trainee in looking for and obtaining faculty positions either at our own Institution or at other institutions by making them aware of job opportunities, through personal contacts and letters of recommendation, and by assisting in preparing for faculty position interviews. Fellows will be assisted in writing grant applications to support their research work after leaving the Training Program.
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