Program

The USF Scholars in Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) program provides all of the elements required to meet the needs of a new clinician investigator in patient-oriented research through a curriculum that can be completed in a reasonable time, yet providing a combination of course work and research experiences that are necessary to be competent and successful as a clinical researcher. For the purpose of this program, clinical research includes: patient-oriented research, epidemiologic and behavioral studies, and outcomes or health services research. The NIH defines patient-oriented research as research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens, and cognitive phenomena) that requires direct interactions with human subjects.  Patient-oriented research includes study of the disease, therapeutic interventions and clinical trials.

The two-year program includes both a didactic, course-based curriculum and a mentored clinical and/or translational patient-oriented research experience, culminating in a master’s degree.

The SPOR program provides support for the implementation and direction of the program and for tuition and some professional meeting attendance for the scholars.  This program does not provide stipend support for the postdoctoral fellows and part of the first of the two-phase application process to become a SPOR Scholar requires that the Chairman or Division Director employing the fellow commit to releasing 75% of the individual’s annual effort for two years to participate in this career development program.

DIDACTIC PROGRAM

The specific objective for the Clinical and Translational Research concentration in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree program is to provide postdoctoral clinical and translational research training. Participants may include those with the following degrees: M.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.O., D.C., O.D., N.D. (Doctor of Naturopathy), doctorally prepared nurses, Ph.D. with clinical responsibilities, and others who could benefit from a core curriculum for clinical research. Because clinical research is multidisciplinary, participants in this program will come from diverse academic backgrounds. Interactions during the early years of career development serve to enhance the team approach necessary to meet the multidisciplinary challenges of patient care, by providing:

• a formal curriculum that provides essential skills for clinical research, and
• individualized, mentored research experience in the students’ interest/specialty area.

The formal curriculum provides the appropriate knowledge related to experimental design and biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, clinical research methodology, bioethics, research integrity, grantsmanship, scientific communication, and principles of basic science. Course work leads to a research project culminating in a publishable peer-reviewed manuscript in an area of research interest.  The project requirement provides experience in formulating research questions of clinical significance, and the design and conduct of a quality research project that can lead to publication and support for future clinical research funding. The long-term goal of this proposal is to provide clinical researchers who complete this program with the skills to be:

• knowledgeable about the complex issues associated with clinical research,
• a productive contributor to the advancement of clinical research through publication, and
• competitive in securing external support for patient-oriented clinical and research.

Details of the masters degree courses in clinical and translational research at the University of South Florida can be found on the website link to “Course Descriptions and Schedule”,

MENTORED RESEARCH PROJECT

The mentored clinical research project requirement will provide experience in formulating research questions of clinical significance, and the design and conduct of a quality research project that can lead to publication and support for future clinical research funding. The long-term goal of this proposal is to develop clinical and translational researchers who, upon completion of the program will be

• knowledgeable about the complex issues associated with clinical and translational research,
• a productive contributors to the advancement of clinical research in their areas of expertise through publication, and
• competitive in securing external support for their clinical and translational research interests.

More details, including requirements and forms to be submitted are at: http://health.usf.edu/research/k30/research.html

PROGRAM OUTCOMES EVALUATION

All current and former K30 Scholars will be sent an electronic form to update their contact information and collect information regarding their activities in the following categories for the preceding year:

• research grant activity
• research publications
• research presentations
• academic activity related to their area of research focus

and any other information related to their participation in the K30 Scholars that has had impact on their academic patient-oriented research career development.