The Research Staff Development Office provides programs to education and training for those involved in clinical research, including research coordinators, staff, and investigators directly involved in conducting clinical trials. On-going events include the Coordinator 101 Course, the Clinical Research Updates, and the annual Coordinator Symposium.

In addition, the Research Staff Development Office hosts the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA) Certification Exam on an annual basis and promotes UK, regional and national conferences focused on clinical research, such as the annual UK Human Research Protection Regional Conference.

For additional information about any of these research staff development opportunities or to be added to the email announcements list, please contact Ryan Vicini, Research Staff Development Manager, at 859-323-8545 or rlvici2@uky.edu

Clinical Research Coordinator 101 Course
Clinical Research Update Series
Regulatory Research Training Requirements
Continuing Education and Certification Training

The CCTS Career Development Office supports research career training programs for professional students and junior faculty:

Professional Student Opportunities:

Clinical and Translational Science Professional Student Mentored Research Fellowship (PSMRF)

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) provides fellowships in clinical research for professional students. A $3000 Fellowship is available to professional students who have completed an Introduction to Clinical Research seminar and wish to conduct CTS research based on a health-related mentored research plan developed with a faculty member of the University of Kentucky. In addition, students engage in a specific curriculum designed to promote sound clinical research practices. Applications are accepted in January. Initial awards are for one year with the possibility of renewal.

Contact: Peter Sawaya, M.D., Director, Mentored Research Program, phone: (859) 323-5048 x224, e-mail: PeterSawaya@uky.edu.

Professional Student Mentored Research Fellowship

TL1 Pre-Doctoral Training Awards

The CCTS TL1 Predoctoral Training Program provides junior trainees with the skills required to develop a career in multidisciplinary clinical and translational research. The program uses a team-science approach and provides mentoring and didactic training for predoctoral students performing clinical and/or translational research in health-related fields.

TL1 trainees will initially receive one year of funding, including a stipend and a $1,000 travel allowance to attend and/or present research at one conference. A second year of funding may be awarded based on performance and progress.

Contact: Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D., Internal Medicine - Cardiology, TL1/T32 Training Program, phone: (859) 323-2274, e-mail: SusanSmyth@uky.edu.

TL1 Training Program for Predoctoral Students in Clinical and Translational Science

Graduate Student Opportunities:

TL1 Pre-Doctoral Training Awards

The CCTS TL1 Predoctoral Training Program provides junior trainees with the skills required to develop a career in multidisciplinary clinical and translational research. The program uses a team-science approach and provides mentoring and didactic training for predoctoral students performing clinical and/or translational research in health-related fields.

TL1 trainees will initially receive one year of funding, including a stipend and a $1,000 travel allowance to attend and/or present research at one conference. A second year of funding may be awarded based on performance and progress.

Contact: Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D., Internal Medicine - Cardiology, TL1/T32 Training Program, phone: (859) 323-2274, e-mail: SusanSmyth@uky.edu.

TL1 Training Program for Predoctoral Students in Clinical and Translational Science

Junior Faculty Opportunities:

KL2 Research Scholar Awards

The CCTS KL2 Multidisciplinary Scholars Program is a research training and funding opportunity for junior faculty to foster a career in clinical/translational research. Didactic coursework, mentored research and multidisciplinary teamwork are offered to develop the skills necessary to build a well-funded collaborative research career. The goal of the program is to help awardees ultimately obtain an individual career development award or an independent investigator (i.e. R01) award.

KL2 Scholars receive salary support each year for up to two years with adequate progress to cover 75 percent assigned effort at current salary level or up to a maximum of $90,000 base, plus fringe benefits. Up to $20,000 per year will be available for the scholar’s supplies and $500 per year will be available for textbooks. In addition, the program provides $2,500 per year for the scholar to travel to up to two academic conferences (one must be the Associate for Clinical Research Training – ACRT – in Washington, DC in the spring of each year).

Contact: Gerald Supinski, M.D., Internal Medicine – Pulmonology, KL2 Research Scholar Award Program, phone (859) 323-5045, e-mail: gsupi2@uky.edu.

KL2 Research Scholar Awards
KL2 Research Grant Application

Other Resources:

The CCTS Career Development Office assists faculty, staff and students in exploring the numerous college-based, university-based and external training support opportunities available at the University of Kentucky.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please use the Contact Information on the right side of this screen.

The links below provide an introduction to these opportunities. CTS scholars interested in additional research training are encouraged to meet with CDO advisors to explore these opportunities more fully with the goal of shaping an individualized career development plan.

University of Kentucky Faculty Research Resources
College of Medicine Training Programs
College of Dentistry Students/Post-Docs
College of Nursing Research
College of Pharmacy Research
College of Public Health Research
College of Health Sciences Research
College of Social Work Research
Arts & Science Student Research Opportunities

TEAM supports a vertically and horizontally integrated program of clinical and translational research training designed to enhance the pipeline of professional students engaged in CTS research, train PhD students in the basic biomedical sciences to advance discoveries along the continuum of translational research and therapeutic interventions, and to support residents, fellows and faculty in the health professionals engaged in clinical and translational research.

•  Certificate Programs

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science is the entry point for graduate-level training in clinical and translational science (CTS). The curriculum is designed to establish knowledge-based and skill-based competencies in communication, professionalism, critical thinking, and synthesis of knowledge, planning, management and assessment, and leadership in the following five areas: CTS methods and technologies, scientific knowledge, measurement and statistics, research integrity (research ethics and responsible conduct of research), and collaboration and team building. These competencies are required of all CTS scholars, regardless of level of training or academic concentration. The Certificate curriculum integrates scholars with diverse backgrounds and training into a common training environment with group assignments and shared professional socialization experiences. The hours earned toward the Certificate may be used by students who wish to continue their study and earn an additional degree, such as the Clinical and Translational Science pathway in the Master degree in Medical Science or the PhD in Clinical and Translational Science.

o Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science (13 Cr)

This program provides entry-level competency training in clinical and translational science and is the entry point for scholars interested in CTS research, broadly defined. The key elements of this certificate are (1) a curriculum focused on core CTS research competencies, (2) mentored research training, and (3) scheduling and programmatic flexibility to support diverse constituencies. Credits can be applied to the MS in Medical Science (CTS Pathway) or PhD in CTS.

Graduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science
Graduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science Application

o Certificate in Clinical Research Skills (12 Cr)

This program provides clinical and translational science training for investigators interested in careers in public health. The key elements of this certificate are the (1) public health curriculum (epidemiology, design and analysis of clinical trials, clinical research ethics) and (2) research presentations and publications. Credits can be applied to the MPH degree.

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Skills
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Skills Application

•  Master of Science in Medical Science (Clinical and Translational Science Pathway) (24-30 Cr)

The Masters of Science in Medical Sciences offers a clinical and translational science pathway for those with a rigorous medical science background (e.g., health-related professional degree, MS or PhD in basic medical sciences) or those seeking a dual degree (e.g., MD/MS). The program provides mentored research training with a flexible curriculum tailored to the needs of professional scholars interested in designing, implementing and publishing their own research studies or contributing to clinical and translational science teams. The pathway offers 24-credit (thesis required ) or 30-credit options each consisting of 13 credit hours of competency-based training (i.e., Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science) combined with additional coursework and independent study (11 or 17 credits) tailored to the scholars research career interest; a program of mentored research training, and a Masters defense focused on the scholar's independent research study.

Master of Science in Medical Science Clinical and Translational Pathway
Master of Science in Medical Science Clinical and Translational Pathway Application

•  PhD in Clinical and Translational Science

This interdisciplinary program is designed for professional scholars committed to leading interdisciplinary CTS research teams, sustaining independent research programs that promote innovation and new discovery, or both. In addition to extensive research training, scholars will receive expanded training in the skills needed to meet career objectives: grant writing, grant management, team leadership, and personnel and laboratory management. Admission is limited to applicants with terminal professional degrees (i.e., MD, DMD, DDS, PharmD, DVM, DO, DNP, DSc, or PhD) or to professional students in dual-degree programs (MD/PhD). The primary mentor, along with an interdisciplinary PhD advisory committee, plays a prominent role in overseeing education (18 credit hours required to establish residency – 13 credit hours of competency-based training in Clinical and Translational Science and a minimum of 5 credit hours tailored to the career development needs of the scholar), qualifying examination, research training, and dissertation requirements. Successful completion of the degree is contingent on the scholar's completion and presentation (written and oral) of well-reasoned research that yields clinically significant, publishable CTS knowledge.

PhD in Clinical and Translational Science
PhD in Clinical and Translational Science Application

Training, Education and Mentoring (TEAM) has established a comprehensive approach to mentored clinical and translational science (CTS) research training that includes a mentor-scholar matching program, a program to train junior faculty as mentors, and an assessment and evaluation program to determine mentor effectiveness

CTS scholars work with a primary faculty mentor with a successful, funded research program and a record of effective mentoring. The mentor’s role is to support the scholar in (1) formulating research plans, (2) disseminating scientific ideas, (3) managing both personnel and scholar time and effort, and (4) developing networking skills critical to collaborative team science.

Please use the Contact Information to the right of this screen if you are seeking a mentor or if you would like to serve as a mentor.

Link to Mentor Database: http://mednet.mc.uky.edu/mentordatabase/

CATalysts are experienced leaders with the ability to identify talent and promote collaborative team science. They build interdisciplinary research teams that transcend the academic unit and which are focused on the most critical medical needs of the community. CATalysts have expertise in clinical research and care, basic and behavioral sciences, outcomes research, community outreach, and policy issues.

CATalysts work to:

1. Build translational research teams by identifying scientists with complementary skills and shared research interests.

2. Identify emerging areas of research excellence that address a critical medical need.

3. Facilitate the development of novel methodologies.

4. Provide ongoing consultation and assistance to investigators and collaborative teams.

5. Evaluate progress of pilot studies.

If you would like to contact a CATalyst for consultation, please use the Contact Information to the right of this screen.

WHO are the CATalysts

CTS research education and training programs are available for community partners throughout Appalachia and Kentucky. These supplemental CTS educational activities are designed to support the development of research partnerships and collaborative research initiatives. These partnerships include, but are not limited to:

- The Sanders-Brown Center on Aging

- Kentucky Homeplace

- Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates

- The Appalachian Translational Research Network

- The Center for Excellence in Rural Health – Hazard

- Marshall University

- The Ohio State University

- University of Cincinnati

- Pikeville University

- The Appalachian Regional Commission

Students and faculty who are interested in research opportunities at these sites are encouraged to use the Contact Information to the right side of this screen.