Fellows completing research rotations are expected to acquire the skills needed for conducting basic science or clinical investigations. Completion of the Science of Clinical Investigation curriculum during Year 1 of training is followed by 9 months of mentored research in the lab of a Research Mentor during Years 2 and 3 of fellowship training. During the 9 months of research in Years 2 and 3 of training, fellows have no clinical responsibilities other than continuity clinic service to their own patients. In addition to designing protocols and collecting data, fellows are instructed in scientific writing, data analyses and presentation of their work at formal research conferences, Departmental Grand Rounds and national professional meetings. Fellows’ scholarship accomplishments are supervised and evaluated by their Research Mentor, Scholarship Oversight Committee (SOC) and Drs. Chernausek and Wisniewski.
I. Goals/Objectives for Research Rotations – Year 1 (3 months and completion of SCI curriculum)
A. Fellows expand their knowledge of the SCIENTIFIC METHOD and application of this method to clinically relevant research questions. To acquire research methodology knowledge during their first year of training, fellows will:
- Complete the Science of Clinical Investigation curriculum
- Complete appropriate regulatory training (IRB, HIPPA, IACUC)
- Familiarize themselves with faculty research projects
- Choose a Research Mentor and propose a research hypothesis--a literature review supporting the proposed hypothesis is submitted to the SOC
- Attend weekly research conference presentations
- Attend weekly Adult Endocrine Grand Rounds
- Attend weekly Pediatric Grand Rounds
- Attend monthly GCRC Lecture Series
At a minimum, fellows are exposed to the following scientific topics by the completion of their first year of training:
- Study design
- Database design and management
- Quantitative analysis of data
- Graphical representation of data
- Critical, thorough review of primary literature
- Preparation of abstracts and poster
- Scientific writing
- Peer review
B. Fellows acquire COMMUNICATION skills needed for the effective communication of their scientific ideas. To acquire proficiency with research communication skills, fellows present two formal research conferences to the Section. The following skills are evaluated during each of these presentations:
- First Research Seminar/Year 1 – propose a null and alternative hypothesis with appropriate, supporting background literature
- Second Research Seminar/Year 1 – describe ethical and/or regulatory concerns of investigating the hypotheses proposed earlier
C. Fellows acquire an understanding of, and commitment to, PROFESSIONALISM and ETHICS in medical research. At a minimum, Fellows are expected to demonstrate the following during their first year of training:
- Ethics and regulation (both DHHS and FDA) of clinical research
- History of informed consent
- IRB procedures
- Confidentiality and privacy in research
- Special populations in research
- Membership and participation in the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) and other relevant professional organizations
D. Fellows demonstrate a commitment to LIFE-LONG LEARNING and improvement as physician scientists by demonstrating the following during their first year of training:
- Identify a personal learning plan for continued acquisition of research knowledge and skills--this discussion occurs between Drs. Chernausek and Wisniewski and each fellow at their semi-annual review
- Attend weekly Research Seminar presentations
- Attend weekly Adult Endocrine Grand Rounds
- Attend weekly Pediatric Grand Rounds
- Attend monthly GCRC Lecture Series
- Membership and participation in the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) and other relevant professional organizations
II. Goals/Objectives for research Rotations – Year 2 (9 months)
A. Fellows expand their knowledge of SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY by working with their Research Mentor to master laboratory techniques needed to test their proposed hypothesis. To expand their knowledge of research methodology during their second year of training, fellows will:
- Join the lab of their Research Mentor and become proficient with laboratory techniques needed to investigate their proposed hypothesis from Year 1
- Attend weekly Research Seminar presentations
- Attend weekly Adult Endocrine Grand Rounds
- Attend weekly Pediatric Grand Rounds
- Attend monthly GCRC Lecture Series
At a minimum, fellows are expected to complete the following during Year 2 of training:
- A full study protocol to be evaluated by the SOC
- Pilot data collection and analyses
- Preparation of at least one abstract of their work for a national meeting such as LWPES, Endocrine Society or ADA
B. Fellows continue to acquire COMMUNICATION skills needed for the effective communication of their scientific ideas. To acquire proficiency with research communication skills during their second year of training, fellows present 2 formal Research Seminars to the Section. The following skills are evaluated during each of these presentations:
- First Research Seminar/Year 2 – describe preliminary data collection techniques and analyses of pilot data
- Second Research Seminar/Year 2 – describe analyses of a more complete data set with publication-quality graphics
*At this point in their study fellows are expected to submit an abstract of their work to a suitable national conference*
- Fellows prepare an NRSA application concerning their research project to be submitted to the NIH for review, which will also be evaluated by the SOC
C. Fellows acquire an understanding of, and commitment to, PROFESSIONALISM and ETHICS in medical research. At a minimum, Fellows are expected to demonstrate the following during their second year of training:
- Adherence to honesty in data collection and presentation
- Accurate credit to individuals who contributed to their project
- Membership and participation in the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) and other relevant professional organizations
D. Fellows demonstrate a commitment to LIFE-LONG LEARNING and improvement as physician scientists by demonstrating the following during their first year of training:
- Identify a personal learning plan for continued acquisition of research knowledge and skills--this discussion occurs between Drs. Chernausek and Wisniewski and each fellow at their semi-annual review
- Attend weekly Research Seminar presentations
- Attend weekly Adult Endocrine Grand Rounds
- Attend weekly Pediatric Grand Rounds
- Attend monthly GCRC Lecture Series
- Membership and participation in the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) and other relevant professional organizations
- Submission of at least one scientific abstract to a national conference
III. Goals/Objectives for research Rotations – Year 3 (9 months)
A. Fellows further expand their knowledge of scientific methodology by working with their Research Mentor and become increasingly independent in trouble-shooting in lab as well as in generating research questions. To expand their knowledge and become increasingly independent as physician scientists during their third year of training, fellows will:
- Work independently in the lab of their Research Mentor and serve as a mentor themselves to junior lab members
- Attend weekly Research Seminar presentations
- Attend weekly Adult Endocrine Grand Rounds
- Attend weekly Pediatric Grand Rounds
- Attend monthly GCRC Lecture Series
At a minimum, fellows are expected to complete the following during Year 3 of training:
- Complete data collection and analyses
- Preparation of additional abstracts of their work for a national meeting such as LWPES, Endocrine Society or ADA
- Preparation of at lease one manuscript of their work for submission to a peer-reviewed journal
B. Fellows continue to acquire COMMUNICATION skills needed for the effective communication of their scientific ideas. To acquire proficiency with research communication skills during their third year of training, fellows present 2 formal Research Seminars to the Section. The following skills are emphasized during each of these presentations:
- First Research Seminar/Year 3 – presentation of a completed project including interpretation of results and identification of study limitations
- Second Research Seminar/Year 3 – For their last research seminar fellows formally present at Pediatric Grand Rounds--this presentation should build on what has previously been communicated by including future study directions as well as possible funding sources for those future directions
C. Fellows acquire an understanding of, and commitment to, PROFESSIONALISM and ETHICS in medical research. At a minimum, Fellows are expected to demonstrate the following during their second year of training:
- Adherence to honesty in data collection and presentation
- Accurate credit to individuals who contributed to their project
- Membership and participation in the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) and other relevant professional organizations
D. Fellows demonstrate a commitment to LIFE-LONG LEARNING and improvement as physician scientists by demonstrating the following during their first year of training:
- Identify a personal learning plan for continued acquisition of research knowledge and skills as a junior faculty member--this discussion occurs between Drs. Chernausek and Wisniewski and each fellow at their semi-annual review
- Attend weekly Research Seminar presentations
- Attend weekly Adult Endocrine Grand Rounds
- Attend weekly Pediatric Grand Rounds
- Attend monthly GCRC Lecture Series
- Membership and participation in the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) and other relevant professional organizations
- Submission of at least one scientific abstract to a national conference
- Submission of at least one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal
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