Foundations of Clinical Research

The interactive workshop curriculum will focus on hands-on skill development through active learning. To that end, the intensive schedule is designed to accelerate the growth of high-yield clinical research skills via individual and team-based workshop exercises. Students will be immersed in a dynamic learning environment that encourages collaboration and collegial networking with faculty and peers.

Essential elements of the workshop include instruction and practical exercises in the core concepts of biostatistics, epidemiology, and research question development, as well as critical assessment of the medical literature and practical training in statistical software using real-life datasets. In addition to providing training in mentorship, academic career development, and leadership, we create a supportive and active learning environment where opportunities for knowledge retention and networking abound.

Symposia, tutorials, and seminars are mandatory and will be delivered live online and organized according to eight specific clinical research topics.

Seven 2-hour symposia

• Instruction on a specific clinical research topic (e.g., cohort study design and interpretation)
• In-depth discussion on a related epidemiology concept (e.g., odds ratio)

Seven 1-hour tutorials

• Interpret and report on papers related to the specific clinical research topic

Seven 1-hour special-topic seminars

• Tie biostatistical and epidemiological concepts to specific clinical research topics with concrete examples

All students will be expected to complete all assignments by the due dates. Assignments will be graded as either “pass” or “fail.”

Individual Assignment 1

Individual Research Question and Study Design

• Generate a novel research question in the evidence-based PICO format
• Receive expert faculty review

Individual Assignment 2

Design, Implement, and Present an Original Abstract and ePoster

• Design and implement a clinical research study based on a publicly available dataset
• Analyze and create data visualizations via a user-friendly R Shiny web app
• Write a formal 350-word abstract suitable for submission to an international conference
• Present a digital poster to faculty at Workshop 3

Research Study Introduction

• Designing a Clinical Research Study I–III
• Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Study Design 1 – Observational
• Study Design 2 – Randomized Controlled Trials
• Study Design 3 – Quasi-Experimental Studies
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• How to Search PubMed
• Overview of Evidence-Based Medicine

All participants must complete the following academic and attendance requirements in order to be granted a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Medical School.

Attendance at Workshops and Webinars

• Learners are required to attend and actively engage in all workshops.
• Learners may be required to attend live, interactive webinars scheduled in between workshops. If a learner cannot attend due to an occasional scheduling conflict, it may be possible to complete an alternative assignment.

Successful Completion of Assignments

• Learners are required to complete and submit on time and receive passing grades on course-related assignments. These may include quizzes, exams and individual or team-based assignments.

To prepare your application for submission, please have the following documents available:

• Current contact information and credentials: This information is required for the online application.
• Curriculum vitae/résumé/list of awards or publications: You will be prompted to upload either your CV or résumé (.doc, .pdf).
• Written statement: Please provide a 250-500 word explanation as to why you would like to be considered for this program. Please note, you may be asked for additional information to support of your submission. All program specific requirements can be found within the application.*
• Letter of recommendation: The recommender must be a department/division head/director/chair or supervisor. The letter should be dated within 12 months of the application submission date and should address your suitability for the program and support your attendance at the workshops. Please note: The letter of recommendation may be submitted at a later date, but it is required for your application to be considered.
• Program Fee assistance: If you are requesting program fee assistance, you will be prompted to submit a statement in support of your request. Please read the Program Fee section above for further details.
   

There is no application fee for this program.

*Your personal statement is an opportunity for the admissions committee to hear your voice. We strongly discourage the use of generative AI technologies, like ChatGPT, in your application essay. If an essay does use generative AI, then it must be acknowledged. If an essay is suspected to have used one of these tools without attribution or in its entirety, we reserve the right to deny your admission to the program or request that you submit a new essay in order to be considered.

We will acknowledge receipt of all applications and maintain all application information in strict confidence.

Students can expect to hear a decision on their application within four to six weeks from the date all application materials were submitted. Payment Plans are available for this program. Please contact the Admissions and Enrollment Services Team to learn more.