Clinical Investigator Training Program
Training Physicians in Patient-Oriented Research
The goal of the two-year Clinical Investigator Training Program (CITP) is the training of physicians from a variety of clinical disciplines in the techniques and processes utilized in patient-oriented research.
They are able to apply contemporary research tools to clinically relevant areas of investigation,and they are competitive for careers in patient-oriented research in academic medicine, industry, and regulatory affairs.
Program Curriculum
The program is based on a specific curriculum that allows trainees to develop direct experience in the performance of clinical investigation and at the same time, through didactic course work, provides them with a strong foundation in:
- computational sciences
- statistical sciences
- biomedical ethics
- principles of clinical pharmacology
- in vitro and in vivo measurement techniques
- many aspects of the drug development process
Program Background
Since its inception the program has graduated over 150 investigators most of whom have made significant contributions to academic medicine, industry and regulatory affairs in a short time.
Despite the key need for physician-scientists trained in clinical and translational research there are still few tangible options available that provide a broad-based curricular approach with an emphasis on study design and clinical pharmacology. Thus the CITP continues to play a major role in the development of the future leaders in translational research and will allow for the critical relationships between the bedside and bench to persist and thrive. It is that relationship which is the bedrock of the CITP and most important in the development of new therapies for human disease. In addition the CITP curriculum is serving as an educational platform worldwide for the development of Clinical Investigators.
Funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Pfizer, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc., the CITP is a cooperative effort between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Harvard-MIT Division of health Sciences and Technology.
