Summer Programs
The Institute for Translational Research (ITR) Summer Fellowship Program
The Institute for Translational Research (ITR) will be accepting applications for its Summer Fellowship Program; the overall goal of this program is to provide enriching experiences within ITR where fellows will gain an appreciation for the inner workings of large-scale interdisciplinary research studies. The 5-week fellowship training program includes (1) didactic sessions, (2) ITR shadowing/rotations, and (3) mentored independent research. Didactic sessions and rotations will take place over a 5-week in-person term. During this period, fellows will attend small-group seminars where they will receive training on current topics in Alzheimer’s disease, the various aspects of research study design, and the fundamentals of scientific writing and presentations. Further, fellows will shadow key study protocols, working with faculty and staff in the following areas: medical/functional exams, neuropsychological testing, consensus diagnosis, biological sampling, biomarker assays, genetic testing, and neuroimaging. Each fellow will be assigned a mentor and project; they will work with their mentor to execute the research project and develop a poster presentation (for HSC Research Appreciation Day as well as other state symposia for Alzheimer’s disease) of the findings/results. When possible and warranted, fellows will also assist with manuscript preparation for publication.
Learn more about the ITR Summer Fellowship Program.
MSTAR – Medical Student Training in Aging Research
Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) program for TCOM students administered by the Center for Healthy Aging (CHA) at UNTHSC. This is a paid summer research opportunity with a $1000/month stipend. The MSTAR-CHA program will provide TCOM students (who will have completed Year-I) an educational experience in geriatrics clinics and aging-related research, under the guidance of top experts in geriatrics and aging. The students will participate in Clinical shadowing in geriatrics that will be counted towards the TCOM Year-II preceptor requirement. The students will be introduced to research and academic experiences early in their training that they might not otherwise have during medical school. This is 6-week structured research, clinical preceptor in geriatrics, appropriate to their level of training and interests. Research projects are offered in clinical/basic/ translational or health services research relevant to older people. The scholars will do their training and research during the summer. The students will compete for a total of 6 awards.
Learn more about the MSTAR program.
Pediatric Research Program
A summer research program in pediatrics is available to rising, second-year medical students in conjunction with the Department of Pediatrics and Cook Children’s Medical Center. This four-week program provides an introductory learning experience on a wide range of pediatric-related research projects. Students participating in this program may qualify for stipends.
Learn more about the Pediatric Research program.
PRECISION Clinical Research Fellowship Program
The PRECISION Pain Research Registry offers a Clinical Research Fellowship Program for students beginning in the Summer following Year 1. The Summer Didactic component is presented in June, wherein fellows participate in general and small-group sessions on clinical research design and evidence-based medicine as they pertain to chronic pain and its management. They learn about various aspects of registry operations, including participant screening and recruitment, data collection, biospecimens collection and handling, institutional review board documentation, and strategic planning. Each fellow is assigned to a research team under the supervision of the Program Director to complete a research project during the following Fall and Spring semesters. Anticipated program benefits include a stipend for participation in the Summer Didactic component; complimentary textbook and materials; paid poster presentation at Research Appreciation Day; co-authorship upon publication of the team research project; and fellowship certificate at graduation upon completing research and all related requirements. The deadline to complete the online application is in January of Year 1, and competitive applicants are invited for an interview and selected by February. Please forward inquiries to the Program Director:
For more information, please contact:
John C. Licciardone, DO, MS, MBA, FACPM
Regents Professor and Richards-Cohen Distinguished Chair in Clinical Research, Department of Family Medicine
john.licciardone@unthsc.edu
Past Programs
Promoting Diversity in Research Training for Health Professionals (PDRT)
The racial and ethnic minority population in Texas surpassed the Anglo population in 2004 and is projected to increase substantially in the coming years. Projections for educational attainment for minorities, historically low because of socioeconomic and other factors, suggest continued disparity for college, graduate, and professional school enrollment. Admission of minority students into the doctoral study in biomedical sciences in Texas, and indeed in the nation, remains low despite population changes in Texas, the second-most populous in the country. Thus, there is a critical need to train a large number of health professionals to serve minority populations, not only in Texas but also at the national level.
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