This innovative, multifaceted postdoctoral program is highly tailored to the individual and provides support for 2-3 years. Each trainee is matched with at least two mentors from different specialty areas in cancer prevention and control.
Trainees receive the following training during the fellowship period:
Interdisciplinary Research Experience
- Exposure to cancer prevention and control issues from a multidisciplinary, translational perspective through coursework, clinical experience and research.
- Participation in a multidisciplinary research team.
- Non-MD trainees have the opportunity to collaborate with a clinician to become more familiar with the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.
- Intensive participation in at least one mentored research project.
- Hands-on experience with data analysis, focusing on statistical techniques suited to cancer prevention and control.
Ethics and Human Subjects Considerations
- Completion of certification in the ethical conduct of research in human subjects
- Instruction on how human subject considerations and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines affect study designs, consent forms and institutional review board (IRB) considerations.
- Preparation of an IRB submission and study consent form.
Grant Writing
- Completion of a grant writing course during the first or second year of training that includes:
- Preparation of a grant proposal.
- Participation in a mock NIH grant proposal review
- Revision and submission of the proposal based on reviewer feedback.
- Institutional pilot funds that can be completed during the training period are available.
- CTSI short courses and assistance in grant writing.
Publications and Presentation
- Collaboration with mentors on peer-reviewed manuscripts.
- Submission of first-authored publications.
- Participation in national conferences as an attendee and presenter.
Potential Courses
The specific nature of a trainee’s research experience will vary per his or her background, research interests and career goals. The purpose of this program is to give trainees experience in components essential to the success of a clinical researcher. Get a summary of the trainee core activities and optional individualized training experiences that a trainee may choose.
The CTSI was founded in 2007 and is the hub of the research academic network within the institution. The CTSI is supported in part by a Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1TR001420; PI: McClain) and provides a wide range of opportunities for trainees.
CTSI Translational Research Academy: The purpose of the Translational Research Academy is to provide directed learning opportunities for postdoctoral and early career faculty (Instructor and Assistant Professor) interested in conducting clinical/translational research. The Translational Research Academy provides education and leadership development training, research support services, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Scholars build additional networks and benefit from peer-to-peer mentoring by working closely with the small, diverse group of peers that are also participating in the program. There are twice-monthly Scholar Forum sessions with three themes: Research Process, Leadership/Personal Development, and Scholarly Communication. In addition, short courses and workshops are scheduled throughout the year to strengthen knowledge and skills in specific content areas, such as Clinical Research Design, Clinical Bioinformatics, and a K Award Writers’ Series.
Mentor Academy: The CTSI Mentor Academy is a formal, evidence-based, six-month didactic and experiential training program to enhance the mentoring skills of mid-career behavioral, clinical, and translational researchers.
Biostatistics Core: The Biostatistics Core provides investigators with clinical research design and interpretation expertise, including education in research design and analysis. The Biostatistics Core aims to expand the ability to meet statistical and methodological needs, particularly of early-career faculty; provide education in clinical research design with CTSA partners to meet local and regional needs; provide faculty expertise to catalyze development of novel tools and methods addressing barriers that impede clinical and translational research. Post-doctoral fellows throughout the institution can access this core free of charge.
CTSI Research Studios: The Research Studio is a structured format for investigators to receive critical guidance and feedback from experienced faculty from diverse disciplines. The model provides an integrated group-based approach that assembles research experts to provide support for investigators to develop, design, implement, and analyze various types of translational research projects at a specific stage of development, with the ultimate goal of improving and accelerating their research outcomes.
Trainees also have the option of taking selected courses or completing a Master of Science or certificate in Clinical and Population Translational Sciences.
Master of Science
The Master of Science (MS) degree in CPTS is co-administered by the Division of Public Health Sciences and the Wake Forest University Translational Science Institute. Students complete one full calendar year of coursework that emphasizes:
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
- Clinical health services
- Community research
Students also complete a thesis project of publishable quality that is closely aligned with the student’s interests and career objectives.
Students participate in a shared course with students in the Molecular Medicine and Translational Science (MMTS) program to develop an understanding of the spectrum of translational science.
Certificate
A certificate in Clinical and Translational Sciences is also available to doctoral students, post-doctoral trainees and faculty members at Wake Forest University or affiliated institutions.
Review the admission criteria and procedures for the Wake Forest University (WFU) Graduate School