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Program guides researchers, seeks candidates As the College of Graduate Studies recognizes its second Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) graduates, a dynamic program prepares to fill its ranks.  The Clinical Curriculum Research Award (K30) program is an innovative program designed to produce highly skilled, creative and independent clinical investigators who upon completion of their training, can more effectively compete for funding. Sponsored through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for the NIH, this program uses the Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) program for the research training component and then builds upon that experience with the addition of a specialized seminar series mentorship and a track record of success.  “The MSCR program is well-suited to meet the clinical research training requirements of various subspecialty fellowship and training programs at the university,” said Thomas C. Hulsey, K30 associate program director and professor  of pediatric epidemiology. “Our graduates are highly successful as several have already received funding.”  The program guides health professionals in career development by providing extensive, multidisciplinary programs that utilizes mentors, standardized course work, graduate school oversight, annual student evaluations and other research expertise. Weighted heavily on statistics the program is open to physicians, pharmacists, clinical doctorate faculty, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists or other licensed specialists with clinical responsibilities. “We’re looking for people interested in a career in clinical research who have an idea of what they want to do but also want formal training that will lead to a master’s degree,” said L. Lyndon Key, M.D., director of MUSC Children’s Hospital and K30 Program director.   In fall 2001, the Clinical Curriculum Research Award (K30) admitted its first colleagues, which consisted of four faculty and two fellows. To complete the program, trainees must work with mentors to develop a full extramural grant proposal, which is responsive to an active request for applications (RFA). A unique feature of the program is that the mentors salary is funded up to a 5 percent effort. New to the program is more opportunities for communication and interaction. Each month, the K30 participants and mentors gather together for a luncheon. The time is spent discussing research progress and tabling ideas to improve and enhance mentorship training, according to Key. “So far, we’re very happy with the quality of students participating in the program,” Key said. “What’s nice about it is that people have looked at it as having an extra education that might help them move forward in their research career.” The deadline for applications to the Clinical Research Curriculum Award is May 23.  For more information, call 792-8449 or visit http://gcrc.musc.edu/k30 (K30 Award) and http://biometry.musc.edu/education/mscr.html (MSCR Program).   Pulmonary faculty praises program experience Pulmonology fellow Kristin Highland, M.D., applied to the Master of Science in Clinical Research Program on a hunch. She was finishing a three- year Pulmonology fellowship and was contemplating her next career move of either entering private practice or conducting research and academics.  In 2001, she had just returned from a national meeting and saw a sign in a hospital elevator calling for applicants to the new Master of Science in Clinical Research program under MUSC’s Department of Biometry and Epidemiology. She had just 24 hours to apply. Two years later, she is completing her work and research under the program and mentor Charlie Strange, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Her research interest focuses on interstitial lung disease, a specialty of Strange. “Dr. Highland has been phenomen-ally successful in taking homework projects from her classes and turning them into peer-review,  journal articles that are accepted at the highest level of internal medicine and pulmonary journals,” said Strange. “That is what’s unique about this program. Most other master’s level programs provide students with only  basic skills that are not enough to help them complete projects that are publishable. Through this program, Dr. Highland has completed projects that are good enough to make a name for herself.” Being an MSCR student has opened up new opportunities of collaboration with others across campus. Highland learned to work closely with epidemiology and statistics students. She particularly values the exposure to other master’s students who are physicians. “Not only did we learn about each other’s projects, but we gained a lot through discussion and a chance to see  things from different perspectives,” Highland said. “Our interactions together helped stimulate some good ideas.” Although Highland may not feel she has all the skills necessary to be a successful researcher, she believes she has a great start. “It’s a lifelong process,” Highland said, looking back at small, completed projects with a newfound expertise. “I have a better grasp of what constitutes a good study design, the value of statistical analysis and where to go if I need help.” Although Highland won’t complete the program until the end of this summer, she does plan to submit a K23 grant on her research findings through the MSCR program. This fall, she will begin a rheumatology fellowship combining both fields, pulmonary and rheumatology, as  it relates to interstitial lung disease.  Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.