Investigative Medicine
2 Church Street South, Suite 113
http://medicine.yale.edu/investigativemedicine
Ph.D
Program Director and Director of Graduate Studies
Joseph Craft (joseph.craft@yale.edu)
Deputy Program Director
Eugene Shapiro (eugene.shapiro@yale.edu)
Professors Karen Anderson (Pharmacology), Joseph Craft (Internal Medicine; Immunobiology), James Dzuria (Emergency Medicine), David Fiellin (Internal Medicine; Epidemiology), Thomas Gill (Internal Medicine; Epidemiology), Fred Gorelick (Internal Medicine; Cell Biology), Jeffrey Gruen (Pediatrics; Genetics), Harlan Krumholz (Internal Medicine; Epidemiology), Eugene Shapiro (Pediatrics; Epidemiology), George Tellides (Surgery), Mary Tinetti (Internal Medicine)
Fields of Study
The Investigative Medicine program offers training for physicians in clinical departments who are interested in careers in clinical research. The program is designed to develop the broad knowledge base, analytical skills, creative thinking, and hand-on experience demanded of clinical researchers devoted to disease-oriented and patient-oriented investigation. The program provides the student with individualized experience encompassing formal course work and experience leading to a Ph.D. thesis under the supervision and mentorship of a graduate school faculty member. Students can undertake thesis work in a variety of disciplines. These include but are not limited to:
- Evaluating risk factors and interventions for disease using modern concepts in quantitative methods and clinical study design,
- Investigating the biochemical, physiological, and/or genetic basis of disease in a translational setting and/or laboratory.
Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
The course requirements for the doctorate program in investigative medicine are completion of six required courses plus two electives, either in laboratory-based patient-oriented research or clinically-based patient-oriented research. Most required courses are to be completed by the end of the first year of study. Before registering for a second year of study, students must have completed IMED 5630, Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research. Electives are often taken in the second year with the expectation that the courses will be completed by the end of the second year of study. To be admitted to candidacy, students must pass both a written and oral comprehensive qualifying exam (the prospectus examination) and submit a thesis prospectus that has been approved by their qualifying committee. To be eligible for the comprehensive qualifying exam, students must achieve a grade of Honors in two courses, have a minimum grade average of a High Pass, and have completed at least six courses. The remaining degree requirements include completion of the dissertation, writing of the dissertation, and its oral defense. It is expected that students will complete the program in three to five years. There is no foreign language requirement. The minimum required curriculum for each program of study is as follows:
Course Requirements
Laboratory-Based Patient-Oriented Research
| IMED 5625 | Principles of Clinical Research | 1 |
| IMED 5630 | Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research | 1 |
| IMED 5645 | Introduction to Biostatistics in Clinical Investigation | 1 |
| IMED 6635 | Directed Reading in Investigative Medicine | 1 |
| IMED 6680 | Topics in Human Investigation | 1 |
| IMED 9665 | Writing Your K- or R-Type Grant Proposal | 1 |
| Two discipline-based electives. Director of graduate studies approval required. | ||
Clinical-Based Patient-Oriented Research
| IMED 5630 | Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research | 1 |
| IMED 5661 | Methods in Clinical Research, Part I | 1 |
| IMED 5662 | Methods in Clinical Research, Part II | 1 |
| IMED 6635 | Directed Reading in Investigative Medicine | 1 |
| IMED 6680 | Topics in Human Investigation | 1 |
| IMED 9665 | Writing Your K- or R-Type Grant Proposal | 1 |
| Two discipline-based electives. Director of graduate studies approval required. | ||
For more information on the admissions process and course details please visit the Investigative Medicine Program website, https://medicine.yale.edu/investigativemedicine.
Courses
IMED 5630a, Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research Lauren Ferrante
This term-long course addresses topics central to biomedical research, including the ethics of clinical investigation, conflicts of interest, misconduct in research, data acquisition, and protection of human subjects. Practical sessions cover topics such as collaborations with industry, publication and peer review, responsible authorship, and mentoring relationships. Satisfactory completion of this course fulfills the NIH requirement for training in the responsible conduct of research. Permission of instructor required.
T 3:30pm-5pm
IMED 5661a, Methods in Clinical Research, Part I Eugene Shapiro
This yearlong course (taken in concert with IMED 662), presented by the National Clinical Scholars Program, presents in depth the methodologies used in patient-oriented research, including methods in biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, health services research, community-based participatory research, and health policy. Permission of instructor required. Permission of instructor required.
HTBA
IMED 6635a, Directed Reading in Investigative Medicine Joseph Craft
An independent study course for first-year students in the Investigative Medicine program. Topics are chosen by the student, and reading lists are provided by faculty for weekly meetings to discuss articles. Four sessions are required: dates/times by arrangement. Permission of instructor required. Consent of instructor required.
HTBA
IMED 9665a, Writing Your K- or R-Type Grant Proposal Eugene Shapiro
In this term-long course, students gain intensive, practical experience in evaluating and preparing grant proposals, including introduction to NIH study section format. The course gives new clinical investigators the essential tools to design and initiate their own proposals for obtaining grants to do research and to develop their own careers. The course is intended for students who plan to submit grant proposals (for either a K-type career development award or an R-type investigator-initiated award). Attendance and active participation are required. Permission of instructor required. (There may be spaces to audit the course.)
W 1pm-3pm