Doctoral programs to train future leaders in clinical and translational science

Area of Science:

• Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) education
• Doctoral training in translational research

Background:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has invested heavily in Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) education.
• A systematic investigation into the landscape of CTS PhD programs was lacking.
• Understanding the characteristics of these programs is crucial for future leader development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify institutions with existing or developing CTS PhD programs post-NIH CTSA funding.
• To compare programs established before and after CTSA funding.
• To detail the characteristics of newly developed CTS PhD programs.

Main Methods:

• A 2012 cross-sectional survey was administered to CTS program leaders at 60 CTSA-funded institutions.
• The survey focused on four key domains: program development, student demographics, curriculum, and research milestones.
• Data were collected on program structure and student enrollment.

Main Results:

• Twenty-two institutions had established CTS PhD programs, with 268 students enrolled; 13 were developing new programs.
• Newer programs were more likely to feature developed competencies and enroll medical school students, PhD-only students, and those in T1 translational research.
• Newer programs were less likely to include physicians or students engaged in clinical or T2 research.

Conclusions:

• CTS PhD programs exhibit both commonalities and significant variations in structure and student management.
• These differences may stem from the inherent diversity of translational science.
• The relative newness of CTS as a distinct academic discipline likely contributes to program variability.