Advanced Training in Clinical Research Certificate

Applications for the 2024-25 academic year are now open:

Applyby May 15, 2024

For questions, please contact [email protected].

The Advanced Training in Clinical Research (ATCR) Certificate is a one-year program intended for individuals who desire rigorous training in the methods and conduct of clinical research.

Through required coursework, students learn the methods to:

  • perform both observational and experimental clinical research;
  • apply clinical research methods to one or more projects; and
  • analyze, interpret and present their clinical research data.

Upon completion of the program, graduates receive a certificate of completion from UCSF in Advanced Training in Clinical Research. Graduates are poised to work in a variety of research settings, including universities, public health departments, foundations and private industry. (Note: The program does not provide instruction in laboratory investigation and is not intended for scholars who envision themselves working primarily in a wet laboratory.)

The 2023-2024 academic year will be based in person at our UCSF Mission Bay campus.

The ATCR Certificate program can be taken either as a stand-alone educational program or as a stepping stone to a more advanced degree program, such as the UCSF Masters in Advanced Studies Clinical and Epidemiological Research or the UCSF PhD in Epidemiology and Translational Science.

Bylaws for the Advanced Training in Clinical Research Certificate Program

Curriculum

Courses

ATCR Certificate students are required to complete 16 courses (28.5 units). In addition, students are encouraged to take one or more electives according to their interests.

Sample Course Schedule

 
Summer Clinical Research Workshop Fall Winter Spring

EPI 202 — Designing Clinical Research (2)

EPI 201 — Responsible Conduct of Research (0.5)

EPI 218 — Data Collection and  Management  for Clinical Research (1)

BIOSTAT 212 — Introduction to Statistical Computing in Clinical Research (1)

EPI 203 — Epidemiologic Methods (4)

EPI 204 — Clinical Epidemiology (3)*

BIOSTAT 200 — Biostatistical Methods for Clinical Research I (3)

EPI 220/230 — TICR Program Seminar for First-Year Master's and Certificate Program Scholars (1)

EPI 205 — Clinical Trials (2)

EPI 222 — Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities: What Every Researcher Should Know (1)

BIOSTAT 208 — Biostatistical Methods for Clinical Research II (3)

EPI 220/230 — TICR Program Seminar for First-Year Master's and Certificate Program Scholars (1)

EPI 212 — Publishing and Presenting Clinical Research (1)

EPI 214 — Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis (1)

BIOSTAT 209 — Biostatistical Methods for Clinical Research III (3)

EPI 220/230 — TICR Program Seminar for First-Year Master's and Certificate Program Scholars (1)

*ATCR Certificate students may opt out of EPI 204. Students who opt out of EPI 204 must take the equivalent of 3 units in another elective(s).

Research Products

In the TICR Program Seminar (EPI 220/230), scholars will present their research-in-progress several times during the year.

In Biostatistical Methods III (BIOSTAT 209) in the spring quarter, scholars conduct a statistical analysis of their data and give an oral presentation at the end of the term.

Professional Goals

The following activities are target accomplishments for all ATCR Certificate scholars during the year. Although the program does not formally monitor these activities, it provides encouragement and methodologic guidance to help students meet these objectives.

Interaction with Mentor and Career Development

Mentoring is an essential element of the program. Faculty provide methodologic guidance, and students are encouratged to meet regularly with a research mentor in their chosen subject area who reviews their progress and offers scholarly guidance.

  • We encourage students to meet with a mentor at least monthly to discuss research project specifics and career issues.
  • Consider getting involved in more than one project (e.g., if one involves primary data collection, the other could be secondary data analysis, meta-analysis, decision analysis or cost-effectiveness analysis).
  • Begin to attend regional, national and international conferences in the chosen research area.
  • Develop a five-year career plan.

Written Products

  • Review of a manuscript submitted to a journal (serve as co-referee with mentor).
  • Letter to an editor on a topic involving the chosen research area.
  • A systematic review of the selected research topic.
  • Abstract for a poster or oral presentation at a national conference.
  • Application for a small grant (e.g., UCSF intramural).
  • Manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal, ideally as first author.

Promotion of Best Practices in Clinical Research

  • Serve as an agent in local research and teaching environments to introduce perspectives and techniques learned in the ATCR Certificate program.

Info Session

See our last info session to learn more about Training in Clinical Research.