University of Virginia Health System

Educational activities of the Kidney Disease & Inflammation Research Training Program include:

1. Formal Courses
   
   • Offered by the School of Medicine as part of the Multidisciplinary Training Program in Clinical Investigation (MTPCI) and/or the Public Health Sciences
     
     
2. Introduction to Clinical Investigation
   • Lecture series taught by faculty actively involved in clinical investigation, biostatisticians, ethicists, and others
     
     
3. Division of Nephrology Conferences
   • Weekly to biweekly conferences provide exposure to clinically relevant questions that may foster translational research
     
     
4. Seminars, Colloquia and Meetings
   • Attendance is relevant to the trainee's interests
   • The Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC), Beirne Carter Center for Immunology, and Specialized Center for Research in SLE sponsor regular seminars that focus primarily on inflammation/immune system
     
     
5. Development of Communication and Presentation Skills
   
   
6. Research Conduct & Ethics
   • Each trainee is required to take a course devoted to research ethics and the responsible conduct of research: School of Medicine BIMS 710, offered annually. This lecture series is in reading/discussion format and is presented by faculty from several departments within the Medical School.

Additional institutional requirements for trainees include Radiation Safety, Biohazards, Animal Welfare and Infection Control. These courses may be completed online through the University website.

Program Aims
The Multidisciplinary Training Program in Clinical Investigation (MTPCI) aims to foster, recruit, train, and prepare outstanding physicians and allied scientists in human subject-oriented research designed to clarify the nature of homeostatic mechanisms operative in health, and to elucidate pathophysiologic mechanisms that cause or sustain disease.

This non-degree course embraces all modalities of hypothesis-based, scientifically valid, cutting-edge clinical research. In addition, the expectation of the training program is to provide clinical investigators with experience and expertise to conduct independent clinical investigations as a substantial component of their careers.

Target Audience
The MTPCI targets post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty (MD and PhD) who recognize the potential benefits of a sound didactic experience and high quality mentoring support, but who may not wish to enter a graduate program.

Program Flexibility
MTPCI trainees may choose to pursue a Certificate of Clinical Investigation (requiring successful completion of four core curriculum courses plus electives) or to participate in a more limited didactic program of auditing appropriate courses.

• Introduction to Clinical Investigation
• Biostatistics
• Fundamentals of Epidemiology
• Research Ethics

Candidates must apply to the MTPCI program. Once accepted, a Mentoring Committee is selected that includes two senior faculty members and one member from the MTPCI Advisory Committee. All MTPCI trainees are provided the same mentoring support.

Concentrations are available in:

• Clinical Investigation & Patient-Oriented Research
• Informatics in Medicine

Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is an interdisciplinary 42-credit professional degree designed to provide healthcare and other professionals with an understanding of the public health sciences, knowledge, and skills for use in healthcare management, population-based research, and the community practice of public health. Graduates are prepared for roles in public and regulatory agencies, profit and not-for-profit health agencies, and health services research.

Concentrations are available in:

• Generalist: Practice & Research
• Health Policy, Law, and Ethics

In addition to course work, each student must complete a practicum and a culminating experience. Practical knowledge and skills are considered an important component of a public health professional degree program; students must apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their courses of study.

Learn more at the Public Health Sciences site.

Trainees are required to attend weekly conferences in the Division and Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR) and those of interest in other departments where there are comprehensive discussions of immunology, pathology and physiology pertinent to nephrology.

The Division of Nephrology Conferences provide opportunities to:

• learn about current research in the Division and CIIR
• identify opportunities for collaboration
• become conversant with the scientific literature
• meet and interact with distinguished renal scientists

The annual Department of Medicine Research Day is devoted to presentation by residents and fellows in training. There are poster presentations and a plenary session with a keynote speaker.

Trainees are encouraged to submit abstracts and present their work at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology or appropriate annual basic science meetings.

Trainees' research results are used as a vehicle to develop the skills needed for clear and concise presentation of scientific information in verbal and written formats.

Presentation & Writing Skills
During the research training period, trainees have ample opportunities to present data in an education forum such as Renal Grand Rounds, Research in Progress, lab meetings or at a national meeting. 

Presentations are prepared jointly with the mentor and rehearsed. Scientific writing skills are supervised by the preceptor and the Executive Committee. Mock grant writing and local grant submission provide critical experience in establishing good grantsmanship skills.

Faculty Development
Trainees are required to attend selected lectures on faculty development. This program for junior faculty is open to fellowship trainees. Lectures on early faculty development, teaching skills, grant writing, and presentation skills are taught by experienced academicians.