OBJECTIVES

The objectives for this course are for participants to:

• acquire skills for designing and interpreting clinical research;
• produce a complete clinical research protocol, including background, sampling, measurements, and data analysis;
• help others in the class to develop these skills and protocols; and
• have, over the years, a multiplier effect by teaching these skills to others.

PREREQUISITES

• Must be a dental, medical, nursing, or pharmacy student, or be serving as a clinical trainee in a residency program.
• Must provide a research question and the name of a mentor with whom they will work.
• Proficiency with word processing software, biomedical literature searchnig with Pubmed, and reference management software (Endnote, RefWorks or other software).

FACULTY & STAFF

FORMAT

Both an in-person and online version of the course are offered. The online version will feature the exact materials as the in-person version, with content being delivered through online recordings of the weekly lectures as well as online web conferencing for small group discussion sections. The online version also features the same access to course faculty for discussion and questions as the in-person version.

1. Lectures: Mondays and Wednesdays: 9:00 - 10:15 am, August 1- 22. Lecture recordings will be online later the same day. To determine if you have sufficient bandwith to view online lectures, please visit our demonstration site.
   
   
2. Small Group Sections:
   A. In-person: 10:30-Noon, following the lectures each day
   B. Online: Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:00 - 6:30 pm (Pacific Time). Note: A high-speed internet connection is required.
   
   
3. Final Peer Review Session: Wednesday, August 29

All course materials and handouts will be posted on the course's online syllabus.

TEXTBOOK

Designing Clinical Research by Stephen B. Hulley, MD, MPH et al. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 3rd Edition. 2007. UCSF call number: R853.C55 D47. This text book will be available on 2 hour reserve at the library

Books may be purchased either through the publisher or a variety of commercial venues (e.g., Amazon.com).

GRADING

Students are expected to attend all lectures and small groups with only ONE excused absence permitted. Participation in small groups, timely completion of reading assignments and problems sets, and final submission of a completed protocol are minimum requirements for a passing grade (Honors-Pass-Fail option only).

Students who satisfactorily pass all course requirements will receive a Certificate of Course Completion.

ENROLLMENT

Please apply early as space is limited. Applications are due: June 19, 2012.

APPLICATION

Note to Residents: Epi 150.03 is offered free of charge for UCSF residents. Support for residents is provided by the CTSI Resident Research Training Program.

Note to Students: UCSF medical students who are registered and paying tuition to UCSF School of Medicine for summer quarter 2012 will have these fees waived.

If you are not a resident or a student, please apply for EPI 202.

For scholars taking the online version: Partial scholarships may be available, upon justification, to scholars residing in countries with low income or lower middle income economies as defined by the World Bank. If you believe you are eligible for a scholarship, please send a justification of less than one page to Olivia DeLeon at olivia@epi.ucsf.edu. In the justification, include the country in which you reside, your current income, and your access, if any, to educational funds from local institutions. Please also send your curriculum vitae (CV). Note that the scholarship does not include cost of textbook, any software, or any local costs associated with accessing a high-speed internet connection.