Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students
Abstract Introduction: Research participation during undergraduate years has a powerful influence on career selection and attitudes toward scientific research. Most undergraduate research programs in academic health centers are oriented toward basic research or address a particular disease focus o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866123005320/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797817382054395904 |
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| author | Laura James Tara Venable Andres Caro Jeffrey H. Moran Claire Nesmith Matthew A. Gannon Lawrence E. Cornett |
| author_facet | Laura James Tara Venable Andres Caro Jeffrey H. Moran Claire Nesmith Matthew A. Gannon Lawrence E. Cornett |
| author_sort | Laura James |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Introduction:
Research participation during undergraduate years has a powerful influence on career selection and attitudes toward scientific research. Most undergraduate research programs in academic health centers are oriented toward basic research or address a particular disease focus or research discipline. Undergraduate research programs that expose students to clinical and translational research may alter student perceptions about research and influence career selection.
Methods:
We developed an undergraduate summer research curriculum, anchored upon a clinical and translational research study developed to address a common unmet needs in neonatal nurseries (e.g., assessment of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome). Program topics reflected the cross-disciplinary expertise that contributed to the development of this “bedside to bench” study, including opioid addiction, vulnerable populations, research ethics, statistics, data collection and management, assay development, analytical laboratory analysis, and pharmacokinetics. The curriculum was delivered through three offerings over 12 months, using Zoom video-conferencing due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results:
Nine students participated in the program. Two-thirds reported the course enhanced their understanding of clinical and translational research. Over three-quarters reported the curriculum topics were very good or excellent. In open-ended questions, students reported that the cross-disciplinary nature of the curriculum was the strongest aspect of the program.
Conclusion:
The curriculum could be readily adapted by other Clinical and Translational Science Award programs seeking to provide clinical and translational research-oriented programs to undergraduate students. Application of cross-disciplinary research approaches to a specific clinical and translational research question provides students with relevant examples of translational research and translational science.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:52:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7f2248c603a48e0a689c4e842b6262c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-8661 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:52:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7f2248c603a48e0a689c4e842b6262c2023-05-29T09:05:39ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Clinical and Translational Science2059-86612023-01-01710.1017/cts.2023.532Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate studentsLaura James0Tara Venable1Andres Caro2Jeffrey H. Moran3Claire Nesmith4Matthew A. Gannon5Lawrence E. Cornett6The Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USAThe Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USADepartment of Chemistry, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USADepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USAThe Departments of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USACommunity Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USADepartment of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Abstract Introduction: Research participation during undergraduate years has a powerful influence on career selection and attitudes toward scientific research. Most undergraduate research programs in academic health centers are oriented toward basic research or address a particular disease focus or research discipline. Undergraduate research programs that expose students to clinical and translational research may alter student perceptions about research and influence career selection. Methods: We developed an undergraduate summer research curriculum, anchored upon a clinical and translational research study developed to address a common unmet needs in neonatal nurseries (e.g., assessment of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome). Program topics reflected the cross-disciplinary expertise that contributed to the development of this “bedside to bench” study, including opioid addiction, vulnerable populations, research ethics, statistics, data collection and management, assay development, analytical laboratory analysis, and pharmacokinetics. The curriculum was delivered through three offerings over 12 months, using Zoom video-conferencing due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Nine students participated in the program. Two-thirds reported the course enhanced their understanding of clinical and translational research. Over three-quarters reported the curriculum topics were very good or excellent. In open-ended questions, students reported that the cross-disciplinary nature of the curriculum was the strongest aspect of the program. Conclusion: The curriculum could be readily adapted by other Clinical and Translational Science Award programs seeking to provide clinical and translational research-oriented programs to undergraduate students. Application of cross-disciplinary research approaches to a specific clinical and translational research question provides students with relevant examples of translational research and translational science. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866123005320/type/journal_articleTeam scienceundergraduatetranslational researchcross-disciplinary researchcareer developmentbiomedical research |
| spellingShingle | Laura James Tara Venable Andres Caro Jeffrey H. Moran Claire Nesmith Matthew A. Gannon Lawrence E. Cornett Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students Journal of Clinical and Translational Science Team science undergraduate translational research cross-disciplinary research career development biomedical research |
| title | Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students |
| title_full | Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students |
| title_fullStr | Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students |
| title_short | Development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students |
| title_sort | development of a clinical and translational research curriculum for undergraduate students |
| topic | Team science undergraduate translational research cross-disciplinary research career development biomedical research |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866123005320/type/journal_article |
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