Biomedical, Clinical and Translational Science Interdisciplinary Specialization: Program Description and Course Options

The goal of the Biomedical, Clinical and Translational Science Interdisciplinary Specialization (BIOMCLT-IS) is to prepare graduate and professional students to be actively engaged in the field of clinical and translational science through academic training and research. As defined by The Ohio State University Graduate School, a graduate interdisciplinary specialization (GIS) involves two or more graduate programs outside the student's home program. Completion of a GIS is noted on the student's transcript. The core course in this program focuses on the basic components of clinical and translational science, while the electives allow students to pursue topics across the other health sciences colleges for an interdisciplinary experience.

As a result of participation in the program, it is expected that students will:

Develop skills in designing clinical and translational research studies;
Apply statistical procedures to clinical and translational research problems;
Develop skills for the communication of the scientific concepts and research questions in one’s own discipline to experts in other disciplines and to the public at large;
Understand how to involve the community in clinical and translational research; and
Build interdisciplinary/intradisciplinary/multidisciplinary teams to study clinical and translational
research issues.

Application deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Curriculum Requirements

The BIOMCLT-IS requires a minimum of five courses.
- All students enrolled in the BIOMCLT-IS must take PUBHEPI 6412 Conducting and Communicating Research in Clinical and Translational Science. This is a 2-credit hour course offered each autumn semester by the College of Public Health. It is recommended, but not required, that this course be taken first.
- Students must take at least one course from each of the four Core Competency Clusters. The Competency Clusters are based on the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) Core Competencies for Clinical and Translational Research. There are a total of 14 competencies that have been grouped together to form four clusters.
Most of the participating colleges have internal procedures that are required to enroll in their courses, such as contacting the instructor. For most of these courses you will need to talk to the instructor before enrolling. All these courses have been approved by their department and/or college for inclusion in the BIOMCLT-IS.

Specialization Guidelines

Per graduate school guidelines, the BIOMCLT-IS require a minimum of 10 and no more than 20 semester credit hours of graduate level coursework.
A graduate interdisciplinary specialization involves two or more graduate programs outside the student's home program. Nine credit hours must be taken outside of the student's home program in at least three courses and at least two other programs. Thus, if you are a BSGP student, you must select at least three courses from the BIOMCLT-IS course menu that come from outside that curriculum. These courses can come from other programs in the College of Medicine or from other colleges.
Credit hours can include work already required as part of the student's degree program.
If there is a course that fits the competencies but is not listed here, it is possible to substitute it for a listed course. Contact the BIOMCLT-IS program administrator for more information.
When the student has completed the GIS program, the student must complete the GIS transcript designation form in GRADFORMS for final review. Once reviewed and approved by the GIS program and the Graduate School, the designation will be posted to the student’s academic record. See the above link for more information.

Questions? Contact the BIOMCLT-IS program manager at Stuart.Hobbs@osumc.edu or 614-685-5972

Apply for the Specialization through the Ohio State Graduate School

The Core Competencies

In 2008, The National Center for Research Resources and the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Education and Career Development Steering Committee developed national standards for core credentialing competencies for clinical and translational science. The overall goal was to create a competency-based education for training clinician-scientists that will define the discipline of Clinical and Translational Science.

The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) uses these Core Competencies to develop its foundation courses as well as evaluate trainees. There are a total of 14 competencies that have been grouped together to form four clusters.

Research Methods

Identify major clinical/public health problems and relevant translational research questions
Identify, interpret and critique literature and assess the state of knowledge regarding a problem
Know how to design a study protocol for clinical and translational research
Understand study methods, design and implementation
Use appropriate laboratory, clinical and population research methods
Understand the principles of the conduct of responsible research
Analysis, Statistics and Informatics
Be able to use appropriate statistical methods and conduct relevant analysis
Describe and make use of best practices for managing, protecting and analyzing biomedical and health information

Community and Communications

Understand the principles of community engagement in clinical and translational research
Navigate competently among divers populations and cultures
Be able to communicate scientific findings to your peers and to disseminate scientific knowledge to those outside your field, including other scientists, university administrators, policy makers and the public

Leadership and Training

Participate in cross-disciplinary training and mentoring
Demonstrate leadership and professionalism
Engage in translational teamwork