Clinical Researcher Academy

New Academy helps faculty explore clinical research careers

Junior faculty members and trainees interested in moving toward a career in clinical and translational research can get a boost from a new program at UT Southwestern.

“The Clinical Researcher Academy is designed to launch the next generation of clinical researchers by providing training in core research competencies along with the career mentorship and coaching needed to become independent scientists,” said Heidi Jacobe, M.D., M.S.C.S., Professor of Dermatology and Associate Dean of Clinical Research Development.

two researchers at microscope

The Academy consists of two components: the Clinical Researcher Catalyst program, designed to guide first-time clinical researchers who need the skills to get started and develop funding portfolios, and the K to Research Independence program, intended for researchers who have already obtained a career development award or package and are pursuing a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant or its equivalent. Career development awards, such as NIH K awards, support new researchers’ acquisition of skills and practice to launch a career in science. In contrast, R01 awards fund larger scientific projects and are not focused on training.

The Catalyst program, which opened in January, is aimed at trainees and faculty new to UTSW who want to get started in clinical and translational research. The program is modular and largely virtual, so that participants can work the training into their schedules without it interfering with their clinical work.

Skill development opportunities include group coaching sessions and monthly lectures on topics such as understanding how NIH funding operates and how to work with the Institutional Review Board, the body that reviews research to ensure that text subjects are protected from harm and their rights are preserved. Other key elements of the Catalyst program are workshops on scientific writing and grant writing.

“There are a lot of individuals who are research-curious, but they don’t know where to start or they don’t have mentoring teams who can help them; the Catalyst program can help these individuals,” said Lucy Palmer, Ph.D., Program Manager for the Clinical Researcher Academy.

The K to Research Independence program, which begins this fall, is for individuals who have already obtained a career development award or other support for research startup and want to take the leap to an R grant. It includes career and peer mentoring, expert feedback on research plans, accountability tools, executive coaching, an intensive grant-writing workshop, and networking opportunities. It also offers assistance in administering the K grant participants have already received.

“The K to Research Independence program longitudinally supports individuals through a critical point in their career as they transition to research independence,” Dr. Jacobe said.

Ultimately, both programs will benefit UT Southwestern as a research institution.

“Our long-term vision is to develop multidisciplinary researchers through the career life span via technology driven, individualized, and holistic education and development programs. These programs, the first to offer an integrated approach, are a big step toward this goal,” Dr. Jacobe added.

Participation in the Catalyst program is free, and no application is necessary. Participation in the K to Research Independence program also is free, but an application is required.

“We are grateful to the Office of Clinical Research and the UT Southwestern Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program for providing the support for this initiative,” Dr. Jacobe said.

The K to Research Independence application must be completed by June 30.

Dr. Jacobe holds the James N. Gilliam, M.D. Chair in Dermatology.