The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) K30 established a Clinical Research Training Program(CRTP) to improve the number and quality of our clinical researchers. Its initiation strengthened UAB'sclinical research infrastructure and facilitated the development of a Master of Science in Public Health i(MSPH) in Clinical Research and a Vocabulary of Clinical Research Course (VCRC). Our program has been Iboth well-received, enrolling 320 trainees (i.e., 180 in the VCRC, 123 in the CRTP, and 17 in the MSPH),and successful; preliminary results indicate our trainees have greater clinical research involvement than non-trainees (e.g., grants submitted as PI/Co-PI, publications, presentations). With this application, we proposea two-tiered training program which emphasizes the CRTP certificate program (for those without substantialprotected time) and the MSPH in Clinical Research (for those with protected time), while maintaining the two-week, introductory VCRC. The CRTP has also been restructured into a one-year program, which allows formore individualized assistance, such as that provided by mentors. Our ability to continue to successfullyrespond to the needs of our trainees is the result of involvement from diverse, highly-motivated, andexperienced clinical researchers - including Larry W. Moreland, MD (Program Director) and members of theExecutive and Internal Advisory Committees. In addition, the K30 is fueled by the impressive participation ofour teaching faculty and mentors, who position our trainees to take advantage of UAB's outstanding researchenvironment. This environment includes well-established research programs, over $3 million in institutional 3ilot funding, a growing GCRC, and a Research Training and Career Development Core. The application tescribes UAB's environment by highlighting five areas of research and specific mentor/trainee relationships.It also describes how the K30 has catalyzed institutional support for clinical research, which has facilitatedthe development of resources and an increase in training grants and career development awards.
