There is a demonstrated need to increase the number of outstanding investigators trained in clinical research, clinical epidemiology and health services research to address the health issues of women. The Boston University (BU) Interdisciplinary Women's Health Research Scholars Program will build upon the existing programs in women's health research to provide a model program to recruit, select, train and evaluate a group of junior faculty prepared to develop their own research careers and complete for independent extramural support. The BIRCWH builds upon the BU Program in Research in Women's Health, an interdisciplinary program that has promoted basic, translation, clinical, public health and health services research in women's health. The Boston University Center of Excellence in Women's Health has developed a novel junior faculty mentoring program, systems to support expanded clinical research on women's health and an intramural junior faculty outreach award. The BU BIRCWH Program is a structured and individualized program, building upon the research training strengths of the Master's programs in epidemiology and health services research at the Boston University School of Public Health, and the Boston University Clinical Research Training Program (CREST). The BU BIRCWH Program will recruit internal and external candidates who have completed their clinical training, with an emphasis on recruitment of minority candidates. The Program will address the needs of Basic Scholars, who have not had formal research training, and Advanced Scholars, who have completed a formal research-training program. All Scholars will have a primary mentor, who with the Program Director will guide the process of the training experience. Basic Scholars will spend part of the first two years completed a Masters in Epidemiology or Health Services Research. All Scholars will participate in a curriculum of research seminars including the BIRCWH seminar series, the CREST seminar series, and the Course for the Responsible Conduct of Research, as well as an individualized program of other seminars and training opportunities. All Scholars will work with a mentor on a research project. All Scholars will develop and submit a research proposal, in anticipation that all Scholars will complete the program with independent funding. A Core Database Research Laboratory Facility will provide resources to all Scholars for conducting their research. An external annual evaluation will assess the program, and result in continued improvements to strengthen the curriculum and Scholar experience.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 73 publications
