Research Training Programs
The DOM faculty members are actively involved in teaching and training young physician scientists, postdoctoral fellows, predoctoral students, and undergraduate students in research.
Clinical Investigator Pathway Heading link
The Department of Medicine is committed to an environment that fosters the development of future physician-scientists. Towards this end, the Clinical Investigator Pathway that allows residents to pursue training in internal medicine, with a strong emphasis on research, and a guaranteed position in a sub-specialty research fellowships. Research training is for three years, in any laboratory at the university. The Department of Medicine is a major biomedical research center, replete with rigorous and exciting opportunities for Physician-Scientist training. Research years consist of 80% protected time for research and 20% clinical time with one half day a week of clinic. During the last year of research, the Physician-Scientist is brought on as full-time faculty for the residency program.
NIH T32 Training Grant Heading link
The Department of Medicine holds Institutional Training Grants (T32) in the divisions of Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Medicine.
Division of Academic Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Heading link
Institute for Minority Health Research
CVD Epidemiology & Related Chronic Diseases in Minority Populations Training Grant
PI: Martha L. Daviglus, MD, PhD
This Training Program is designed to prepare the next generation of scientists to conduct research in the epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related chronic diseases in minority populations. Despite decades of research progress, the burden of CVD and related chronic diseases in the United States remains high. Moreover, there are persistent race/ethnic disparities in CVD and other chronic disease outcomes. The goal of this program is to generate a talented and well-trained group of pre- and postdoctoral (MD and PhD) researchers to improve understanding of the etiology and prevention of CVD and related chronic conditions in minority populations and to alleviate race/ethnic disparities in CVD and related chronic disease outcomes.
T32 Precision Lifestyle Medicine and Translation Research (PREMIER) Postdoctoral Training Program
The PREMIER training program for postdoctoral fellows at UIC harnesses the University’s vibrant academic environment, highly diverse faculty and student bodies, and substantial synergistic programs, infrastructure, and resources, to maximize its fellows’ ability to succeed in their paths towards independent lifestyle medicine researchers of the future. Precision lifestyle medicine, which integrates behavioral science with the mechanistic investigation and modern technology, affords the promise of providing precise, proactive, and personalized care for individuals with or at risk of multiple chronic conditions. At the same time, research on health behavior and behavior change that spans the spectrum of translation to humans (T1), to patients (T2), to practice (T3), and to population health (T4) is pivotal to achieve ultimate public health impact.
Clinical Leaders and Academic Scholars (CLASS), Research Track
The CLASS fellowship is designed to provide concentrated career preparation by combining mentoring, for-credit education and training, and practical experience on a substantive project in one of three tracks: Clinical Services Leadership (one year), Educational Leadership (one year), or Research (two years). The research track incorporates completion of a master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Science and preparation of a proposal for submission for a federally funded career development award. The track seeks to build competencies in the identification of clinical & translational research questions, literature review and critique, study design, best research practices, statistical approaches to study design and data analysis, scientific communication, translational teamwork, and community engagement. In some respects, this track is similar to a traditional clinical research fellowship. However, it differs in that fellows will be cross-disciplinary, meaning they may come from any clinical discipline. Second, they will participate in seminar series and mentoring activities with fellows in the clinical leadership and educational tracks, designed to foster essential competencies for career development.
Division of Cardiology Heading link
Training in Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Diseases
PI: Larry S. Tobacman, MD
Understanding the basis for the development of cardiovascular disease and the pathophysiological changes that come along with it is a prerequisite to translating innovative therapeutic approaches into the clinic and requires basic scientists and clinicians with a deep understanding not only for the physiology of the cardiovascular system but also an understanding for the cellular and sub-cellular basis of cardiovascular disease. These two groups must, but frequently do not, share a lingua franca, owing in part to their lack of a shared knowledge base and experiences. Therefore, the major goal of this training program is to provide an interdisciplinary research and training environment composed of clinical as well as basic science departments where qualified trainees can obtain in depth knowledge in all levels of cardiovascular research.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Heading link
Diabetes, Nutrition and Obesity Research Training Program
PI: Terry G. Unterman, MD
This NIH-sponsored program is designed to provide outstanding training opportunities in research related to diabetes, obesity and nutrition across a range of disciplines at UIC. The goal of this training program is to provide outstanding research training for individuals who aspire to a career in academic medicine and research focusing on diabetes and obesity. Research training opportunities are available across a range of disciplines, including laboratory-based, translational, clinical, behavioral/preventive and community-based research. The training faculty includes over 30 investigators at UIC that are actively involved in research related to diabetes, nutrition and/or obesity, including professors, associate professors and tenure track assistant professors. All training faculty members are independent investigators with strong research and training backgrounds and extramural funding. The diversity of the training faculty interests, affords the trainees flexibility in choosing preceptors and specific research projects. At the same time, there is significant complementary overlap of faculty research interests as reflected in collaborative research projects, grant funding and co-authored publications. Training programs are designed to fit the research goals of individual candidates. Trainees participate in research under the guidance of accomplished investigators and mentors.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Heading link
Molecular Training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
PI: Pradeep K. Dudeja, PhD
Total costs spent on digestive diseases in 2004 were $142 billion. Gl cancers and Gl infections (including viral hepatitis) accounted for a significant portion of these costs. The goal of this training program is to train MDs interested in gastroenterology and hepatology for careers in research of these areas that will ultimately lead to reduction in healthcare costs for digestive diseases and improvement in quality of life. UIC has a critical mass of MD and PhD scientists whose work focuses on diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. This group of researchers is highly interactive and has a distinguished record of training MD and PhD scientists in all aspects of investigative gastroenterology. The training environment offers a rich mixture of seminars, visiting professors, and conferences that allows for stimulating exchanges with the trainees. The research training offered is under the umbrella of gastrointestinal epithelial and hepatic pathobiology; specific categories include GI cancers, host-pathogen interactions and inflammation, and intestinal transport.
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Medicine Heading link
Pulmonary and Critical Care Post-Doctoral Research Training Program
PI: Steven Dudek, MD, ATSF
The division holds an active physician scientist T32 training grant from the NIH that supports an integrated program in either basic or clinical research. The grant supports five trainees per year and aims to develop a strong mentorship platform to support an intensive and diverse approach to formal scientific training for candidates who have a strong commitment to an academic career. The goal of this training program is to develop two integrated but separate pathways that provide integrated scientific training in “clinical trials, epidemiology, comparative effectiveness, and outcomes research” and in “translational approaches in cellular and animal models of inflammation.” The program emphasizes novel molecular approaches and personalized pulmonary medicine in an ethical and scientifically responsible environment and has a strong commitment to attracting individuals from under-represented minorities.