The Harvard program offers several types of didactic training. Although we make formal (for credit) Harvard University courses available to CRF fellows, we also feature nontraditional learning opportunities such as hospital based workshops and seminars which put students in close contact with prominent physician-investigators. We continue to adjust the balance between formal and experiential learning opportunities, as noted below in the question about "Changes or Modifications" to our program.
Summer Sessions (not for academic credit):
The Harvard CRF program arranges a summer seminar series for all fellows (6 weekly sessions). These sessions expose CRF fellows to a range of clinical research topics and approaches and feature speakers from faculty and industry. The speakers emphasize process of study design, as opposed to the content of their research to maximize utility to the students. The second half of each summer session is a journal club, where students develop their critical reading schools and lead discussion.
Harvard University Courses (may be for academic credit):
Fellows are also encouraged to consult with their mentors about Harvard University courses needed for their research projects. Popular classes include biostatistics, IRB training, scientific writing, physiologic investigation, the IRB approval process, survey methods and medical ethics. Additional sources for coursework include the Health Sciences and Technology program (a program offered jointly by Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). These courses are available to Harvard students for credit, and on an audit basis for non Harvard students.
Hospital-based workshops (not for academic credit):
It should be noted most fellows (and their mentors) feel a pressing need to quickly acquire specific skills required for their projects. Hospital based workshops and minicourses address this need very well. Hospital educational programs at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Children's Hospital Boston allow the CRF fellows to interact with residents, housestaff, and junior attendings.
"Clinical Champions" Series (not for academic credit)
The Harvard CRF program provided seminars called "Clinical Champions" featuring clinical investigators offering their perspectives on a variety of issues facing clinical investigators.
Summer Sessions for International CRF fellows (not for academic credit):
A variety of supplementation is available to Intl CRF fellows during the summer before they leave for Africa. Some are provided by Harvard HIV/AIDS programs, other from affiliated teaching hospitals. Project HOPE (HIV Online Provider Education) offers web conferencing technology permitting HIV clinicians in two location in Boston as well as around the world to participate in case discussion.
Catalyst Program at Harvard: Harvard Catalyst is a member of the NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Consortium and offers more than a dozen courses and training programs. Although geared primarily for postgraduates, Catalyst now offers two courses in particular to the medical students in the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Clinical Research Fellowship program.
- Harvard Catalyst "Introduction to Clinical Investigation"(ICI) (Optional)
This course is an intensive week-long introduction to the skills necessary to embark on a career in clinical research. A mixture of didactic lectures and workshops, will enable participants to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate data along the translational research continuum of T1 (first-in-human/proof of concept research), T2 (definitive clinical trials to change the standard of care), T3 (practice-based research), and T4 (population-based research).
- Harvard Catalyst "Introduction to Translational Medicine" (ITTM) (Optional)
This course is a two-week introduction the skills necessary to embark on a career in translational research, particularly how to bring an idea from the laboratory to first-in-human trials (so-called T1 translational research). This course focuses on the development of new drugs (small molecules and/or biologics), devices, and diagnostic tools. Case studies demonstrate the real workings of the principles and concepts discussed. Each attendee receives significant training in the pre-clinical development of novel targets and leads, clinical pharmacology, the regulatory process, and design of the first-in-human clinical trial.