Core Curriculum Courses
Certificate in Clinical Investigation (22 Credits)
List Index
Bioinformatics WorkshopIntroduction to Biostatistics
Clinical Trials Design and Analysis
Data Management for Clinical Research
Foundations of Clinical Research
Foundations of Epidemiology
Grant Writing and Scientific Journalism: Inspiration, Writing, and Education
Hypothesis and Protocol Design of Clinical Research
Molecular Biology and Genetics in Clinical Research
Principles of Clinical Pharmacology
Tri-Institutional Responsible Conduct of Research (on-line course)
Detailed List
Bioinformatics Workshop
(1 credit)
Instructor(s):
Lucy Skrabanek, Ph.D.
Email: las2017@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (646) 962-5634
Description:
This focus of this workshop is on web-based bioinformatics tools. At the end of the course, trainees will be expected to have a solid foundation in the use of the fundamental tools of bioinformatics and how they apply to clinical and translational investigation.
Introduction to Biostatistics in Clinical Research
(2 credits)
Instructors:
Madhu Mazumdar, M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Email: mam2073@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-1460
Yolanda Barron-Vaga, M.S.
Email: yob2003@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-1859
Description:
This course is an introduction to the fundamental statistical issues in the design of clinical research studies. Its primary emphasis is on understanding the design and analytic methods of clinical research from a statistical perspective. Lectures and discussions will focus on the following: exploratory data analysis; basic concepts of statistical analysis; construction of hypothesis tests and confidence intervals; the development of statistical methods for analyzing data; development of mathematical models used to relate a response variable to explanatory or descriptive variables; and an introduction to statistical analysis of microarray and genomic studies.
Clinical Trials Design and Analysis
(2 credits)
Instructor(s):
Roy Gulick, M.D., M.S.
Email: rgalick@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-4177
Martin Glesby, M.D., Ph.D.
Email: mag2005@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-7134
Timothy Wilkin, M.D., M.S.
Email: tiw2001@med.cornell.edu
Description:
This course will provide an overview of how to design, conduct, and analyze clinical trials. Completion of this course will lead to an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical trials related to the strengths and limitations of randomized clinical trials; theoretical and practical aspects of randomization, stratification, and blinding; challenges of designing and implementing single center and multi-center clinical trials; major issues in the analysis of clinical trials; role of clinical trials in the drug development process; and investigator’s roles and responsibilities in conducting clinical trials.
Data Management for Clinical Research
(1 credit)
Instructor(s):
Elizabeth Wood, B.S.
Email: eawood@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-4744
Jihad Obeid, M.D.
Email: jobeid@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-3485
Description:
This course is designed to familiarize individuals with computer technologies and procedures essential in current clinical research, and will cover practical topics such as creating research databases, safeguarding patient confidentiality, regulatory issues, data and file system security, data transfer over networks, and backup systems. In addition, it will cover basic concepts in medical informatics essential for data sharing including principles of database design, medical vocabularies, data standards, data warehousing, and Internet technologies.
Foundations of Clinical Research
(3 credits)
Instructor(s):
Alvin Mushlin, M.D.
Email: aim2001@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-3587
Heather Gold, Ph.D.
Email: heg2001@med.cornell.edu
Lisa Kern, M.D., M.P.H.
Email: lmk2003@med.cornell.edu
Description:
The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the methodological foundations for research involving human subjects, while gaining an understanding of core epidemiological concepts, theory and applications of commonly used biostatistical methods, and investigative methods of clinical interventions.Foundations of Epidemiology
(3 credits)
Instructor(s):
Patricia Cassano, M.P.H., Ph.D.
Email: pac6@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 255-6586
Description:
This course is designed to train students to conduct epidemiologic research of the highest quality. Through a combination of video-conferencing and live lectures and in-class questions/answers discussion sessions, students will learn how to evaluate research conducted by others and how to apply epidemiologic principles to health-related specialties including clinical medicine and health services. The course will provide students with an introduction to basic and intermediate epidemiologic methods to build the foundation for further work in epidemiology either as practicing epidemiologists or as sophisticated users of epidemiologic information.
Grant Writing and Scientific Journalism: Inspiration, Writing, and Education
(2 credits)
Instructor(s):
John Wagner, Ph.D.
Email: jawagne@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-6586
Description:
This course will focus on strengthening scientific writing skills. Students will develop and write a formal research proposal in an area of personal interest; write an article for a scientific journal; critically evaluate the merits of specific approaches to scientific problems and compose formal critiques; and develop an article that effectively presents scientific work to the general public.Hypothesis and Protocol Design of Clinical Research
(2 credits)
Instructor(s):
Phyllis Supino, Ed.D.
Email: phs2002@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-2118
Jeffrey Borer, M.D.
Email: frb7003@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-4637
Description:
This course will provide a conceptual framework for understanding the principles involved in hypothesis development and protocol design. At the completion of this course trainees will be able to distinguish between inductive research and the hypothetical-deductive model; explain the importance of pre-specifying hypothesis and measurement criteria in a research study; describe the characteristics of and differences between retrospective vs. prospective, and observational vs. experimental investigations; explain the importance of comparison groups for testing hypothesis about cause-and-effect; identify and explain the rationale for steps involved in initiating a hypothesis-testing study; construct conceptual and operational hypothesis; describe logical underpinnings/validity of alternative study designs that evaluate hypothesis; define the purpose and components of an institutional protocol; identify the characteristics of a well-written consent form; describe sources of data available to answer research questions; explain requirements for data collection and rules for documentation; define study aims and hypothesis in scientific manuscript; and construct methods, results, and discussion sections in the manuscripts from the study hypothesis.
Molecular Biology and Genetics in Clinical Research
(2 credits)
Instructor(s):
Yuan-Shan Zhu, M.D., Ph.D.
Email: yuz2002@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-8348
Neil Hackett, Ph.D.
Email: nhackett@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-5354
Description:
The aim of this course, composed of both lectures and workshops, is to introduce the following: basic concepts and principles of molecular biology and molecular genetics; basic technology of molecular biology in translational research; contemporary concepts and technology of molecular genetics and molecular biology as related to clinical research and clinical medicine. Topics will include the human genome, gene structure, gene expression, gene mutations, gene interference, gene cloning, gene therapy, and animal models of human diseases. Both basic and contemporary technologies will be covered, including DNA, RNA and protein isolation, DNA amplification, mutation detection, mRNA and protein determination, microarray, proteomics, and data base searching.
Principles of Clinical Pharmacology
(2 credits)
Instructor(s):
Marcus Reidenberg, M.D.
Email: mmreid@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 746-6227
Description:
This course is designed to present basic principles for understanding the rationale behind development of drug therapy with consideration of the factors involved in individual variability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenomics. Topics will include: dose-response, drug efficacy and potency, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, drug addiction, drug use in pregnancy, chemotherapy, and the principles behind drug-to-drug interactions.Tri-Institutional Responsible Conduct of Research (on-line course)
(2 credits)
Instructor(s):
Mary Simmerling
Email: mcs2006@med.cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 821-0612
Description:
This is a two-part course designed to heighten student’s awareness to ethical considerations relevant to conducting research. It will also inform trainees of federal, state, and institutional policies, regulations, and procedures, provide trainees with critical analysis and problem-solving skills for ethical decision-making. The first component is an eight weeks internet-based course offered in the fall term. The second part is offered during the summer semester.