SOM Graduate Education Office
Paul MacDonald
Martin Snider
Robert Petersen
Monica Montano
George Dubyak
Diana Ramirez-Bergeron
Joseph Williams
Deborah Noureddine
Malana Bey
Dan Korgan
From Discoveries to Cures
Seeds of Discovery
The Ph.D. White Lab Coat Ceremony
76 students entering 11 different programs
57 % female, 43 % male
11 different countries (33 %)
36 % from Ohio, 11 % from CWRU
From Discoveries to Cures
Guiding Principles for Graduate Education
preparing students for success as future leaders in the rapidly
changing biomedical research environment of the 21st century.
• an interdisciplinary, concept-driven curriculum rather than content-driven
• approaches that stimulate active interchange of ideas among students and faculty
• fosters collaboration among students and faculty…safe learning environments
• students and faculty as colleagues
• independent study, self-directed learning, and life-long learning skills
• a professional skill set beyond the academic research profession
From Discoveries to Cures
Guiding Principles for Graduate Education
preparing students for success as future leaders in the rapidly
changing biomedical research environment of the 21st century.
Students develop a set of core research competencies:
• Broad foundational knowledge of discipline,
depth of knowledge in their field
• Interdisciplinary knowledge of experimental methods
• Think and communicate clearly, oral and written
• Plan and execute experiments
• Read, critically evaluate, and integrate scientific literature
• Ability to think creatively and acquire creative problem solving skills
From Discoveries to Cures
Ph.D. Graduate Programs at CWRU
Biochemistry
Tracks: RNA Biology
Structural Biology & Biophysics
Neurosciences
Tracks: Developmental Biology
Bioethics
Pathology
Tracks: Cancer Biology
Exp. Pathology
Immunology
Mol. Cell. Basis of Disease
Biomedical Engineering
Cell Biology
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Genetics
Tracks: Developmental Biology
Molecular Biology and Microbiology
Molecular Medicine
Molecular Virology
Nutrition
Pharmacology
Tracks:Cancer Therapeutics,
Molecular Pharmacology,
Membrane Structural Biology,
Translational Therapeutics
Physiology and Biophysics
Systems Biology & Bioinformatics
From Discoveries to Cures
SOM Ph.D. Entry Routes
1. Biomedical Sciences Training Program – BSTP
2. Medical Scientist Training Program – MSTP
Dual-degree – M.D./Ph.D.
3. Direct Admission to programs
From Discoveries to Cures
PhD: Biomedical Sciences Training Program
Students enter together,
then earn a PhD in one program
First semester: cell & molecular
biology
Lab rotations with prospective
advisors
From Discoveries to Cures
PhD: Biomedical Sciences Training Program
Over 200 faculty
advisors
Smaller labs with
individual attention
From Discoveries to Cures
Typical Progress in Biomedical PhD Program
First and Second Years: Initial Recruit
coursework, grades
rotations
selection of thesis advisor
At the end of the second year:
Candidacy Exam = Qualifier
Third Year, plus: Doctoral Candidate
publish journal papers
fellowships
go to conferences
thesis and oral defense
career goal-setting
End of Fifth Year: Graduate and Go On
From Discoveries to Cures
CWRU MSTP
NIH funded Medical Scientist Training Program, 1956
2 years medical school + 4 years PhD + 2 years clerkships
Accept about a dozen students/year
From Discoveries to Cures
Master Programs at CWRU SOM
MS in Anesthesia
MS Genetic Counseling
MS Applied Anatomy
MS Public Health Nutrition
MS in Biochemical Research
MS Coordinated Dietetic
MS in Biochemistry
MS in Pathology
MA in Bioethics
MS in Pharmacology
MS in Engineering
MS in Medical Physiology
MS in Clinical Research
MS Degree in Translation Bioinformatics
MS Environmental Health Science
JD/MS in Biochemistry
MS in Biostatistics
MD/MS Biomedical Investigation
Master of Public Health (MPH)
MD/MA in Bioethics
From Discoveries to Cures
SOM Graduate Students, Steady State 2013
SOM PhD students
SOM Masters students
n
%
n
%
Total
348
100
535
100
URM
36
10.3
58
10.8
Female
179
51.4
309
57.8
Male
169
48.6
226
42.2
Citizen
272
78.2
466
87.1
Foreign
76
21.8
69
12.9
From Discoveries to Cures
Ph.D. Time to Degree and Publications
2002-2007
2008-2013
ave TTD
5.7
5.5
ave # pubs/program
103.1
109.4
# pubs/grad
3.8
3.1
Ave primary pubs/program
47.9
54.7
primary pubs/grad
1.7
1.5
From Discoveries to Cures
CWRU Institutional Training Grants
~ 7 mil in annual total costs, 70 predoc slots, 33 postdoc slots
Training in Geographic Medicine & Infectious Diseases
Visual Sciences Training Program
Case Urology Translational Research Training Program (CUTRTP)
Training in Investigative & Molecular Dermatology
Metabolism Training Grant
Molecular Medicine Training Program
Cancer Biology Training Grant
Combined Training Program in Digestive Disease Sciences
Training Program in Musculoskeletal Research
Integrated Engineering and Rehabilitation Training
Immunology Training Program- Predoctoral
CWRU Nephrology Training Grant
Cardiovascular Research Training Program (CRTP)
Interdisciplinary Biomedical Imaging Training Program
Predoctoral Training in Neurosciences
From Discoveries to Cures
Summer Research Internships
8-10 wk lab research
Science, career seminars
poster session
$3,500 stipend
Travel, housing
About 80 students
Deadline Feb1
From Discoveries to Cures
Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program
NIH funded program to prepare for graduate school
One year in dynamic research lab
Math or science courses
GRE workshop and practice sessions
From Discoveries to Cures