Translational Research
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Faculty Liaison
Learning Goals
The Program has designed the curriculum described below for students interested in translational research that will extend their time to degree by approximately two semesters. In addition to the core curriculum, students wishing to obtain a Graduate Specialization Transcript Designation in Translational Research must take the curriculum outlined below, because those wishing to conduct cutting edge translational research must go beyond the material in the core courses and master additional information that is more clinically related. The OSU College of Medicine has all the resources necessary to provide this specialized training. First, there are many excellent faculty members at OSU with expertise in clinically related areas that can provide several highly specialized courses and seminars in which students can obtain this advanced level of training. Second, the independent study courses in Human Medical Science (IBGP-7601) and Human Pathobiology (IBGP-7631) provide a unique resource that covers clinically related materials for all the major organ systems. However, students will take only those that relate most closely to their dissertation research. They will be guided in the most appropriate choices of these courses, independent studies, and seminars by their dissertation advisors, dissertation advisory committees and the Translational Research Liaison.
2. Course Requirements
Students are required to satisfy all of the Biomedical Sciences course requirements. Most of the core curriculum courses are taken by students during the first two years. These provide an excellent basis for investigating human disease. In addition to the Biomedical Sciences core curriculum, for a student to receive the transcript designation in "Translational Research," he/she must complete the following:
Elective Courses
For a student to obtain a Graduate Specialization Transcript Designation in Translational Research, (s)he must take at least one course from the list below that are relevant to the organ system or biological process most closely related to his/her dissertation research. These are in addition to those listed above that are required for all students in Translational Research. A student will choose courses to design a customized curriculum in consultation with the dissertation advisor, dissertation advisory committee, and the Liaison for the Translational Research area of research emphasis.
- IBGP-7601 Independent Studies in Human Medical Science (2 credits)
- IBGP-7602 Independent Studies in Medical Biochemistry (2 credits)
- IBGP-7603 Independent Studies in Human Neuroanatomy (2 credits)
- IBGP-7604 Independent Studies in Human Neurophysiology (3 credits)
- IBGP-7605 Independent Studies in the Human Cardiovascular System (2 credits)
- IBGP-7606 Independent Studies in the Human Respiratory System (2 credits)
- IBGP-7607 Independent Studies in the Human Urinary System and Body Fluids (2 credits)
- IBGP-7608 Independent Studies in the Human Gastrointestinal System (2 credits)
- IBGP-7610 Independent Studies in Human Blood and Lymphatic Tissues (1 credit)
- IBGP-7611 Independent Studies in Human Immunological Mechanisms (2 credits)
- IBGP-7612 Independent Studies in Human Medical Nutrition (2 credits)
- IBGP-7613 Independent Studies in Human Endocrine and Metabolic Systems (2 credits)
- IBGP-7614 Independent Studies in the Human Reproductive System (2 credits)
- IBGP-7631 Independent Studies in Human Pathobiology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7632 Independent Studies in Human Microbial Mechanisms (3 credits)
- IBGP-7633 Independent Studies in Human Drug Mechanisms (4 credits)
- IBGP-7634 Independent Studies in Human Infectious Diseases (3 credits)
- IBGP-7635 Independent Studies in Cardiovascular Pathobiology (4 credits)
- IBGP-7636 Independent Studies in Respiratory Pathobiology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7637 Independent Studies in Renal Pathobiology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7638 Independent Studies in Endocrine Pathobiology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7639 Independent Studies in Gastrointestinal Pathobiology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7640 Independent Studies in Reproductive Pathobiology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7641 Independent Studies in Human Neuro-Pathobiology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7642 Independent Studies in Psychiatry (1 credit)
- IBGP-7643 Independent Studies in Hematology Pathobiology (2 credit)
- IBGP-7644 Independent Studies in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Pathobiology (1 credit)
- IBGP-7645 Independent Studies in Ophthalmo-Pathobiology (1 credit)
Optional Courses:
- Anatomy-6193 Individual Studies in Anatomy (1-5 credits)
The goal is to provide a fundamental understanding of the structure of the human body using a systems-based approach and a lecture-laboratory format to build a conceptual framework of the body that will serve as the foundation for subsequent study of pathobiology. A key component of the laboratory exercises will be a comparison of anatomical structures seen in the laboratory with the appearance of those structures in images obtained using conventional radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance. This will provide an anatomical context of the body for understanding microscopic and molecular levels of normal anatomy and of disease processes.
- Pathology-7793.11 Individual Studies in Pathologic Anatomy (3-18 credits)
The student will participate in one autopsy, including the prosection, preparation of tissues for microscopy, review of histological slides, completion of autopsy report, and presentation at the gross autopsy conference.
- Radiology-7193.01 Individual Studies in Radiology (1-6 credits)
The student will be assigned to an OSU faculty clinical radiologist who is a subspecialist in an area closely related to the student’s dissertation topic (e.g. neuroradiology, musculoskeletal radiology). The student will attend 10 sessions at which the radiologist interprets images (MRI, CT, X-ray, and other special techniques) on current clinical patients. Appropriate reading materials will be provided.
Dissertation Research
To be eligible for this graduate specialization transcript designation in Translational Research, the student must have selected an advisor and have defined a dissertation research project that has a translational component to it. Students must register each semester for dissertation research by registering for IBGP 8999.
Program Rationale Statement
The fundamental mission of academic medicine is the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge to improve health care, and the translation of information derived from basic biomedical research into clinical applications is essential for this mission to be accomplished. The importance of this is highlighted by the NIH declaring translational research to be a very high priority in its Roadmap for future funding of research (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/ ).
Required Courses
- PH-795 (TBD in semesters- course not yet converted to semesters) Seminar addressing varying topics in clinical and translational research; literature reviews, guest speakers, discussion of issues, student research presentations. This course is graded S/U.
- IBGP-7602 Independent Studies in Human Histology (2 credits)
- IBGP-7603 Independent Studies in Human Pathologic Mechanisms (2 credits)
- IBGP-7700 Introduction to Clinical Aspects of Translational Research (1 credit)
Through lectures and small group sessions, this course will provide the basic information needed to begin work on hospital wards and in the ambulatory environment for graduate students with an interest in translational research.
- One Clinical Experiences course of IBGP- 7701-7773 Clinical Experiences for Students in Translational Research
This course will provide graduate students a clinical experience on hospital wards and in the ambulatory environment in a clinical area related to his/her dissertation research. The student will learn about the clinical presentations of diseases, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and social interactions in the clinical environment. Understanding these issues will assist the student to function as a translational researcher by performing experiments to generate information at the interface between basic and clinical research, and to facilitating the transfer of information in a bidirectional manner between the clinical and basic research environments.
