The UCSF Medical School and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) have established a one-year mentored International Clinical Research Fellowship pilot program for medical students. This opportunity is based in Africa, and is ideal for second and third-year medical students considering international clinical research as a possible career path.

One of the fastest growing areas of interest among both UCSF and non-UCSF students is in the area of international research. UCSF has a very active international research infrastructure including an Institute for Global Health and Office of International Programs.

Our philosophy for this program is that we will only place students in international sites run on a daily basis by senior UCSF faculty, and which have a proven track record in training students, residents and fellows. One or more UCSF faculty must be on site at all times. Prospective students will be required to choose from one of the sites and PIs listed below. Students wishing to perform international research will be directed to contact their PI of interest from our list and submit a research proposal prepared with that PI that will be reviewed as part of the initial application.

Application

• DDCF Clinical Research Fellowship application
• International Application Form
• International Mentor Form

Mail transcripts and any other application materials directly to:

Cecily Hunter
185 Berry Street, Suite 5700
Box 0560
San Francisco, CA 94143-0560
Phone: 415-514-8021
Fax: 415-514-8150

Deadline

The Deadline for the one-year fellowships is January 18, 2008 for admission in Summer 2008.

Research Projects

Clinical Research Opportunities in Africa

UCSF has a large and growing clinical research infrastructure in Africa. Major collaborative projects have been established at sites in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe (see summary of relevant institutional research collaborations and opportunities for more details). Major areas of research interest include HIV, HIV and co-infections, malaria, and sexually transmitted infections. UCSF has been very active in the training of UCSF medical students interested in working in Africa. Over the last 5 years more than a dozen UCSF medical students have worked on UCSF sponsored projects in Africa, including 5 students as part of the DDCF program. Projects have included developing genotyping methods for tracking malaria parasites, immunologic correlates of clinical malaria and interactions between HIV and malaria.

View descriptions of research projects

Stipend & Benefits

This program will provide interested medical students with an opportunity to take one year off from formal coursework to perform mentored clinical research in Africa. The package will include a $27,000 stipend, up to $5,000 for international roundtrip travel from San Francisco, up to $5,000 for incidental expenses including health insurance, course fees, relocation, visas etc., as well as mentor stipends and supplementary funding for the following year.

Eligibility

Medical students from UCSF and other US medical schools who meet the eligibility requirements of the domestic Clinical Research Fellowship program will be eligible to apply for the International CRF program.

Requirements

Overall, we expect students to be at UCSF for July, August and some or all of September. We expect them to return to UCSF for some of May and all of June, such that they will concentrate their international work between September and May. Our international students will begin their fellowship in July and will continue to develop their project with their PI. In August they will take the Designing Clinical Research (DCR) course provided to all DDCF students. This course is a very popular component of our program and is well integrated into the fellowship year. The "homework" for DCR is the design of a research project, and many of the DDCF students use the course to refine and finalize the design of their project. The course provides instruction in developing a clinical research question and creating a concise protocol that includes a literature review, study design, subject recruitment and sampling, instruments and other measurement approaches, sample size, consent form, budget and timetable. Each student reviews and supports the work of colleagues. The course closely follows the textbook Designing Clinical Research, by S. Hulley and other UCSF faculty. Students also take a course called “Responsible Conduct of Research”. Trainees learn through case discussions how to identify and resolve common ethical dilemmas that arise in clinical research, how research on human subjects is regulated by the federal government, and what constitutes research misconduct. Trainees resolve the ethical considerations involved in the research protocol they develop in the Designing Clinical Research course. This course meets the NIH requirements for training in research ethics.

Timeline

• Official Start Date is July 1
• Instruction/Preparation Phase: July through Mid-Sept
• International Phase: Mid-Sept through April
• Return/Wrap-up Phase: May through June

Application Procedures

Application requirements for the International CRF include the following:

• All materials required for the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship application
• Online application with personal statement. Personal Statement must specify the mentor and project the applicant wishes to work with in Africa and must demonstrate understanding of and enthusiasm for the complexity inherent in a program of this type.
• Transcripts (professional school transcripts only, do not include undergrad transcripts)
• Dean’s Letter: the Dean should comment on your potential for scholarly achievement, elaborating, where appropriate, on such matter as scientific knowledge, performance as a student in independent study or in research-participation programs and ability to make sound judgments. In addition, the dean may describe pertinent personal characteristics such as perseverance, persistence in the face of obstacles, creativity, independence and motivation.
• Two letters of reference from persons (other than the mentor or co-mentor on this application or Dean) who are familiar with the applicant’s talents and abilities and could comment on the applicant’s promise and potential
• Research Plan Title (should not exceed 255 characters, including spaces)
• Research Plan Summary (should not exceed 250 words, or approximately 1/3 of a single spaced page)
• Research Plan (which is limited to 2,100 words or less or approx. three single-spaced pages. The plan should be divided into three sections: a) Research question, b) Background, and c) Study design) (You should work closely with your mentor on writing the research plan).
• Research Plan Citations (should not exceed 700 words, or approximately one single-spaced page)
• Mentor choice(s) (does not have to be from list provided on DDCF or PACCTR Web-sites)
• Mentor’s endorsement (and co-mentor’s if applicable)

International Application Form

International Mentor Form

DDCF links:

• Online Application Form
• Clinical Research Fellowship Program Homepage
• Preparing Your Application Package
• Application Process & Tips for Success
• FAQs