The Boston University Medical Center General
Clinical Research Center Summer Student Research Program
Goals
of Program:
To introduce and support medical and dental students
to patient-oriented clinical research in a structured, mentored setting
during one summer. This program is fully integrated with the overall BUSM Summer Research Program. Students who arrange to work on projects within the GCRC will need to meet the requirements for both the overall summer program and the GCRC summer program (outlined below).
What is the GCRC?:
The BU General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) is one
of a national network of 77 NIH-funded centers located within academic
medical centers whose mission is to provide a research infrastructure for
clinical investigators. These resources include specialized research
nurses, research dieticians, biostatisticians, computer hardware and
software systems for data management and analysis, and sophisticated
laboratories vital for both inpatient and outpatient research. GCRCs are
optimal settings for studies of drug therapeutics, clinical research,
translational research, and bidirectional interaction between clinical and
basic investigators. The BU GCRC in particular has a decades-old record of
outstanding achievements. The GCRC is an ideal setting for medical
students to gain experience in clinical investigation.
The BU GCRC is utilized by investigators from a wide variety of disciplines including Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Neurology, Obstetrics, Oncology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Dentistry, and other specialties.
Where is the BU
GCRC?:
The BU GCRC is
located on the 8th floor of the Evans building.
Summer Research Projects:
We
seek projects that are feasible for students and for which they will have
good contact with mentors. We also encourage ½ day clinical shadowing each
week where appropriate (but not more). Students are expected to be able to
write an abstract/poster of their experiences after the summer session is
complete.
GCRC Summer Research Program Requirements:
• Complete all requirements as per BUSM Summer Research Program,
including attendence at research seminars, submission of written report at
end of summer, and participation in Student Research Day.
• Attendence at
2 one-hour summer meetings on the GCRC with Program Directors.
•
Presentation of research to the GCRC Advisiory Committee in the Fall
Semester following their summer project.
• Participation in scheduled GCRC
summer student activities with nursing staff and other GCRC personnel
(only a few such events such as phlebotomy instruction and and a day-long
observation on the research floor).
For more information on this
program, please contact:
Peter A. Merkel, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Program
Director BU General Clinical Research Center
pmerkel@bu.edu
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