Graduate Program in Clinical Science

The Graduate Program in Clinical Science provides advanced education for health care professionals at UTMB who wish to conduct research in human subjects and populations. A growing national emphasis on translational research has increased the need for researchers with this career goal. Scientific investigations in humans are essential for understanding human biology and for advancing medicine and human health. This multi-disciplinary graduate program leads to a Ph.D. or M.S. degree. It has graduated 69 students, and 10 students are currently enrolled.

To be eligible to enroll in this program, both the health professional student and their mentor should be employed by UTMB. Introductory courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, and research design and methods are required, as well as a seminar course. A Course Advisory Committee for each student guides the choice of other prescribed courses and electives. Additional course work and original research experience is provided within four specialized tracks.

Clinical Science Program Administration:
The Program is offered and administered by the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health (PMCH) with partial support from the Institute for Translational Sciences (ITS) and UTMB’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health. For more information, contact the ITS Education Office or PMCH.

Clinical Science Program Tracks

Clinical Investigation Track

This track emphasizes patient-oriented research, including understanding and application of basic biological sciences, laboratory methods used in clinical research, biostatistics, epidemiology, ethics in clinical investigation, design of clinical studies, and new drug development. Graduates will be equipped to translate basic science knowledge to the development of new therapeutic and preventive approaches. This includes research into basic mechanisms of disease and clinical trials of new therapies

Health Services Research Track

This track emphasizes methods for assessing and improving the delivery of effective and cost efficient health care, with the aim of enhancing disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Advanced education leads to proficiency in biostatistics, clinical epidemiology and survey research, health policy and management, design of observational and evaluative studies, and health care economics. Graduates learn how the organization, delivery, and financing of health services influence factors such as costs, health outcomes, access to care, and patient satisfaction.

Biostatistics Track

This track emphasizes statistical and mathematical analysis of biomedical data. Graduates will be able to design and analyze observational and experimental studies. Doctoral-level biostatisticians are expected to have knowledge of a wide variety of analytic methods, a deep understanding of the rationale for the use of the methods, and the ability to either employ or develop new methods. Through a sequence of courses, students learn the theory and methods of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health services, and social and behavioral science.

Health Informatics Track

This track emphasizes the opportunities posed by the dramatic increase in health care information and its associated technologies. It reflects the increase in large informational databases such as electronic medical records, and their great potential for analyzing stored information for research on improving human health and delivery of cost-effective medical care. Several courses in health information technology are taught through an educational initiative with UT Houston's School of Biomedical Informatics.