PhD in Clinical Research (PhDCR)

The PhD in Clinical Research (PhDCR) is a 66-credit program designed to be completed on average in five years, and not more than seven years. The program provides a strong didactic foundation during the first two years followed by a mentored clinical research experience leading to a doctoral degree in Clinical Research.

Three tracks/training areas are offered within the PhD in Clinical Research:

• Translational Research: Bench to Bedside

• Clinical Trials Research

• Population, Outcomes and Implementation Research

Each track has clearly defined and required coursework as detailed in Section 4: Curriculum of this chapter. Within the context of these specific tracks, students may choose to develop an area of concentration or focus, developing specific expertise in:

• Outcomes research

• Health services research and health policy research

• Ethics

• Behavioral research and cognitive tools

• Genomics and personalized medicine

• Biostatistics: Quantitative and qualitative methods

• Drug development

• Epidemiology: Basic, molecular and clinical

• Clinical trials research

• Informatics and bioinformatics

• Translational science

These areas of special focus build upon strengths reflective of the ISMMS, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Mount Sinai’s institutes and departments.

Doctoral students must make satisfactory progress in the program in order to remain matriculated in the degree. They are also required to meet key program milestones, register for all required courses, and complete all general program requirements to ensure timely completion of the degree. See the table below for key program milestones:

Required coursework includes the core curriculum required of all first-year doctoral students (see Section Four) as well as second-year track-specific coursework as listed in the program’s course checklists. All second-year doctoral students must take a full year of Integrative Problem Solving in Clinical and Translational Research in order to prepare for the written comprehensive qualifying exam. Additional program requirements are listed in Section Seven.