Track II: MD
Trainees lacking significant research experience will follow the second track, which is designed to develop physician-scientists. These trainees will be those with the M.D. or equivalent clinical degree who have completed internship and residency and are board-certified or board-eligible. The Track II training program is flexible, and the type and amount of courses, laboratory work or clinical research will vary to accommodate each trainee. This track offers either Track IIB: Basic Science or Track IIC: Clinical Research options.
Track IIB: Basic Science Research Training for the MD
Track IIB is designed to develop basic science research physician-scientists. Trainees without prior research training will take graduate level courses during the first academic year. If undecided about a mentor and research project, the trainee can complete laboratory rotations and then expeditiously select a primary mentor(s), formulate a research proposal, and convene a Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Trainees with sufficient basic or clinical research experience, can begin the research project immediately.
Track II trainees typically enter the Tri-Institutional MMPTP in August, following completion of the residency program or the clinical year of their infectious diseases fellowship. The table below provides a representative schedule and timetable. In brief, the Track IIB trainee may take two semesters of graduate courses, similar to first year curriculum of most biomedical graduate students, to provide a solid foundation for basic research training. In addition, there are several mini-courses, and a trainee may take four to all six, depending on his or her interests, background, and preparation. Concurrently with coursework, the Track IIB trainee will embark on laboratory research. After the first year, the trainee will follow the plan outlined for Track I trainees. However, the Track IIB trainee will be permitted to do clinical work one-half day per week to maintain proficiency.
Year 1
Fall
- Take the Responsible Conduct course (four days in August)
- May select from possible mini-courses:
CMB 247 Macromolecular Synthesis
CMB 258 Structural Biochemistry I
BCH 259 Structural Biochemistry II
CMB 297 Modern Techniques in Molecular Biology
CMB 298 Physical Chemistry for Biologists
CMB 203 Introduction to Physiology - May select from full-semester courses:
UPG 278 Genetics – Solutions to Biological Problems
CBI 251 Molecular Cell Biology - Complete one or two research laboratory rotations, if needed
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Spring
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Take required courses:
MGM 282 Microbial Pathogenesis
IMM 291 Comprehensive Immunology - Select two or more of the following or other electives with advice from RAC:
BIO 220 Mycology
GEN 222 Genetic Analysis of Cellular Function
GEN 260 Gene Regulatory Mechanisms
CBI 417 Cellular Signaling
BCH 268 Nucleic Acids
BCH 270 Mechanistic Enzymology - Apply for Molecular Pathogenic Mycology Course at Woods Hole
- Perform clincal service one-half day per week
Summer
- Perform full-time research in the mentor’s laboratory
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Take the Medical Mycology course at Duke (10 half-day sessions)
- Attend the Molecular Mycology course at Woods Hole in August
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Year 2
Fall
- Perform full-time research in the mentor’s laboratory
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Spring
- Perform full-time research in the mentor’s laboratory
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Attend the UNC-CH workshop on career issues and mentoring
- Select undergraduate research assistant for the summer
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Summer
- Perform full-time research in the laboratory of training faculty
- Supervise undergraduate summer research project (May to August)
- Attend the Molecular Pathogenic Mycology course at Woods Hole in August (if not accepted in Year 1)
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
- Report research at national or international meeting
Year 3 (if applicable)
- Perform full-time research in the mentor’s laboratory
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other meetings
- Apply for individual grant, fellowship or academic position
- Complete research projects, submit papers, attend and present at meetings
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Track IIC – Clinical Science Research Training for the MD
Track IIC offers a variety of research training options in clinical mycology, including translational research, epidemiology, clinical trials, diagnostics, and other patient-oriented investigations. Typical projects involve controlled studies that focus on improved methods for the diagnosis, treatment, risk assessment, or prevention of mycoses. Most Track IIC trainees will have selected a mentor(s) and clinical research project prior to admission in the program. The first priority will be to create a RAC, develop the research project, and apply for institutional review board approval. The mentor will assist in creating the project, provide direct supervision of the trainee’s work, meet at least weekly with the trainee, and offer guidance throughout. Depending upon the trainee’s background, interests, and recommendations of the mentor and RAC, the trainee may elect to rotate through relevant clinical or research laboratories to acquire specific benchwork skills, participate in ongoing clinical, epidemiological, or translational studies, and take courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, and bioinformatics, as well as fundamental courses in microbial pathogenesis and immunology.
As with Track IIB trainees, by the end of the second year, the research should have generated reportable results and sufficient data to enable the trainee to apply for independent funding or a K Award. This more flexible track combines clinical research and a structured training program. The clinical Tri-Institutional MMPTP faculty and any other relevant clinical faculty will meet with the trainee every six months to evaluate progress and provide scientific insight. After three years of training, the trainee will be able to initiate and implement academic level translational research or clinical studies in medical mycology. To complement the mentored clinical mycology research project at Duke, Track IIC trainees have the option of participating in one of several established clinical training programs:
- Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree at UNC-CH
The School of Public Health at UNC-CH offers a one-year MPH degree program with an emphasis on epidemiology and biostatistics. A Track IIC trainee could complete this formal program during the first year. Since the classes do not require full-time effort, the trainee would simultaneously pursue clinical or laboratory research at Duke. - Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research (MHSCR) at Duke
Administered by the Duke Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP), this program was created to train clinical fellows for academic careers. The CRTP offers formal courses in research design, research management, and statistical analysis. Trainees may choose the degree or non-degree option. The program is designed for part-time study and can be taken while clinical research projects are ongoing. Thus, a Track IIC trainee could participate in this program while concurrently working on the mentored clinical mycology research project. - Medical Microbiology (MM) Training Program at Duke
The Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Duke offers a training program in Medical Microbiology (MM) that is approved by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The MM program will appeal to the trainee with interests in diagnostic microbiology, translational research, hospital epidemiology, clinical pathology, tropical medicine, and/or international health. MD trainees are eligible to apply for this two-year program, which provides fellowship support. After completing the MM program, the trainee would apply for subspecialty certification in Medical Microbiology. Thus, a Tri-Institutional MMPTP trainee who entered this program would participate broadly in medical microbiology training, but also complete a mentored clinical research project in medical mycology. The table below outlines a hypothetical trainingschedule.
Year 1
Fall
- Select mentor(s), RAC, and obtain approval of research project
- Apply for necessary IRB protocols
- Begin full-time clinical research project
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Take any recommended courses (e.g., epidemiology, statistics, bioinformatics, clinical research methods) or
- Pursue Master’s degree
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Spring
- Work full-time on clinical research project
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Pursue Master’s degree or take optional courses
- Apply for Molecular Pathogenic Mycology course at Woods Hole (optional)
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week.
Year 2
Fall & Spring
- Work full-time on clinical research project
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Complete research projects, submit papers, attend and present at meetings
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Summer
- Perform full-time research in laboratory of training faculty
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Present research at national or international meeting
- Apply for individual fellowship, grant, or academic position
- Perform clinical service one-half day per week
Year 3 (if applicable)
- Perform full-time clinical research
- Attend and participate in DUMRU and other seminars
- Complete research projects, submit papers, attend and present at meetings
- Perfrom clinical service one-half day per week