Research
Research is a key component of the MSU Endocrinology Fellowship. All teaching faculty are involved in research and all fellows are matched with a faculty preceptor to complete their required research project. Fellows are fully engaged in a research project from the beginning of the program.
Trainees in this program are expected to carry out research and participate in other scholarly activity. During the first year instruction will be provided in research methods. A course taught by faculty from epidemiology and biostatistics at MSU is available.
In addition, trainees are expected to learn about the research interests of the faculty members, by attending Research Seminars, Journal Clubs, or by direct interaction initiated by the faculty, trainee or program director. A monthly research series related to methods in research, protocol development and implementation has been started as of July 1, 2006. Generally, trainees should reach an agreement to carry out research with a specific faculty member by the middle of the first year of the program. This allows the trainee to learn the literature concerning the research area and begin, by repeated interaction with the faculty mentor, to formulate an experimental design. Thus, within 6-9 months, the trainee is ready to move into the research area without delay. Opportunities for both clinical research and basic research are available. Research activity may occur under the supervision of faculty in the Department of Medicine or other Departments at MSU. In the Endocrinology Fellowship program, the allotment of time dedicated to research varies over the course of a training year as well as between years of training. In general, the annualized percentage effort for research is:
Year 1 – 35%
Year 2 – 50%
This may be adjusted depending on the needs of individual trainees.
The research experience will be based on a mentor:trainee relationship that is meaningful, interactive at frequent intervals, and that leads to formulation of the research problem, determination of appropriate experimental design, use of appropriate research methodology, analysis of data, interpretation of results and, eventually, publication in peer-reviewed journals.
They are encouraged to write up and publish interesting cases that they encounter during their training. Finally, faculty is encouraged to ask trainees to participate in writing of invited Chapters or Reviews, with appropriate authorship designation.
It is expected that by the end of Year 1, the fellows should prepare a research project that they want to pursue by the end of the Year 2, trainees will have ready for publication one research paper, and one brief clinical report.
MSU-College of Human Medicine’s Department of Medicine
The MSU Endocrinology Fellowship is housed within the Department of Medicine. The Department has a vibrant research program which is noted for its high level of external funding per faculty and its interdisciplinary nature. Basic bench research, clinical research and translational research are included in the Department’s diverse portfolio. Nanomedicine, vascular biology, cardiovascular science, clinical trials, pharmacokinetics, clinical epidemiology, and medical education are just a few of the topics under active investigation. Most investigators work closely with other MSU scientists in areas including engineering, nutrition, food safety, veterinary medicine, and the health sciences colleges. Departmental faculty serve as Principal Investigators on grants from the NIH, OSHA, the CDC, HRSA, and several foundation-funded projects.