Clinical research fellowships for junior faculty and established investigators
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The ITN Scholars Program was founded in 2005 to provide promising beginning investigators with intensive, hands-on training in the design and implementation of clinical trials This year, the Scholars Program has been expanded, with the addition of two new tracks for established investigators -- one track focusing on the design and implementation of clinical trials, similar Junior Faculty Awards, and the other track focusing on integration of mechanistic studies into clinical trial protocols and analysis of mechanistic data.
Junior Faculty Awards
Clinical research fellowships are available to senior clinical fellows and/or junior medical faculty who have a demonstrated interest in clinical immunology in the fields of transplantation, autoimmunity or asthma/allergy.
The ITN Scholars Program clinical track offers a unique, immersive training experience in the art and science of clinical trials. Working as an integral member of the ITN’s San Francisco-based Clinical Trials Group, ITN Scholars develop an intimate, experiential knowledge of the scientific, medical and regulatory aspects of clinical trial design and implementation through active participation, close mentorship of ITN clinical research professionals and interaction with NIH regulatory and ITN biostatistical and laboratory personnel.
ITN Scholars receive full salary support for one year and compensation for travel. Candidates must hold an MD degree and should, at a minimum, have completed their residency and at least 2-3 years of specialty fellowship training. Candidates must be able to demonstrate an institutional commitment to continue their appointment following the completion of the ITN Scholars Program training.
Established Investigator Awards
The new “Established Investigator Program” provides more senior faculty the opportunity to expand their knowledge of clinical trials and translational medicine through intensive, hands-on experience with the ITN.
Clinical track awards are a unique opportunity to develop and/or hone clinical research skills as part of the ITN clinical trials team. Working as an integral member of the ITN’s San Francisco-based Clinical Trials Group, Scholars will actively participate in the assessment, planning, development, implementation and analysis of ITN trials, and work closely with NIH regulatory personnel and ITN biostatistical and laboratory personnel.
Mechanistic track awards offer investigators the opportunity to develop an intimate knowledge of the methods and issues surrounding the integration and analysis of biomarker and mechanistic studies in clinical trials. Working as an integral member of the ITN’s Bethesda-based Tolerance Assay and Data Analysis Group, Scholars will actively participate in the planning, development, implementation and analysis of mechanistic and biomarker studies integrated within ITN clinical trials. Mechanistic track Scholars will gain invaluable experience in the application of cutting-edge laboratory assays to clinical research, including protocol development, assay quality control and assurance and analysis of complex data, including the analysis of high density data sets.
Established investigator awards are for one year terms, and carry no salary compensation; rather, recipients must provide their own salary support (from a sabbatical, for example). Funding for travel to attend to responsibilities at home institutions will be provided.
Clinical track candidates must hold an MD degree and must have completed their residency and 2-3 years fellowship training. Mechanistic track candidates with an MD degree should, at a minimum, have completed their residency and 2-3 years research fellowship in human immunology. Candidates with a Ph.D. will also be considered and must have completed post-doctoral work in human immunology.
Notes for Applicants
The preferred candidates for all awards will have a serious, demonstrated interest in a career in clinical research and should have a demonstrated interest in clinical immunology in the fields of transplantation, autoimmunity or asthma/allergy. Experience in clinical research and/or training in biostatistics will be considered an asset.
Applicants should be aware that successful completion of the program will require relocation to San Francisco, CA (clinical track) or Bethesda, MD (mechanistic track) for the duration of the training period.
There are no citizenship requirements for the ITN Scholars Program. To assure continued excellence and diversity among applicants and awardees, the ITN welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and encourages applications from women and members of minority groups underrepresented in the sciences.
Application Procedures
Applications for the ITN Scholar Program must consist of:
- A personal statement of career goals (not more than 750-1000 words) that clearly specifies the applicant’s area of interest (i.e. Transplantation, Autoimmunity, Asthma/Allergy). For established investigators seeking an ITN Scholar award, this section should state how the ITN Scholar program will influence the applicant’s future work or career.
- An updated Curriculum Vitae.
- Two letters of recommendation, with at least one of these letters provided by an individual outside the candidate's current institution who is familiar with the candidate's qualifications.
- A letter from the applicant’s department chair supporting the nomination for the ITN Scholar program. This letter must specifically indicate the applicant’s current institutional appointment as well as annual salary, and its commitments, if any, to continuing the applicant’s future appointments following completion of the Scholars program.
- Established investigators must include a commitment of salary support from their department chair or other sponsoring institution.
Completed applications should be sent to the ITN at the address below:
ITN Scholars Program Committee
c/o Anita Corman Weinblatt, PhD
Immune Tolerance Network
4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD
20814
APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 31, 2007
For more information and application procedures, please contact:
Mohamed H. Sayegh, MD
ITN Scholars Program Committee Chair
(617) 732-5259
msayegh@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
About the Immune Tolerance Network:
The Immune Tolerance Network is an international research collaboration that aims to accelerate the clinical development of tolerance therapies through novel clinical trials and parallel mechanistic studies. The ITN is currently planning, developing and operating over 20 clinical trials in autoimmune diseases, islet, kidney and liver transplantation and allergy and asthma and operates a dozen core facilities that support these studies with state-of-the-art bioassay services. Headquartered at the University of California, San Francisco and with offices in Bethesda, Maryland and Pittsburgh, PA, the ITN is supported by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. More information on the ITN and its research can be found at www.immunetolerance.org.
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