Curriculum

Trainees pursue their research project under the oversight of faculty mentors. Their research project is complemented by a rigorous curriculum that includes a 12-month, competency-based Clinical & Translational Research course involving more than 30 faculty. The course begins with a one-week Boot Camp for orientation and introduction to each of the competency areas. For Boot Camp, each trainee develops a research specific aims document that will be the foundational basis for integrating each of the competencies with their research project. The competencies include: 1) Experimental Design, 2) Rigor/Reproducibility/Transparency/Responsible Conduct of Research, 3) Compliance, 4) Communication/Manuscripts/Grants, 5) Innovation/Entrepreneurism, and 6) Leadership/Professionalism/Ethics. In addition, trainees will experience service on IRB and IACUC committees and mock study sections.

Classes will be held throughout the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00-6:30 p.m., with rotation of competency topics weekly throughout the course to provide continuous learning/reinforcement of the topic. Each weekly competency will include foundational sessions that provide essential knowledge for the topic, and application sessions with active teaching methods (homework, peer review, relevant literature, presentations, and workshops). The exact proportions of these techniques will be determined by the instructors. Each competency is led by two faculty coordinators and several content faculty who provide team teaching and blend biomedical and engineering expertise. Additional electives include statistics, informatics, and research topic-specific courses. Unique medical engineering resources include Texas A&M College of Engineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, TMC Innovation Institute, J&J Labs, AT&T Foundry, and ABB Robotics. Infrastructure, faculty/staff support, and trainee stipends will be provided by the institutions.

The year-long course will conclude with an “Engines of Ingenuity Retreat” for research presentations and curriculum/program review. Trainees pursuing a School of Medicine MS degree in Medical Sciences or a College of Engineering MEng degree must meet the respective Texas A&M graduate program requirements.