Faculty of Medicine Clinician Investigator Program

• Introduction
• Applications
• CIP Committee
  • Terms of Reference
  • Membership
• Goals and Objectives
• RCPSC Specific Standards of Accreditation
• Links
• for CIP members only
  • CIP Seminar Series
  • Suggested Readings
  • CIP Links

Goals and Objectives

The University of Ottawa Clinician Investigator Program received approval by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2001. The major goal of the Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) is to assist in the career development of clinician/ investigators in Canada by providing a formal postgraduate medical education pathway that fulfils the existing specialty/subspecialty requirements of the Royal College and provides, in addition, a minimum of two years of structured, rigorous research training. It is recognized that two years of research training is usually insufficient to embark on a career as a medical scientist, but individuals who complete the program should have a solid grounding in research and, with additional career specific research experience, may become independent investigators.   

For the purpose of this program, health research includes not only the traditional areas of laboratory and clinical biomedical research, but also such fields as economics and management, and social, behavioral and information sciences as they apply to health and disease.

This program does not imply the creation of a new specialty or subspecialty, but rather identifies an educational pathway with specific objectives and requirements leading to Royal College recognition on satisfactory completion of the specialty/subspecialty requirements and of the research components of the CIP. The program is available to residents enrolled in specialty or subspecialty residency programs accredited by the Royal College who have demonstrated an interest in and a potential for a career as clinician investigators.

The objectives, training requirements, accreditation, credentialing and evaluation procedures for the specialty/subspecialty component of the CIP will not change for residents enrolled in the CIP.

The generic goals and objectives for the CIP are outlined below. Based on these generic objectives, individual educational objectives must be developed for the research component for individual research residents. These objectives will form an important part of the interim assessments of progress of the research resident and of the verification of completion of the research component of the program.

General Objectives:

At the end of the research component of the program the individual will be expected to have acquired the knowledge, skills, and attitudes fundamental to embarking on a career in health research. In most cases further research training specific to the candidate's field of interest will be required, so that he/she can succeed as an independent investigator. The CIP should also provide an opportunity to integrate research and clinical care. During the two years of the research component, some time may be spent in clinical activity related to the research; however, the majority of time (at least 80%) must be devoted to research.

Specific Objectives for Individual Research Residents:

Demonstrated competence must be achieved in the following areas as they relate to the chosen field of research:


1. Knowledge
   
   Through formal course work, or other educational activities (eg seminars, workshops) to develop a working knowledge and understanding of research methodology including:
   
   
   1. general principles such as basic experimental design, clinical trial design, critical appraisal of the literature, biostatistics, medical and research ethics;
   2. knowledge relevant to the specific area of research, as well as general knowledge relating to the clinical and research aspects of the chosen field of study.
      
      
2. Skills
   
   
   1. competence in the techniques specific to the research project; in a laboratory, in clinical health related fields, or in experimental design or data analysis and population studies;
   2. the ability to design, plan and carry out an experiment and to analyze and interpret the results;
   3. the ability to present information in a formal setting (i.e. attendance at a national or international scientific meeting) and to defend such a presentation;
   4. the ability to write an abstract/paper suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal;
   5. the ability to write a grant proposal for research funding
      
      
3. Attitudes
   
   
   1. a commitment to the need to re-examine accepted beliefs through a spirit of inquiry;
   2. a commitment to the importance of absolute objectivity and honesty in the conduct and reporting of research;
   3. in-depth knowledge of the ethical issues relevant to the conduct of research in human subjects;
   4. in-depth knowledge of the ethical issues relevant to the conduct of research in animal models;
   5. an ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team;
   6. an understanding of the need for continuing self-education.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 Approved – CIPC – May 25, 2004

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