Biomedical and Translational Science

Gerard Slobogean, MD, MPH, Director
Ruth Mulnard McCargar, RN, DNSc, FAAN, Graduate Advisor
Marguerite Klumb, Program Administrator
gsloboge@hs.uci.edu
mklumb@hs.uci.edu
https://medschool.uci.edu/education/graduate-studies/masters-programs/ms-bats-home

The aim of the M.S.-BATS program is to train students in the conduct of high-quality multidisciplinary clinical research at the intersection of basic science and clinical medicine. The program is designed for students from varying levels of training, including medical students, residents, fellows, physicians, nurses, and others who are interested in conducting clinical research to maximize interdisciplinary communication and understanding sufficient to carry out high-quality clinical research.

The program provides training in core competencies required to conduct clinical research including study design reflecting the breadth and complexity of clinical research applications, critical appraisal of multidisciplinary research literature, conduct and management of clinical research, medical statistics, research ethics, and the leadership of multidisciplinary research teams. Students who successfully complete the program receive the M.S. degree in Biomedical and Translational Science.

Admission

Faculty evaluate applicants to the program on the basis of grades, previous course work, letters of recommendation, other relevant qualifications, and experience. All graduate students, including those from public health, nursing science, and pharmaceutical science are eligible to apply, but the program has a highly clinical focus and is specifically designed for those with a sufficient background in clinical sciences.

Applicants should have successfully completed a B.S. degree or equivalent, and may be from varying levels of training, including medical students, residents, fellows, physicians, nurses, clinical research coordinators, and others interested in excelling as an effective clinical researcher will benefit from this program.

Requirements

The M.S.-BATS program initially offers training in Evidence-Based Medicine/Clinical Research, which focuses on the conduct and interpretation of clinical research, synthesis of clinical literature, and the assessment and improvement of quality of healthcare. Additional fields of emphasis may be added, as per the individual needs of the student, including Molecular Medicine, focusing on the molecular mechanisms and molecular physiology of human disease and Population Medicine, focusing on the application of epidemiologic research and research methods and findings to clinical practice.

The course requirements are as follows:

Students must also complete 8-16 units of elective courses as part of the curriculum. Examples of additional elective courses include Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology, Comparative Effectiveness Research, Health Politics and Policy, and Outcomes Research and Advanced Applied Methods. In addition, with prior approval, students may enroll in courses in other disciplines (e.g., Public Health) that are appropriate to their thesis or capstone topic.

The program culminates in a written thesis or capstone project.