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TL1 Translational Research Training Program
The ITHS TL1 Program is a one-year mentored research training program for predoctoral students. This program creates a cross-disciplinary community and provides Trainees with specific training, career development opportunities, and team science skills to help them function effectively within translational science teams. The TL1 Program is open to applicants from all disciplines and backgrounds who meet the eligibility criteria.
Through a combination of thoughtful mentorship, interdisciplinary interaction, and focused training, TL1 Trainees receive the career development tools they need to become impactful translational researchers. By the end of their year in the program, all Trainees will feel confident in their ability to further their translational research careers.
Application Status
- Application Opens: December 1, 2016
- Application Deadline: January 16, 2017 @ 11:59pm
Benefits
The ITHS TL1 Program supports Trainees on their path to becoming clinical and translational investigators with the following:
- Research and study opportunities: The program provides career development through seminars, mentored training from experienced clinical researchers, experiential learning, and networking opportunities.
- Stipend: Trainees receive monthly predoctoral stipends, which are uniformly set for all trainees by the National Institute of Health. Review the current NRSA stipend levels.
- Tuition: The TL1 Program will pay 60 percent of full-time tuition (up to 18 credits).
- Project expenses: Additional funds are available to Trainees for research-related expenses.
Program Description
The TL1 Program is a predoctoral training program sponsored by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This program focuses on improving Trainee experience and knowledge of the Core Competencies of Clinical and Translational Research. TL1 Trainees commit full-time effort towards their translational research and the training involved in the program. They participate in regular seminars, attend ITHS career development events, take part in cohort building activities, and expand their translational skillset through training.
By the end of their appointments, Trainees can expect to be able to:
- Conduct a small research study, under supervision
- Present their research with confidence to a general research audience
- Participate in data collection, management, and analysis within an interdisciplinary research team
- Coordinate their own research with that of the larger team
- Develop proposals for independent research funding
- Evaluate ethical issues facing beginning clinical/translational investigators
Core Competencies
The TL1 Program training elements focus on increasing competency in the following core thematic areas of clinical and translational research:
- Clinical and Translational Research Questions
- Literature Critique
- Study Design
- Research Implementation
- Sources of Error
- Statistical Approaches
- Biomedical Informatics
- Clinical Research Interactions
- Scientific Communication
- Cultural Diversity
- Translational Teamwork
- Leadership
- Cross Disciplinary Training
- Community Engagement
Cohort
The ITHS TL1 Program supports up to 20 Trainees each year. The unique makeup of each cohort encourages multidisciplinary interaction and enables Trainees to learn in a truly diverse environment.
Coursework
TL1 Trainees will continue the pursuit of their terminal degrees while also incorporating the quarterly TL1 Seminars (UCONJ 517 in Summer, UCONJ 599 in Fall, Winter, and Spring). Trainees meet with the TL1 Directors early in their appointment period to discuss other coursework that would help round out their translational skillset (i.e. courses in Biostatistics, Study Design, and Epidemiologic Methods).
Course credits from the TL1 program can be fully transferred to more advanced master’s or doctoral programs. Some students who enter this level will extend their professional predoctoral training up to a year. However, there will be some students whose prior coursework or experience may allow them to integrate this level into their ongoing professional doctoral work.
Eligibility
The TL1 Program is open to students enrolled in predoctoral programs within the University of Washington. These include Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Social Work, as well as health-related programs in the College of Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences.
To be considered eligible for the TL1 Program, applicants must be:
- Pre-doctoral trainees training at a post-baccalaureate level and enrolled in a program leading to a PhD in a health science research-related doctoral degree program, or a combined doctoral level professional degree plus a clinical research-related advanced degree (such as a MD, DDS, DO, DNP, PharmD/MS or MD, DDS, DO, DNP, PharmD/PhD). Students who wish to postpone their professional studies for one year to gain research experience may be appointed to the TL1 Program for that period, provided that all other eligibility criteria are met.
- A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, with verification documents (individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible).
- Able to commit full-time effort in the program at the time of appointment.
Applicants must not:
- Conduct research outside of the United States during their appointment period.
- Accept salary support from other Public Health Service-funded grants during their appointment period.
- Have previously received five years or more of NRSA support in aggregate at the predoctoral level, including any combination of support from institutional training grants and individual fellowship awards.
Application Process
The TL1 application window opens on December 1, 2016 and closes on January 16, 2017 at 11:59 PM.
The application consists of:
Combine Items 1-4 into a single PDF file, and complete the application form.
- 5) Letter of Recommendation from Primary Mentor – Letters of recommendation should be no longer than two pages, address the applicant’s promise as a translational researcher, and include information on the level of support and involvement the mentor expects to provide the applicant during their potential appointment. Letters of recommendation should be submitted by mentors through the appropriate form on the ITHS website. Letters of Recommendation must be received no later than 11:59pm PST on January 16, 2017.
Applicants: Please direct your mentors to the Mentor Letter of Recommendation Form as early as possible.
You can either:
- Craft your own email, and include the following link:
https://www.iths.org/TL1-Mentor-LOR
– OR – - Enter a few details into a form, and we’ll send the link for you.
Visit the form
Up to twenty (20) Trainees will be selected for the TL1 Program. The process is as follows:
- Application Deadline: January 16, 2017
- Awardees Notified: Early March 2017
- Just-in-Time Process*: March – June 2017
- Appointment Begins: June 1, 2017
* Completing requirements to ensure compliance
Contact Us
Should you have questions about the program, need more information, or would like to speak with one of the Program Directors prior to applying, please feel free to contact us through the form below.
