The Translational Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship

The Translational PCCM Fellowship was conceived and created by Dr. Mark Gladwin, Chair of the Department of Medicine. Dr. Gladwin’s career has been dedicated to translational research, which will almost certainly be the cornerstone for medical advancements in the 21st century.

The Translational PCCM Fellowship offers training opportunities in all aspects of translational research, as defined by Westfall, et al.

T1 – translation of basic research discoveries to human clinical research/clinical trials
T2 – translation of medical discoveries to patients
T3 – translation of medical discoveries into clinical practice

Westfall, J. M. et al. JAMA 2007;297:403-406.

We offer a structured, yet flexible and individualized program that will provide trainees with the technical and academic skills necessary to become independent investigators. Training is centered on a dedicated research project mentored by two experienced faculty members from both ends of the translational research bridge. Usually, this mentor partnership includes a basic Ph.D. scientist and a clinical human researcher. The Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine is indeed unique in possessing a broad range of Ph.D and M.D. researchers, who actively collaborate on disease-related studies.

A tailored curriculum will complement the mentored research project. Core components of the curriculum include:

  • An intensive, full-time, two-week, Fundamentals of Translational Research course taught by the PACCM faculty. This course provides a broad conceptual and hands-on experience in topics ranging from molecular biology to epidemiology.
  • A workshop with the Committee Chairs of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to outline procedures and remove roadblocks to initiating a research project. This program will be supplemented by instruction from senior research coordinators within the PACCM Division.
  • Trainees will participate in the ‘Introduction to Translational Research in Health Sciences,’ using weekly classroom and on-line formats (link to curriculum or see below)
  • Trainees will also participate in the ‘From Bench Top to Bedside: What every scientist needs to know,’ course offered by the Office of Technology Development in a series of once weekly evening seminars (link to curriculum or see below).
  • Translational Fellowship trainees will be given the opportunity to participate in a four week elective at an outside institution to provide exposure and experience in an area important to their development as a translational researcher. Examples of elective experiences could include the NIH intramural program, the FDA, other academic institutions, or pharmaceutical companies.
  • Throughout their fellowship, trainees will be counseled and mentored for eventual submission of an NIH K-award application through a combination of institutional seminars (http://www.oacd.health.pitt.edu/kaward.html), PACCM Division Committees, and intensive input from the mentorship team.

A time-line for the core components of the Translational PCCM Fellowship curriculum is presented below.

Division of PACCSM
Academic Offices

NW 628 UPMC Montefiore
3459 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-692-2210

Patient Care and Referral

Comprehensive Lung Center (CLC)
Falk Medical Building, 4th Floor
3601 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-648-6161