Otolaryngology Training in Immunology, Virology and Molecular Biology

The goal of this application is to provide education that prepares Otolaryngology residents for research careers in biomedical and clinical sciences via the R25 mechanism. This will be addressed by mentored training in critical skills needed to perform high quality research, as well as in managing the conflict between research and clinical responsibilities. Structured guidance toward a career path that includes research will also be included. Our resident research education program proposes to accomplish this via the following set of Specific Aims.
Specific Aim 1. To provide outstanding, mentored research training to Otolaryngology residents, providing the core skills leading to a career involving research. Research training under the supervision of high-quality, experienced mentors is a requirement for success in research, both for basic scientists and clinicians. We propose to provide such training in three focus areas:
immunology, virology and molecular biology, which are strengths of our training faculty. Each of these areas play a major role in disease, and impact the mission areas of the NIDCD. In addition to mentored research instruction and experience, our training program will include targeted coursework as well as mentored training in grant-writing; managing the conflict between clinical and research responsibilities; and collaborating with research groups outside of Otolaryngology. Each trainee will also receive additional mentored research training embedded in the final three clinical training years, to reduce the gap between research training and career.
Specific Aim 2. To provide structured guidance leading both to a career including research such as academics, and to additional research training resulting in independence as a clinician-scientist. Our clinician-scientists provide one-on-one counseling on the advantages of specialty training followed by an academic career that incudes research. We will also provide seminars and biennial conferences on the benefits of academic medicine.
Specific Aim 3. To provide instruction in methods to enhance the rigor and reproducibility of research. Our institutions and mentors will provide didactic and practical education to address this critical area.
Specific Aim 4. To recruit and provide research training to residents from all groups equally. We will take concrete steps to review applications to our residency and R25 training program with the same unbiased requirements/expectations.

Grant Number: 5R25DC020173-04
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Joseph Califano