Graduate Catalog
2023-2024
 
Policies, Procedures, Academic Programs
Research in Translational Medicine
RTMC
Address:
Graduate School (MC 0325), Graduate Life Center, Virginia Tech, 155 Otey ST NW
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Contact this Certificate
Email Contact(s):
Web Resource(s):
• Website
Phone Number(s):
• William Huckle:
540/231-6691
• Graduate School Admissions:
540/231-8636

Certificate Overview

Translational medicine research encompasses 4 broad categories that include moving a scientific discovery into a clinical health application (T1-Bench to Bedside), a health application to evidence-based guidelines (T2-Bedside to Guidelines), guidelines to typical practice (T3-Guidelines to Delivery), and practice to sustainable policies (T4-Delivery to Policy).  The progression across categories can be linear, asynchronous, and bi-directional. Thus, just as this process can move from bench to bedside, for example, it can also move from bedside to bench. Implicit in the translational process is the need for a multidisciplinary and team science approach.

This certificate responds to the National Institute of Health’s Roadmap for Medical Research, launched in 2004 to promote biomedical research (http://commonfund.nih.gov/aboutroadmap.aspx) and to Virginia Tech’s initiatives to expand educational and research programs in the health sciences. It provides the opportunity for graduate students to acquire specialized expertise in translational medicine research methods along with focal studies in their majors.  According to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, career opportunities for medical scientists are expected to grow “much faster than average” (defined as an increase of 20% or more) from 2008 to 2018 (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos309.htm#outlook).

How to Apply:
Fill out the online application for participation in the certificate program.
Upon processing of the application, you will be contacted
with information about the submission of additional
required materials. Thank you for your interest.

Admission Requirements

  •  Admission to the Graduate School: Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or better and English language proficiency
  • Admission to a graduate degree program
  • Completion of the certificate application form 

Course Requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Research in Translational Medicine requires completion of three modules focused on translational medicine course content, research methods and statistics, and research experience that links science to medical practice (24 cr). Course selection is based on individual students’ background, research focus, and career goals. Students should work with their major professors and advisory committee members to identify appropriate courses and research experiences. Courses taken for the Certificate can also count toward the degree plan of study.

 

 

Module

 

Content

Minimum Number of

Graduate Credits

1

Demonstration of subject matter expertise via courses relevant to translational medicine topics in student’s major

9 cr (graded A-F unless only taught P/F)

2

Demonstration of competence in research methods and statistics related to translational medicine research via courses in research design, experimental procedures and other methods of data collection, and data analysis techniques

9 cr (graded A-F)

3

Demonstration of competence in conducting translational medicine research

6 cr of 5904, 5994, or 7994 (graded EQ)

Example Tracks

 

Biomedical Aspects

         Biochemical/Molecular Biology/Genomics

         Biomedical Engineering and Bioinformatics

 

Behavioral & Social Aspects

         Behavioral Science and Medicine

         Health Policy