The UCI Internal Medicine Residency Training Program Research
Pathway
The Research Pathway
The American Board of Internal Medicine
(ABIM) Research Pathway is an integrated program that combines training in
research with training in clinical internal medicine. This pathway is
appropriate for physicians who intend to pursue a career substantially based in
basic or clinical research. It is not appropriate for physicians interested in
clinical, administrative, or teaching career tracks, even if research would be
a part of those careers.
Our University-based residency training
program sponsors residents in the ABIM Research Pathway. We strongly encourage
individuals interested in either clinical or basic research careers to consider
our program for their clinical and research experience. The core clinical
program is described in detail in our website.
The Research Pathway allows trainees to
accelerate their clinical training in return for a commitment to research time
and productivity under supervision of a faculty mentor. Applicants who
successfully complete the program become eligible for the internal medicine
board certification in less time than they would if they completed clinical
training and research separately. The track decreases the overall time commitment
of a physician who is entirely committed to a research career. However, after
entering the track, the trainee must complete the track to be eligible for
board certification. If the trainee elected to move back into the clinical
pathway from the research pathway, he or she would be required to complete
clinical training of the standard duration.
The Research Pathway has 2 options.
Internal Medicine Option: All trainees must successfully complete 2 years of
training in an accredited categorical internal medicine training program. The
usual requirement outside of the Research Pathway is for 3 complete years.
After completion of the two years of clinical training, the candidate enters
the research commitment that lasts for 3 years. During this time, the candidate
commits 80% of his or her time to research and 20% to clinical work.
Clinical Subspecialty Training: Via this track, the candidate is able to obtain
board eligibility for general internal medicine as well as a subspecialty of
medicine. The minimum requirement for full-time clinical subspecialty training
for certification through the research pathway varies by discipline and would
be 24 months in general internal medicine (rather than 36 months) followed by
After completion of the appropriate clinical
curriculum the trainee would enter the research period for 3 years. 80%
of their time would be spent in research, 20 % in clinical activities.
The UCI Internal Medicine Residency
Research Pathway Program
Intellectual inquiry and academic rigor form
the core of our philosophy of residency training. Each element of the Program
is designed with this core in mind, and all residents benefit from the academic
environment fostered by that commitment. We believe that an understanding of
research design and implementation is key to an
overall quality training experience in internal medicine. Beyond that core
commitment, we endeavor to recruit a small number of residents with demonstrated
interest in academic research careers to enter the Research Pathway. We believe
that we can provide an outstanding clinical and research experience for these
residents, and that their presence with us enhances the quality of the entire
Program.
Although candidates for the Research Pathway
need not commit to that pathway until they have begun their residency, we
recruit individuals who have credentials and track records in research.
Prospective candidates interview with faculty knowledgeable about the Research
Pathway and about research opportunities. Our goal is to begin at the earliest
possible time to prepare the trainees for their chosen careers. As soon as the
house officer makes a commitment, we guide them in obtaining a research mentor,
identifying projects, and planning their research. Our institution has long
experience with MD/PhD training and a commitment to mentoring young
investigators. We tailor their clinical experience to meet the core
requirements for the ABIM and to complement their research agendas.
UCI’s research credentials and
research-career mentoring credentials are well established. The UCI College of
Medicine’s MD/PhD Program is an official Medical Scientist Training Program. We
have built on this experience in constructing our own Research Pathway. You may
visit the Medical Scientist Web Site for an overview of UCI’s research
opportunities and strengths: http://www.mstp.uci.edu.
In addition, a partial list of Research Pathway mentors and their areas
of interest follows at the end of this section. Research Pathway trainees, however, need not limit themselves to
During their years in the research pathway,
trainees are supported by grant funds with supplemental support from the
Department of Medicine. The pathway pays salaries commensurate to those of
other residents with the same years of training. Specific salary levels are
listed in the core program materials.
Candidates must be qualified both clinically
and academically to be considered for the Pathway. Evidence of commitment to an
academic career is also required. Candidates should have already obtained a
Ph.D. or other advanced degree.
All applicants apply to the Categorical
Program via ERAS. Applicants wishing to identify themselves as interested
in the Research Pathway should contact Norma Hardgrove at mailto:erasmed@uci.edu or (714)
456-5691 so that we can include your interest in your file
Representative List of UCI Faculty
Research Mentors Available to Research Pathway Trainees:
|
Faculty Member
|
Research
Area |
|
Nancy L. Allbritton, M.D., Ph.D. |
Signal transduction by
second messengers and protein kinases |
|
Hoda Anton-Culver, Ph.D. |
Cancer and genetic
epidemiology, statistical genetics, medical informatics, environmental
epidemiology |
|
Dean Baker, M.D. |
Occupational and
environmental asthma, neurological and immunological effects of pesticides,
cardiovascular effects of occupational stress, delivery of occupational
health services |
|
Tallie Z. Baram, M.D., Ph.D. |
Mechanisms of vulnerability
of the developing brain to non-genetic seizures |
|
Alan G. Barbour, M.D. |
Molecular pathogenesis and
immunology of vector-borne infections |
|
Peter J. Bryant , Ph.D. |
Tumor-suppressor genes of
Drosophila and humans |
|
William Byerley,
MD |
Identification and
characterization of genes underlying susceptibility to Manic- depression and
schizophrenia |
|
Michael Cahalan,
Ph.D. |
Molecular properties and
modulation of ion channels in cell membranes. Cellular neurobiology and immunology.
Physiological roles of ion channels. Cell
signaling mechanisms. |
|
Anne L. Calof,
Ph.D. |
Molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, and cell death |
|
George Chandy,
M.D., Ph.D. |
Structure and functional
studies of potassium channels in T-lymphocytes: targets for the design of
novel immunosuppressive agents |
|
Olivier Civelli,
Ph.D. |
Molecular neurobiology, G
protein-coupled receptors, peptide neurotransmitters |
|
Carl Cotman,
Ph.D. |
Synaptic plasticity and
functional stabilization after injury in the mature and aged central nervous
system |
|
Dennis D. Cunningham, Ph.D.
|
Proteases and protease nexins: regulation of neural cells |
|
Sue Duckles,
Ph.D. |
Impact of age and gender on
reactivity of blood vessels and nerves |
|
Hung Fan, Ph.D. |
Molecular biology and
pathogenesis of mouse and human retroviruses |
|
Ron Frostig,
Ph.D. |
Neurophysiology of sensory
systems; functional organization of sensory cortex and its plasticity;
imaging of activity patterns in the cortex |
|
J. Jay Gargus,
M.D., Ph.D. |
Molecular analysis of
membrane signaling proteins |
|
Alan L. Goldin,
Ph.D. |
Molecular analysis of ion
channel function |
|
Sudhir Gupta, M.D., Ph.D. |
Molecular mechanisms of
apoptosis of lymphocytes in aging and neonates |
|
George A. Gutman, Ph.D |
Potassium channel and
immunoglobulin super-family genes |
|
Harry T. Haigler, Ph.D. |
Growth factor signal
transduction; annexin calcium-binding proteins |
|
G. Wesley Hatfield, Ph.D. |
Effects of DNA topology on
transcription |
|
Randall Holcombe, M.D. |
Mechanism of action of levamisole; functional genomics; treatment and prevention
of colon cancer and malignant melanoma |
|
Allan Hubbell, M.D. |
Cancer prevention and
control; health services/health policy research |
|
Anthony A. James, Ph.D. |
Malaria parasite
development; genetic manipulation of insect vectors |
|
|
Growth factor/receptor
expression; signaling pathways in cancer |
|
John J. Krolewski,
M.D., Ph.D. |
Intracellular signaling by
a interferons |
|
Arthur D. Lander, Ph.D. |
Cell and axon guidance;
extracellular matrix; growth factors; transgenic and knockout mice |
|
Frances M. Leslie, Ph.D. |
Pharmacology of drugs of
abuse and developmental neuropharmacology |
|
Ellis Levin, M.D |
Vasoactive peptides in the central nervous system and
vasculature |
|
W. Ian Lipkin,
M.D. |
Borna disease and neurotropic
viruses; CNS delivery systems |
|
Haoping Liu, Ph.D. |
MAP kinase
mediated signal transduction; dimorphic regulation in yeast |
|
John Longhurst,
M.D., Ph.D. |
Cardiovascular diseases, neuroreflex control of cardiovascular system, and
alternative medicine |
|
Mark Mandelkern,
Ph.D. |
Elementary Particle Physics
and Medical Physics |
|
Ronald L. Meyer, Ph.D |
Development of nerve
connections, nerve injury and regeneration |
|
Frank Meyskens,
M.D. |
Effects of oxidative stress
on gene expression; cancer chemoprevention |
|
Stuart Nelson, M.D., Ph.D. |
Biophysics of laser
interaction with biological systems |
|
Masayasu Nomura, Ph.D. |
RNA polymerase I;
nucleolus; nuclear transport and function |
|
Daniele Piomelli,
Ph.D. |
Signaling by anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid |
|
Ralph Purdy, Ph.D. |
Neurotransmission in blood
vessels |
|
J. Leslie Redpath, Ph.D. |
X-rays induced cell death,
cell mutation and malignant cell transformation; factors that regulate
cellular radiosensitivity, including repair
processes, intercellular communication, genetic regulation and chemical
agents |
|
Richard T. Robertson, Ph.D.
|
Mechanisms of axonal target
selection in developing cerebral cortex |
|
W. Edward Robinson, Ph.D. . |
Humoral immune responses in pathogenesis of HIV and SIV
infections |
|
Hamid M. Said, Ph.D., Pharm.D. |
Cellular and molecular
aspects of intestinal transport of vitamins |
|
Suzanne B. Sandmeyer, Ph.D. |
Molecular genetics of a
position-specific yeast retrovirus-like element |
|
Michael E. Selsted, M.D., Ph.D. |
Host defense systems in phagocytic leukocytes and mucosal epithelium |
|
A.J. Shaka,
Ph.D |
New techniques in nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy |
|
Lewis M. Slater, MD |
Pharmacologic Induction of
Tumor Immunity |
|
Moyra Smith, Ph.D. |
Genetics of human cancers |
|
Ivan Soltesz,
Ph.D. |
Function and modulation of
synaptic GABAA receptor |
|
Eric J. Stanbridge,
Ph.D. |
Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in human cancer |
|
Ming Tan, M.D. |
Gene expression and
pathogenesis in Chlamydia trachomatis |
|
Andrzej Tarnawski, M.D. |
Angiogenesis and repair of
injured gastric mucosa; pathophysiology of portal
hypertensive gastric mucosa; NSAID’s interference
with wound healing |
|
Bruce J. Tromberg, Ph.D. |
Optical spectroscopy in
cells and tissues |
|
Luis P. Villarreal, Ph.D. |
Tissue-specific viral and
cellular gene expression; viral vectors |
|
Ping Wang, M.D. |
Role of IGF I and insulin
in heart disease; clinical aspects of diabetes complications |
|
Marian L. Waterman, Ph.D. |
Regulation of gene
expression by LEF/TCF transcription factors and the armadillo repeat protein
beta-catenin |
|
John H. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D. |
Mechanisms of neurodegeneration - in vitro study |
|
Quon-Yong Zhou, Ph.D. |
Signaling of the dopamine
system |