Theory and Practice of Biomedical Research for Tomorrow’s Independent Investigators

Major medical advances don’t occur by accident. The journey from bench to bedside is fraught with challenges that require practical skills, critical thinking, and hands-on experience. The next generation of independent investigators must be able to lead clinical and translational research efforts in an environment where funding is scarce, needs are urgent, and competition is fierce. Harvard Medical School’s Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation program not only equips students with world-class training in medical discovery methods, but also features a parallel mentored research experience at a Harvard-based institution in Boston.

This two-year, full-time master’s degree program offers a three-year, part-time option available to Boston-area students who are eligible for part-time, residential enrollment. Both options combine innovative learning approaches to pedagogy designed by Harvard’s renowned faculty. Each student has the opportunity to perform cutting-edge research in a Harvard-affiliated laboratory under the direct supervision of a Harvard faculty mentor.

The program is designed to stimulate critical thinking and help students develop practical skills, network, and learn new approaches to handle uncertainty in patient-oriented research. To achieve these aims, students from both tracks—Clinical Investigation and Translational Investigation—learn together. In the second year, students in each track then customize their learning along with their interests. Case studies and laboratory exercises help reinforce the theory, while skills are developed and refined with practice-oriented tasks.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Construct focused research questions and formulate testable hypotheses

2. Design and implement well-designed clinical and translational research studies

3. Analyze, interpret, and present clinical and translational research data

4. Write effective grant applications and papers and evaluate scientific literature

The Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation is a residential program based in Boston. Both the Clinical Investigation and Translational Investigation tracks combine in-person and online teaching methods, and the program’s cornerstone is the on-site mentored research experience.

Students are expected to attend all lectures in each course, whether they are delivered in person or online, and can expect to spend an average of 30 to 40 hours per week engaged with coursework and the mentored research experience.

• Students develop the skills to lead research and gain practical experience with individual research projects, scientific writing, and statistical programming

• An intensive, mentored research experience at a Harvard-affiliated laboratory in Boston

• Leading clinical and translational research faculty from Harvard and Harvard-affiliated institutions

• Coursework that strengthens critical thinking and practical skills in study design, data analysis, and hands-on research

• Specialized Clinical Investigation and Translational Investigation tracks, with Comparative Research and Clinical Trials pathways available within the Clinical Investigation track

• An experienced biostatistician will be available to work directly with students to provide support and help them achieve their academic and research goals

Graduates develop the skills to formulate research questions, design and conduct clinical and translational studies, analyze and interpret data, and prepare scientific papers and grant applications. Students also complete and defend a thesis based on original mentored research.

Building on their prior clinical or research experience, graduates are prepared to pursue roles such as:

• Independent investigator
• Principal investigator
• Research director
• Academic faculty member
• Chief medical officer

Review admissions requirements

To complement individual learning and development, the program provides students with the choice of a Clinical Investigation (CI) or a Translational Investigation (TI) track and places a core emphasis on practical skills and team-based approaches in each track’s training. Additionally, the CI track offers a Comparative Research pathway and a Clinical Trials pathway.

Hear from students in the Master of Medical Sciences in Clinical Investigation as they share their experiences in the program and reflect on their growth as researchers.