Research

As part of their training, fellows are required to participate in investigator-initiated clinical or translational research. The research requirement is flexible, enabling research-focused fellows the ability to develop a project from beginning to end as well as allowing more practice-focused fellows to gain research experiences as part of pre-existing projects. The goal of the research requirement is to develop critical thinking skills that are unique to scientific investigation and provide fellows a broader perspective to interpret scientific literature. Typically, fellows develop their research projects during the first year and have reduced responsibilities on the inpatient service and in outpatient clinics in year two to allow time for the completion of their projects.

Fellows are guided and supported in their projects by the research director, faculty mentors, research coordinators, and the resources of the MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI). Dedicated lectures about research methodology, immunology, and statistical methods are part of the fellow curriculum. MHRI coordinates the research activities of all institutions within the MedStar Health system, providing infrastructure to support clinical research and supervises the animal laboratories on site. The Department of Medicine’s use of the Centricity and Amalga computerized medical record systems makes both inpatient and outpatient data amenable to clinical research studies.

For fellows interested in laboratory immunology of rheumatic diseases, there are active collaborations with Dr. Nagaraju Kanneboyina at the Children’s Research Institute at Children’s National Medical Center. The faculty also works with large population datasets such as the Women’s Health Initiative and the National Databank of Rheumatic Disease and has experience with meta-analysis, including the Cochrane Review. The rheumatology division has laboratory space in the Hyman Research Building and a freezer for specimen storage. The division has intramural and extramural funding to support its research activities. The Office of Graduate Medical Education also offers generous funding for IRB-approved trainee research projects which pays for statistical support, supplies, etc and the presentation of research at conferences or meetings.

RESEARCH PROJECTS
DIVISION OF RHEUMATOLOGY
Date: 09/06/12