COURSE DESCRIPTION: This seminar course aims to introduce students to clinical research with a focus on epidemiology and study design. The course uses an introductory clinical research text, along with a critical assessment of papers from the scientific (clinical and epidemiologic) literature, in order to learn about study designs: their strengths and weaknesses and how such studies are conducted. Topics to be covered include: basic epidemiology, measures of association, basic statistics, cohort studies, case control studies, clinical trials, causal inference, and research ethics.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Designing Clinical Research, Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, Grady DG, Newman TB., 4th Ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Philadelphia: 2013. ISBN-10: 1608318044 | ISBN-13: 978-1608318049

PREREQUISITES/BACKGROUND PREPARATION: Interest in and some familiarity with clinical research preferred (Clinical Research 101 lecture series recommended)

SUITABLE FOR 1ST YEAR STUDENTS: Yes

STUDENT ASSESSMENTS: Final exam (multiple choice/short answer); preparation and participation in class.

CREDIT HOURS: 2.0