Master of Science in Clinical Investigation

Foundational skills for success in clinical and translational research.

  • School
    School of Medicine
  • Duration
    35 credits
  • Format
    Online
  • Enrollment
    Fall
  • Tuition
    $65,502 total

About the Program

Vanderbilt’s Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) program trains investigators in the techniques and processes used in clinical and translational research. This program provides a direct, mentored experience in clinical investigation and, through didactic work, provides trainees with a strong foundation in study design, biostatistics with R, biomedical ethics, human genetics, drug and device development, and genomics. The program typically takes two years to complete. Graduates successfully compete for grants such as the NIH K23, VA Career Development Award, NIH R01, and major foundation grants.

Facts & Stats

  • 99% Program completion rate
  • $109.7M+ Foundation grants awarded to MSCI trainees since 2000
  • $160M+ K and R federal awards to MSCI alumni and students

Key Takeaways

  • Mentored research apprenticeship
  • Didactic work covering the essentials of study design, biostatistics, ethics, drug development, and data analysis
  • Final thesis based research project resulting in a first-authored manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal, or a completed proposal for a major federal or foundational grant
  • Career path development

Who Should Enroll?

  • Board-eligible physicians enrolled in a fellowship
  • Residents with protected time for research
  • Medical students with protected time for research
  • Vanderbilt faculty members with the consent of their Department Chair
  • Post-Doctoral PhDs anticipating a career in clinical and translational research
  • PhD candidates in the Nursing School anticipating a career in clinical and translational research
  • International students are eligible to enroll (ineligible if in the US on a student visa at the time of enrollment)

Completion of the Vanderbilt MSCI program has been critical in my journey to becoming a successful physician-scientist. I completed the program amid the COVID pandemic, which one could imagine afforded several challenges, each of which was seamlessly navigated by the MSCI leadership team—Eric, Arnita, and Alp. The faculty is world-class and very approachable. I could attempt to list all the skills I learned through the program, but I think most importantly, I learned to be an ethical and thoughtful physician-scientist equipped with the knowledge to answer research questions.

Donald Lynch, MD, MSCI
Assistant Professor, Medicine, Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati