Education & Training

The Master of Science in Clinical Research (MS-CR) degree at the University of Kansas is a 33-credit hour program designed to help aspiring researchers and clinician scientists develop critical research-related skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, data management, research methods, scientific writing and research ethics. Students are encouraged to develop a publishable manuscript as part of thier culminating thesis. 

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The Master of Science in Bioinformatics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City is designed to support students interested in a career in bioinformatics, clinical research, or both.  The program provides strong foundational training in clinical research skills with an emphasis on patient-oriented research and medical informatics. 

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The Certificate in Clinical Research at the University of Missouri-Kansas City is a 15 credit hour program that provides foundational training in clinical research and is designed to support students who either do not need or are presently unable to meet the requirements of a full master degree program. 

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The Health Data Science Graduate Certificate program includes 15 credit hours of coursework from the KUMC Health Data Science curriculum. This program offers students the flexibility to complete it online, in-person, or through a hybrid model. It is designed to supplement the education and careers of individuals who work in various fields such as health care, insurance, consulting, education, health anayltics, biomedical research, government and biology. 

This 5-session series brings trainees and mentors with lived-experienced together to discuss the creation of environments conducive to recruitment and retention, the importance of both mentorship and sponsorship, and strategies for building and empowering diverse research teams.  Thanks to our colleagues in the Sunflower Pediatric Clinical Trials Network for sponsoring this program.

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This easy to navigate website provides brief step-by-step guidance for both mentors and mentees as the embark on and cultivate a mentoring relationship.

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UMKC School of Medicine 

This 3-credit hour course combines instruction and practical exercises to move the participant step-by-step through all stages of planning research, identifying funding sources, and writing grant applications primarily to the National Instiutes of Health (NIH). Upon completion of the course, the student will have developed a quality proposal and be able to demonstrate skills in preparing apllications. These will include developing dunable research ideas, identifying appropriate funding opportunities, developing application sections, and crafting a quality grant application. Peer-review and collaborative feedback to other class participants is a major part of the learning experience. Contact the Frontiers Training Navigator for more information. 

This 2-credit hour course addresses the mechanics of how to write clearly, focusing on mechanics, structure and style. Students will practice specific strategies for writing effectively, with in-depth attention paid to how ideas are distributed through well written sentences and paragraphs. Also includess editing and revision of writing for publication and grant submission. Contact the Frontiers Training Navigator for more information. 

This 3-credit hour course covers the methods of comprehensive syntheses of research evidence. Rigorous review methods will be highlighted, such as searching for potentially relevant articles; selecting primary articles using explicit, reproducible criteria; appraisal of studies; quantitative data synthese; and, interpretation. The course uses the framework provided by the GRADE Working Group to evaluate certainty of esitamtes and present and interpret evidence. The focus of the course is on systematic reviews of interventions, which typically include randomized trials and non-randomized studies that evaluate therapeutic interventions and outcomes. The process can be applied to other review topics and study designs, whcih may be mentioned but not covered in the course. Contact the Frontiers Training Navigator for more information. 

The design, implementations, analysis, and assessment of controlled clinical trials. Basic biostatistical concepts and models will be emphasized. Issues of current concern to trialists will be explored. Contact the Frontiers Training Navigator for more information. 

The purpose of this 1-credit hour course is to engage research trainees in reading about, considering, and discussing the responsible conduct of science. The course is designed as an option for meeting current federal regulations, which require that all NIH training grants provide training in responsible conduct of research. This course provides a concise overview of key subject areas in the responsible conduct of research. It is designed to make students aware of relevant guidelines, policies and codes relating to ethical research, as well as to provide the skills for identifying and resolving ethical conflicts that may arise in research. Contact the Frontiers Training Navigator for more information. 

This course introduces the principles and practices required to conduct rigorous and reproducible research across the translational spectrum. The National Institutes of HEalth (NIH) promotes rigor and reproducibility in their guidance to grant applicants as part of the scorable parameters that grant reviewers must address. In this course, students learn best practicies, including sound study planning and design, consideration of all relevant biomedical variables, sound data management practices, statistical considerations and techniques, and transparency in reporting research results. Contact the Frontiers Training Navigator for more information.

Implementation Science Course.  This 3-credit hour introductory course addresses theoretical principles and practical applications of implementation science. Contact the Frontiers Training Navigator for more information

Training in Implementation: Actionable Research Approaches (TIARA). The 4-module, self-guided training program integrates key readings and recorded presentations to guide both researchers and clinicians interested in orgainzational imporvement through theories and pragmatic approaches to translating evidence into practice. Module 1 addresses basic definitions and principles in implementation science, Module 2 addresses theory and approaches, Module 3 covers design and analysis, and Module 4 addresses practice-based considerations. 

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NIH Implementiation Science Webinar Series. These Implementation Science Webinars bring together national leaders in the field to discuss advanced dissemination and implementation research topics and answer questions from the community. You can register for upcoming webinars and view archived sessions covering Implementation Science topics. 

Implementation Science Core Resources. Additional information on implementation science training opportunities and individual consulations can be seen here. 

This brief, 4-part introduction to Biostatistics for Clinical and Translational Researchers is offered live each summer and is a great orientation to study design and statistics for students and clinicians that are new to research. 

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Recordings of presentations from prior years are also available. 

Small group sessions are offered each week to provide training for Frontiers investigators and KU Medical Center affiliates for our supported informatics systems REDCap (data capture) and HERON (cohort discovery and data extraction). 

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The NIH Mock Study Section is available to clinical and translational researchers affiliated with any Frontiers institution. The service is open to all career stages whose work is defined by the NIH as Clinical and Translational Research (CTR). The NIH definition includes patient-oriented research, epidemiologic and behavioral studies, outcomes research, and health services research.

Request Review

Researchers who are interested in pre-review of an NIH grant proposal through the mock study section should complete the online Letter of Intent (LOI) through our Consultation Request Form before the program cycle deadline. Frontiers Central will review LOI submissions to confirm eligibility and applicability of the mock study section review process. Accepted applicants will receive a link to submit their completed draft proposal as a single PDF by 5:00 PM CT on the full proposal deadline date.

LOIs due Aug. 25, 2023.

Applications will be due Oct 6, 2023. 

Applicant Responsibilities

A completed draft of each applicant's NIH proposal must be submitted by the program cycle deadline. Early submission allows time for careful review by members of the Study Section. Accepted applicants will receive a link to submit their completed draft proposal by the due date. Applicants are advised to submit the LOI early and then focus on developing their application. The Frontiers Mock Study Section is most beneficial when applications are complete and compliant with NIH grant submission guidelines. Required proposal documents vary by NIH funding mechanism but are limited to those key parts that are needed for an effective review. Visit the links below to download a list of required documents by grant type. Currently, R and K series grants are eligible for review through the mock study section.

K series Career Development Awards (PDF)

R series Research Grants (PDF)

Reviewer Selection

Applicants are asked to recommend qualified reviewers during the LOI process. Additional reviewers will be invited based on (1) their content area expertise and its relevance to the applications under review, and (2) their experience reviewing the specific NIH grant types submitted by applicants. Final selection of reviewers for a specific mock study section event is determined by the content of proposals submitted by applicants. 

Submitted applications will be available to reviewers at least one month prior to the study section meeting. Reviewers will be asked to submit preliminary scores and written critiques at least one week before the meeting using an online platform.

Interested in being a reviewer? Fill out our form.

Feedback and Evaluation

Applicants and observers will be invited to attend the in-person study section meeting, which simulates an actual NIH study section. Applications will be discussed and final scores assigned during this meeting. Following the meeting, co-chairs of the study section prepare a final summary statement. The summary statement, scores, and written feedback are returned to applicants approximately 1-2 weeks after the mock study session meeting.

Program Benefits

The mock study section mirrors the NIH review process. Three faculty reviewers provide initial scores prior to the discussion. At the mock study section, co-chairs facilitate the panel review. Three faculty reviewers discuss feedback on individual grant applications, and final scores are given after the discussion is complete. The study section uses NIH scoring criteria and procedures. The entire review panel scores each application. Comments are compiled into a Summary Statement and released to applicants 1-2 weeks following the mock study section.

The mock study section provides grant-writers with a better understanding of NIH review procedures and timely feedback on in-progress proposals to improve the quality of grant submissions.

Observers are invited to attend the Mock Study Section to better understand the NIH review process and the criteria used to evaluate applications.

Program Process

Applicant Registers and Submits Materials:

• Applicant submits an online Letter of Intent and Specific Aims page by 5:00 PM CT on the deadline date (Aug. 25, 2023).
• Frontiers Central recruits qualified reviewers
• If accepted, the applicant submits a full grant application through an invitation link by 5:00 PM CT on the cycle deadline date
• Grants are distributed to assigned reviewers

Mock Study Section Review:

• Grant is initially scored and reviewed by three study section members
• Entire panel discusses the proposal
• Co-chair summarizes the discussion and reviewers revisit scores
• Entire panel completes score sheet
• Observers/applicants can attend the meeting to learn the process and hear the grant discussion

Summary Statement - Feedback:

• Administration compiles written critiques
• Co-chair provides written summary of the discussion
• Feedback returned to applicant 1-2 weeks after mock study section.