MSCR MD/MS in Clinical Research

MSCR MD/MS graduate students must complete a specified curriculum and a research project.

Coursework Overview

Students must complete a minimum of 48 units, including:

• 32-units of required upper division (100-series) and graduate (200-series) courses
• Elective courses (8-units), which are selected in consultation with and approval by the assigned adviser(s)
• Biomath 596 (8-units) directed individual study with assigned quantitative mentor

Mentored Research Project

MSCR MD/MS students will complete a Capstone Plan II (capstone: research report).

Capstone Plan II

• For the Capstone Plan, a Master’s Report Committee will be constituted for each student. The Committee will have a chair and at least two other faculty members. Subject to approval of the committee, the capstone report can take on a variety of forms including a research article or a grant proposal. However, in all cases, the committee expects each Master’s Research Report would add to the body of knowledge in the student's clinical specialty. The Committee will supervise the preparation of the report and will meet with the student regularly to review progress. The final research report will be presented orally to the committee and the full committee must approve the final written research report.
• Students are assigned a quantitative mentor to help with the design of the capstone project.

Required courses are listed below. All required courses are held at UCLA, but are available via Zoom for Cedars-Sinai, Lundquist-Harbor, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

Please see the UCLA Schedule of Classes for dates, times, and locations of classes.

Required Courses for Clinical Trials Track

• Biomath 170A. Introductory Biomathematics for Medical Investigators
• Biomath 259. Controversies in Clinical Trials
• Biomath 265A. Data Analysis Strategies I
• Biomath 266A. Applied Regression Analysis in Medical Science
• Biomath 266B. Advanced Biostatistics
• Biomath 261. Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans
• Methodology in Clinical Research (3 quarter series)
  • Biomath 260C. Methodology in Clinical Research 3: Observational Studies
  • Biomath 260A. Methodology in Clinical Research 1: Clinical Trials
  • Biomath 260B. Methodology in Clinical Research 2: Longitudinal and Community Studies
• Required Mentored Research Course
  • Biomath 596 Directed Individual Study with Quantitative Mentor (total of 8 units needed)

Required Courses for Biomedical Informatics Track

• Bioeng M227. Medical Information Infrastructures and Internet Technologies
• Bioeng 220: Introduction to Medical Informatics
• Bioeng M226: Medical Knowledge Representation
• Biomath 170A. Introductory Biomathematics for Medical Investigators
• Biomath 265A. Data Analysis Strategies I
• Biomath 266A. Applied Regression Analysis in Medical Science
• Biomath 266B. Advanced Biostatistics
• Biomath 261. Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans
• Biomath 260C. Methodology in Clinical Research 3: Observational Studies
• Required Mentored Research Course
  • Biomath 596 Directed Individual Study with Quantitative Mentor (total of 8 units needed)

Required Courses for Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Track

• Biomath 170A. Introductory Biomathematics for Medical Investigators
• Biomath 260C. Methodology in Clinical Research 3: Observational Studies
• Biomath 265A. Data Analysis Strategies I
• Biomath 266A. Applied Regression Analysis in Medical Science
• Biomath 266B. Advanced Biostatistics
• Biomath 261. Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans
• Biomath 268. Analysis of Electronic Health Records
• Biomath 267. Machine Learning for Medicine
• Biomath 269. AI Applications in Medicine
• Required Mentored Research Course
  • Biomath 596 Directed Individual Study with Quantitative Mentor (total of 8 units needed)

Elective Courses

MSCR MD/MS trainees in either track must take a total of 8-units of graduate elective courses (200 series). These can be taken in any quarter(s) during training. Electives must be basic science courses and can include courses offered in other departments.

Sample Timelines

• MD MSCR Clinical Trials track (PDF) (subject to change).
• MD MSCR Biomedical Informatics track (PDF) (subject to change).
• MD MSCR AI/ML track (PDF) (subject to change)

Course Descriptions

View all the TPTS course descriptions.

MSCR MD/MS Students

• Students who are accepted into a master's degree program will be primarily coded as medical students and pay medical students’ fees for the duration of their joint degree program. 

Fees are subject to revision without notice. View the current fee schedule.

To be eligible:

• MCSR MD/MS applicants should be second-year or third-year UCLA Medical Students, in good standing, who are interested in learning how to design, analyze, and conduct high-quality clinical research.

MSCR MD/MS Application Steps

STEP 1: Reach out to identify scientific mentor(s). Primary scientific mentors should be UCLA or UCLA-affiliated (Cedars, Harbor, Olive View) faculty. Secondary mentors may be from outside UCLA or its affiliates.

STEP 2: Prior to end of February, Submit your initial information with this form and discuss your eligibility, possible mentors, and projects with Dr. Elashoff and Dr. Ranganath before submitting a full MSCR application packet. To schedule a meeting, please email: delashoff@mednet.ucla.edu and vranganath@mednet.ucla.edu. Please contact them earliest possible if you need assistance with identifying a scientific mentor.

STEP 3: Schedule a meeting with yourself, your mentor, Dr. Ranganath, and Dr. Elashoff.

STEP 4: By April 1st. Submit an application packet via REDCap Application form (see instructions below).

STEP 6: Applicants who are accepted into the MSCR MD/MS program will be notified and instructed to submit an official online application to UCLA Graduate Division.

MSCR MD/MS Application

Deadlines:

The initial MSCR MD/MS application deadline is April 1. This allows time for MSCR admissions committee review prior to the April 30th UCLA Medical School Discovery Year declaration deadline.

Students who are accepted by the MSCR admissions committee will then be asked to submit an official online application with the UCLA Graduate Division.

The academic year begins in Sept/Oct (Fall Quarter).

Application Packet Submission:

You will receive an application link from REDCap after you meet with Dr. Ranganath and Dr. Elashoff and after you complete the initial contact form. You will upload the required items to the application form and submit it before the deadline.

Application items for April 1 deadline:

1. Current CV
2. Personal Statement
3. Letter of Intent (link)
4. Unofficial Transcripts (undergrad and medical school). Official versions (electronic transcripts please) will be needed for the Graduate Division application and must be sent directly from the institutions to Doug Smoot dsmoot@mednet.ucla.edu.
5. Letter of Commitment/Support from your research project mentor, including the mentor’s Biosketch.
6. Letter of Recommendation from another faculty member.
7. Capstone Research Project Description.
8. Letter of Enrollment Verification (students can download from the student document portal https://www.medsch.ucla.edu/docrequest/)

(Official transcripts must be sent separately directly from the institution directly to the contact below:)

Doug Smoot
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
CTSI Student Affairs
E-mail: dsmoot@mednet.ucla.edu

Questions: Please email the TPTS Coordinator at training@ctsi.ucla.edu.

An online application to Graduate Division will be required ONLY if accepted into the program.