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VERITY/Brigham Course in Rheumatology Clinical Research is a four-day course for early investigators in rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease performing clinical/epidemiologic/patient-oriented research that is held every other year. Participants of the course will refine specific aims for a grant or develop methods/statistical analyses for ongoing/proposed clinical research projects. The course consists of formal lectures, breakout sessions, office hours, and feedback about their project and advice on career development. The course also promotes novel relationships between institutions for research.

Participants have the opportunity for long-distance mentorship after the course from a VERITY faculty member to obtain further guidance on their research project and career development. Participants will be eligible to compete for grant opportunities of up to $30,000.

ELIGIBILITY: The VERITY/Brigham Course in Rheumatology Clinical Research is aimed at early-stage (typically residents, fellows, or junior faculty) investigators pursuing clinical/patient-oriented/epidemiologic research studies in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The course is aimed at investigators who are not yet independent, but are currently performing or have performed research investigations. Accepted applicants will typically hold the academic rank of fellow, Instructor, or Assistant Professor and should be actively performing mentored clinical/patient-oriented/epidemiologic/transitional research studies. Non-physician clinician-scientists, health professionals, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers are eligible. Applicants holding independent funding (R01 or equivalent) are not eligible. Please note that the competitive slots available for this program are limited.

INSTRUCTIONS: Applicants should clearly demonstrate the current state of their research and the short-term goals that the course will help facilitate. Participants will develop and refine the methods section of a research protocol or specific aims for a grant submission (e.g., Scientist Development Award from the Rheumatology Research Foundation or NIH K08/K23) during the course. This will be accomplished by didactic sessions with faculty, breakout sessions, and one-on-one meetings with faculty. On the last day of the course, all participants will present their final study design and/or grant aims. After the course, each participant will have the opportunity to be paired with at least one faculty member to provide long-distance mentoring for career development and guidance on the project developed through the course.

For additional information on the 2024 VERITY Course and access to the course application, please click here.

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