MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL RESEARCH (MSCR) SCOPE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH: Recent growth in clinical and pharmaceutical research efforts has intensified the need for proficient clinical research personnel in industry, health care and academia. As the clinical research field expands and evolves, so too does the increased need for highly trained and qualified research professionals encompassing all research and regulatory areas. These demands require extra highly skilled and developed clinical research workforce to address the increasing complexity of clinical research and health care administration. This master program in clinical research, the first in public sector universities of Pakistan, is designed specifically for clinicians to meet the need of vast demand of clinical investigations mentioned above in Pakistan and neighboring gulf countries, by providing a combination of course work and research experiences needed for as successful carrier. The curriculum provides the trainees thorough understanding of clinical research methodology, biostatistics and research ethics and will provide the students with the necessary skills to conduct independent clinical research, coach and supervise the others. Trainees will gain the talent to recognize the significant indigenous research problems, develop research protocols, generate the necessary project tools, develop and submit grant proposals in local and international funding agencies, conduct clinical research investigations, analyze and write the outcomes in publishable forms. This program is a two-year evening program, comprising of 4-semesters. It is tailored to facilitate the professionals who are working in day time along with other health care experts who want to enhance their academic qualification with a post graduate degree. It contains 40 credit hours taught courses with thesis writing and an internship program. Further detail for the program is explained in this prospectus. 1
1. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM: The aim of the Master of Science in Clinical Research program at DUHS is to develop future researchers in clinical prospects who would highly trained in clinical research design, methods and skilled. Also able to explore clinical investigation; work creatively and in cooperation with their colleagues in other disciplines to generate new knowledge to improve health. 2. PROGRAM STRUCTURE: It is a two-year program comprising of 4-semesters. All the course work is scheduled during the four semesters. The internship requirement should be completed during summer session. The last semester is assigned for research and thesis writing with the least load of coursework. 3. NUMBER OF SEATS: Total numbers of seats are fifteen (15). 4. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Students of this program must complete: i) Forty (40) credit hours (30 credit hours for 12 required courses, 10 credit hours for 4 elective courses and 3 for zero credit course) ii) 6-8 weeks internship program iii) Research thesis 5. PROGRAM TIMINGS: Daily 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm (except Fridays, Sundays & Holidays). 6. REQUIREMENTS OF THESIS Please see section 6 of MSBE program 2
7. TIME LINE FOR STUDENTS A student must complete his/her required 19 credit and non-credit courses in two years. The internship program should be completed by the end of the second year. Ideally, the thesis has to be completed by the end of the second year of registration. However, the thesis could be completed by the end of the third year. Else the student status will be decided by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BASR). 8. PROGRESS REQUIREMENT Please see section 8 of MSBE program 9. FACULTY Please see section 9 of MSBE program 10. CURRICULUM 10.1 Semester 1 (October 2011 - February 2012) (Total 14 credits hours) MSCR 701. Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 credit hours) MSCR 702. Biostatistics I (3 credit hours) MSCR 703. Principles and Administration of Public Health (3 credit hours) MSCR 704. Understanding, Writing and Reviewing Scientific Papers (3 credit hours) MSCR 705. Fundamentals of Mathematics (2 credit hours) MSCR 700.1.Computer Skills (Zero credit hours) 10.2 SEMESTER 2 (March 2012- July 2012) (Total 12 credits hours) Core Courses MSCR 706. Principles of Clinical Research (3 credit hours) MSCR 707. Protocol Development (2 credit hours) 3
MSCR 708. Evidence-Based Medicine (1 credit hours) MSCR 709. Technical Writing for Professionals (2credit hours) MSCR 700.2 Seminar and Journal Club (zero credit hour) Elective Courses MSCR 713. Ethics, Rights and Equity in Health (2 credit hours) MSCR 714. Society, Culture and Health (2 credit hours) MSCR 715. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Analysis (2 credit hours) MSCR 716. Strategic Planning and Marketing (2 credit hours) MSCR 717. Human Resource Management (2 credit hours) MSCR 718. Health Economics (2 credit hours) 10.3 SEMESTER 3 (October 2012- February 2013) (Total 12 credits hours) Core Courses MSCR 710. Design in clinical research (3 credit hours) MSCR 711. Biostatistics II (3 credit hours) MSCR 700.3 Seminar and Journal Club (zero credit hour) Elective Courses MSCR 719. Epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases (3 credit hours) MSCR 720. Health Management Information System (3credit hours) MSCR 721. Environmental & Occupational Health (3credit hours) MSCR 622. Legal Issues in Health Policy and Practice (3 credit hours) MSCR 723. Demography and Survey Methods (3 credit hours) MSCR 724. Political Economy of Health Policy & Health Sector Reforms (3 credit hours) MSCR 725. Qualitative Research Methods (3 credit hours) MSCR 726. Quality Management in Health Services (3 credit hours) 4
10.4 SEMESTER 4 (March 2013- July 2013) MSCR 712. Clinical Research Management (2 credit hours) MSCR 730. Thesis Work (6 credit hours) Total 46 credit hours 11.0 GRADING SYSTEM Please see section 11 of MSBE program 12. ADMISSION PROCEDURE 12.1 SELECTION BOARD: Please see section 12.1 of MSBE program 12.2 APPLICATION FORM: Please see section 12.2 of MSBE program 12.3 ENTRANCE TEST: Please see section 12.3 of MSBE program ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR ENTRANCE TEST: Applicants for admission in this program must have sixteen (16) years of education with the last degree in any discipline related to Health sciences from an accredited institution, approved by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. The fields include medicine, biology, dentistry, nursing, veterinary sciences, psychology and allied health sciences. SUBJECTS FOR ENTRANCE TEST PREPARATION: The entrance test will be based on the knowledge of Community Medicine, Statistics, Mathematics, Epidemiology, English and Logical reasoning. The test distribution will be Statistics 20%, Mathematics 10%, Epidemiology 20%, Community Medicine 20%, English 20% and Logical Reasoning 10%. 5
FINAL MERIT LIST: The Candidates will be selected on the basis of entrance test marks only. 12.4 DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WITH THE APPLICATION FORM: Please see section 12.4 of MSBE program 13 RULES AND REGULATIONS Please see section 13 of MSBE program 14. DOW UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CONDUCT RULES Please see section 14 of MSBE program 15. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXAMINATION Please see section 15 of MSBE program 16. LIBRARY Please see section 16 of MSBE program 17. IDENTITY CARD Please see section 17 of MSBE program 6
18. DECLARATION/UNDERTAKING AFFIDAVIT ON STAMP PAPER Please see section 18 of MSBE program 19. RULES FOR THE PAYMENT OF FEE Please see section 19 of MSBE program 20. SCHEDULE FOR ADMISSION TO FIRST SEMESTER of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL RESEARCH SESSION 2011 Please see section 20 of MSBE program 7