There is an ever-present need for highly qualified clinical investigators, defined as those participating in patient-oriented, translational, epidemiologic, behavioral, outcomes or health services research.

The overall mission of the UCSF Training in Clinical Research (TICR) Program is to increase the number and quality of clinical investigators. This is achieved by offering a broad array of educational opportunities to learn the methods of clinical research through multi-component programs and individual courses.

The cornerstones of the TICR Program are the multi-component educational programs.

Summer Clinical Research Workshop

Advanced Training in Clinical Research (ATCR) Certificate Program

Master's Degree Program in Clinical and Epidemiologic Research (including Tracks in Data Science in Clinical Research and Implementation Science)

In addition to the comprehensive programs, most of the courses within these programs can be taken on an individual basis by persons not enrolled in the entire program. Coursework covers the lifecycle of clinical research including planning of observational and experimental study designs, project implementation, measurement, data management, biostatistical analysis and interpretation, and scientific and public dissemination. While the methods taught in these courses are applicable to a wide variety of subject matter-specific research questions, specialized courses are also available that demonstrate how these methods are applied in particular fields (e.g., cancer and aging).