Innovative Approach to Research Training: Research Colloquium for Junior Investigators

Abstract

Training future clinical researchers is clearly a critical issue for psychiatry and medicine. With the advent of new technologies, the development of new methodological approaches and study designs, and more sophisticated statistics, conducting research has become increasingly more complicated. How will a new generation of competent researchers be prepared to face these new challenges? Research training should be an essential part of all physician training. Because of the dearth of young investigators in our field, the importance of research training in psychiatry has been a focus of an Institute of Medicine report (1). Numerous avenues for research training have been explored (1). However, as the number of young researchers remains low, new approaches to research training and mentoring need to be explored. There are basically two main areas of research training. A general one, focused on an often vaguely defined concept of “research competency,” includes the ability to understand research literature (research literacy) and learning to conduct simple studies. A more specific area of research training focuses on preparing young investigators for a research career and includes learning specific research skills such as molecular biology, brain imaging, or genetics; conducting more complicated studies; and obtaining research funding. Most departments of psychiatry offer some education in the first area. However, only a small fraction of the departments of psychiatry in the United States are able to offer formal research training (2) that is focused on the preparation of young investigators for a research career. In addition, even the highest-ranked research departments with substantial resources do not possess expertise in all research areas. Two crucial questions in the development of a new generation of researchers are: How do we connect the pool of talented potential young researchers with experts in the field and/or mentors? How do we advise and help talented potential young investigators affiliated with nonresearch oriented departments of psychiatry to launch their research career? Frequently, contacts between young investigators and interested senior investigators are fostered at professional meetings (e.g., in a form of special sessions or travel fellowships). However, these programs are offered to a relatively small number of young investigators or are not well structured. It is critical to enhance the connection between young investigators and potential mentors and to focus and formalize the mentoring process. During the mid-1990s, APA Committee on Research Training (CRT) conceived the idea of a yearly Colloquium for Junior Investigators (i.e., residents, research fellows, junior faculty members, and occasionally medical students). The Colloquium addresses, at least in part, the need to connect experts in the field with young investigators who can obtain much-needed advice about their research career, both regarding its scientific focus and issues of grantsmanship and academic advancement. The Colloquium, led by Ronald M. Rieder, M.D., of Columbia UniReceived February 20, 2010; revised March 8 and March 15, 2010; accepted March 16, 2010. Dr. Balon is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; Mr. Guerra is affiliated with the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education in Arlington, Virginia; Dr. MeadorWoodruff is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. Oquendo is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University & New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York; Drs. Salloum and Nemeroff are affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida; Dr. Casiano is affiliated with the Center for Psychotherapy Research at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Address correspondence to Richard Balon, M.D., UPC-Jefferson, 2751 E. Jefferson #200, Detroit, MI 48207; rbalon@wayne.edu (e-mail). Copyright © 2011 Academic Psychiatry