Offered in collaboration with our Clinical and Translational Science Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s dual MD/MS in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) with a specialized focus on translational research is designed for students who want to pursue a career in translational research—applying research advances to the development of new medical therapies.

In this dual degree program, students take courses on topics including research design, biostatistics, epidemiology, drug design, and manuscript writing. Students also complete an original research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor and the program director.

In weekly seminars, students exchange ideas with other students, discuss problems encountered during their research, and develop solutions. This experience allows students to be part of our vibrant community of researchers.

Throughout the program, faculty mentor and the program director track student progress and set benchmarks, which include submitting research abstracts and manuscripts for publication and presenting at national research meetings. The program culminates with a written thesis and oral defense based on original research.

Timeline for Completing the Program

The 31-credit MSCI can be completed with the MD degree by adding an additional year of training into the MD degree. After the clerkship year in the MD curriculum, students join the degree program for a year. During that time, students focus full time on the MS in translational research before returning to complete their final year in medical school.

During the final year in the MD program, students resume their MD training and, at the same time, complete a limited amount of MS coursework and finish their research. Students receive the same level of mentoring and complete the same milestones as postdoctoral fellows, except they write a reflective thesis based on their research instead of the grant proposal required of postdoctoral fellows.

Time allotted for electives in the medical school curriculum can be used during the final year to complete research. With this project, students earn 12 elective credit weeks that count toward their MD degree and 12 independent research credits that count toward the MS degree.

MS in Clinical Investigation Courses in the Dual Degree Curriculum

SEMESTER	COURSE	CREDITS
Summer–Fall	Clinical Research Methods	3
Summer–Fall	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
Summer–Fall	Advanced Epidemiology or Developing New Drugs Selective	3
Summer–Fall	Integrative Research Seminar	1
Summer–Fall	Introduction to Health Informatics	3
Summer–Fall	Independent Research	1
Semester Total:		14
Spring	Scientific Integrity and the Responsible Conduct of Research	0
Spring	Clinical Trial Design	3
Spring	Biomolecular Medicine	3
Spring	Integrative Seminar	1
Spring	Independent Research	4
Semester Total:		11
Fall	Integrative Seminar	1
Fall	Independent Research	5
Semester Total:		6
Curriculum Total:		31

Program Application, Tuition, and Funding

Students apply to the MD/MSCI in translational research directly through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute during the spring of their second year at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. As part of the application, students choose a research project and faculty mentor and submit a CV, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. The program leadership can assist with identifying a faculty mentor if assistance is needed.

Students receive an NYU Grossman School of Medicine Full-Tuition Scholarship to cover the cost of tuition for the MD degree program, provided each student maintains satisfactory academic progress in accordance with NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. For the MSCI portion of the degree, tuition discounts are available from the National Institutes of Health. For more information about tuition rates, merit-based scholarships, and other options for financing your MSCI in translational research, contact the program.

Contact Us

For more information about the MD/MSCI in translational research, email Dr. Michael Pillinger at MSCIDualDegree@NYULangone.org.

For additional information about this and other dual MD/master’s degree programs, contact Emily.Wolschlag@NYULangone.org.