Inspiring high school students in clinical research

Working as a clinical researcher can have massive, positive effects on other people’s lives, giving them the opportunity to live longer and healthier. However, the field is in desperate need of more trained research professionals. The NYU Grossman School of Medicine at New York University Langone Health (NYULH) in New York, USA, has developed an awareness initiative to teach high school and undergraduate students more about this field, with the aim of inspiring the next generation of clinical researchers. 

What is next?

There are many exciting things ahead for STEPPS. The STEPPS team has partnered with the New York City Department of Education as a training site for the Healthcare, Energy, Education, Environment, Agriculture, and Technology (HE3AT) Program. Once it becomes a HE3AT partner in the fall of 2024, the new program will allow high school students to spend one school day per month on site at the CRC throughout the school year for course credit. “This exciting opportunity to expand our curriculum will allow us to take an even greater focus on health equity and provide our students with more hands-on opportunities to learn what an important impact they can make on their community through research,” says Amin. “Students will be paid for their time and will engage with an expanded version of the original STEPPS curriculum that will include development of group research proposals and hands-on training,” explains Dr Gold-von Simson. Interested students may even be able to return the following year to implement their proposed research projects.

The program is already increasing the number of individuals interested in clinical work, with 40% of the students participating in STEPPS saying that they plan to pursue a career in research. It is a programme led by passionate and committed professionals who are motivating and inspiring clinical and translational research professionals of the future. STEPPS is ensuring more young people become interested in careers in clinical research – and know how to pursue their career aims – leading to better treatments and health outcomes for everyone worldwide.

Gabrielle Gold-von Simson, MD, MSc

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Director, NYU CTSI Clinical Research Center, New York, NY, USA

Program Director, Health Innovations and Therapeutics, NYU

Medical Director, Pediatric Acute Medical and Surgical Unit, NYU Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYULH

Melanie Jay, MD, MS

Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine and Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine,

New York, NY, USA

Director, Comprehensive Program on Obesity

Director, Research Collaboration and Mentorship

Director of Educational Initiatives & STEPPS Program, NYU Langone Health – Brooklyn

Amin Yakubov, MPH, MBA

Associate Director, Clinical Research Operations, NYU CTSI Clinical Research Center, NYU Langone Health – Brooklyn, NY, USA

Emily Drum, MPH

Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Education, NYU CTSI Clinical Research Center, NYU Langone Health Brooklyn, NY, USA

Field of research: Clinical and translational research

Research project: Scientific and Technical Education Pipeline Program for Students (STEPPS)

Funders: US National Institutes of Health (NIH) NCATS 1UL1TR001445 NYU Clinical and Translational Science Institute, NYU Langone Health Beyond Bridges Program, NIDDK R25DK119114-01A1, Biomedical Entrepreneurship Program for Advancement of Research Translation

About clinical and translational research

Clinical researchers play a critically important role in improving patient care and healthcare outcomes by developing new treatments and passing these on to practising doctors and medical professionals. “There are so many opportunities open to the next generation of researchers, and the field is burgeoning,” says Dr Gold-von Simson.

Working in clinical research does not mean any one focus or singular career path – in fact, it incorporates a huge variety of jobs. These can include working in a lab testing samples and developing methods, working with data produced from clinical trials, or organising and developing the process of the trial itself. “Students may also seek areas of education, community engagement, policy and data analytics,” says Amin.

Opportunities in the field of clinical and translational research are also expanding due to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. AI is being used in various ways in healthcare, leading to lower healthcare costs and better overall health outcomes for patients. For example, for someone struggling with polycystic kidney disease, researchers in the past had to spend around 45 minutes analysing kidney images to assess the extent of the disease. Now, researchers can use AI to analyse the images in a few seconds.

“The fields are changing rapidly and incorporating many aspects of AI and machine learning,” says Amin. “Advances in the sciences have tremendously accelerated because of this,” Dr Gold-von Simson adds.

Pathway from school to clinical and translational research

There are multiple ways to become a clinical researcher. Some people get into clinical and translational research through studying a pre-med undergraduate degree and then attending medical school. However, you can also become a clinical researcher through studying a scientific subject such as biology, biomedical sciences, psychology or chemistry, and later studying a master’s degree in clinical research. You may need to complete a PhD afterwards too. “It is hard work and requires a passion to help advance the field of clinical and translational science,” says Amin.

Amin and Dr Gold-von Simson both recommend studying a diverse curriculum, with humanities, sciences, computer science, informatics, public health, art and mathematics all useful. “Take courses that you enjoy!” says Dr Gold-von Simson.

If you have the option to take extra courses, learning about AI, machine learning, statistics and data analytics will also be useful in clinical research.

“Mentorship is extremely important in helping guide your research career,” says Dr Jay. Seek out multiple mentors to show you the ropes.

Explore careers in clinical and translational research

Amin recommends joining scientific groups and associations that promote clinical research, such as the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).

Watch this short video from the ACRP on what you need to start a career in clinical research.

Contact local clinical researchers working in your area and ask if you can learn more about their work or shadow them for a day. “Networking with local people in the field can be very helpful,” says Dr Gold-von Simson. “Get involved and network with your local academic centres and explore opportunities to intern or volunteer to learn more about the careers,” says Amin.

Have a look through this informative article from Indeed.com about becoming a clinical researcher and what a typical day for a clinical researcher might look like.

According to Zippia, the average clinical researcher salary in the US is $55,400.

Meet the team

Dr Gold-von Simson

I attended medical school and did my residency in New York City, where I saw a variety of patients with a wide range of diseases. I began working with patients with a rare neurodegenerative disease and quickly realised that hypothesis-driven research and drug development was essential.

Research results can change the trajectory of a disease and translate into better therapies, improved quantity and quality of life, and cost savings.

Working with early-stage researchers, physicians and entrepreneurs is very rewarding. The mentorship relationship is particularly rewarding; their intelligence, ideas, energy, motivation and potential are inspiring, and we learn from each other.

I plan to continue to take care of patients on the paediatric inpatient units, conduct clinical research, continue my role in hospital and research leadership, and develop and expand educational programmes.

Dr Jay

I became a physician because I wanted to have a positive impact on patient’s lives and improve their health. I became interested in obesity because it was negatively impacting so many of my patients, few physicians were being trained in how to treat it, and we did not have effective treatments.

I did not know right away that I wanted to do research, but careers can change. My first job was mostly clinical and seeing patients. I decided to do more training in research because I realised that I needed to contribute to our understanding of obesity since it is a complex disease. Don’t be afraid to explore different career paths; our experiences in life are rarely wasted.

I enjoy the creativity of research, contributing to scientific knowledge, and the ability to collaborate with many smart and interesting people. As a physician, my patients help me to figure out what questions I need to ask. Science is a team sport, and working collaboratively with others is fun and productive.

Amin

Being able to serve communities in need have shaped the way I approach healthcare and clinical research. Working at the NYU Langone Health and Bellevue Health and Hospitals, I was able to see first-hand how research and clinical trials are able to provide quality care and extend life among the poorest and most vulnerable of our communities.

Every profession has challenges, but the rewards of clinical research outweigh those challenges. Our rewards include helping move scientific discoveries forward and creating access to clinical research for all people.

Care about the work that you do daily. Choose careers and jobs that can make a difference in your and the world of others.

Emily

I enjoy being able to work in a field that is dynamic and is always pushing the boundaries of discoveries. We are immersed in innovative research daily and that is something that is very inspiring. Furthermore, at NYU Langone Health Clinical Research Center, we get to provide innovative clinical research to folks that would never have had the opportunity otherwise.

I am proud to be part of the clinical and translational science institute and its mission of training the next generation of clinical research professionals.

Instil a sense of continued lifelong learning. It’s never too late to get another degree, start training or learn a new skill.

Do you have a question for Dr Gold-von Simson, Dr Jay, Amin or Emily?
Write it in the comments box below and Dr Gold-von Simson, Dr Jay, Amin or Emily will get back to you. (Remember, researchers are very busy people, so you may have to wait a few days.)

Explore careers in dental research:

www.futurumcareers.com/a-world-of-opportunity-in-dental-research