Research Training Program

The major component of the UCSF Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program is the research training program. Approximately 2/3rds of fellows time is protected for research and research-related training. The Program is designed to prepare fellows to become independent and productive researchers after completing fellowship training. In some cases, fellows may elect to pursue a fourth, non-ACGME year of research-focused training during which there are minimal clinical obligations. This can be a critical time of development and transition for fellows pursuing careers in academic medicine and the Program is committed to supporting any fellows opting for a 4th non-ACGME year of training.

Opportunities for research training for Fellows are available in cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry and biophysics, and in many areas of clinical-translational and outcomes research. There are many additional special educational opportunities for Fellows to expand their experience in research and teaching through affliliated programs such as the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), Newborn Brain Research Institute (NBRI) and Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. For instance, courses are offered in Biostatistics, Study Design, Scientific Writing, and the Art of Lecturing.

In addition to the weekly Neonatal-Perinatal medicine conference series, there are research conference series within the CVRI NBRI or other Institutes that fellows may choose to attend. Guest lecturers from around the world regularly visit the UCSF campus and its affiliated research institutes to present their work.

Individual Research

Each Fellow works individually with a faculty research mentor. The mentor supervises the Fellow's research activities, instructs the Fellow in laboratory techniques and provides the laboratory space and facilities for the Fellow's research. Depending on the Fellow’s research interests, the research mentor may be a member of the Division of Neonatology, a member of another division of the CVRI or Department of Pediatrics, or of another Department at UCSF. Decisions regarding research activities and preceptors are preferably made prior to the start of the Fellowship, although this is not a requirement. So that appropriate interviews can be arranged, the applicant should indicate, on the application form, any specific areas of research interest or faculty members with whom the applicant may wish to work. Applicants may be ask to provide an additional supplemental Statement of Research Interests to facilitate in the Program in the interview process and help determine appropriate mentorship.

Fellows present their research (including work in progress) at the Neonatology Research Seminars and are expected to submit their work to appropriate regional and national research meetings once developed. Each Fellow is provided funds to help attend at least one national research meeting per year.

Clinical Research

Fellows may pursue projects and training in various areas of Clinical-Translational research including clinical, outcomes, quality and global health. As part of their clinical training fellows support the many ongoing clinical research projects conducted in the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) and Neurointensive Care Nursery (NICN) at UCSF. Current clinical research projects underway in the ICN and NICN include:

  • Pulmonary function of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)

  • Effects of fetal balloon tracheal occlusion on pulmonary function in infants with CDH.

  • Evaluation of different treatment regimens for neonatal seizures.

  • Study of fetal and urinary biomarkers in bladder outlet obstructions.

  • A controlled trial of fetal treatment of meningomyelocele

  • Effectiveness of early MRI scanning in predicting long term neurological outcome after perinatal asphyxia

  • Use of MRI scanning to determine pre-operative neurological defects in infants with congenital heart disease

  • Role of MRI to predict long term outcome after premature birth

  • Immunological defects in infants with congenital heart disease

  • Effectiveness of two different feeding regimens for patent ductus arteriosus treated with indomethacin.

  • Long term follow up of high risk infants

Neonatal faculty members serve as mentors for clinical research projects in the ICN.

Fellows whose primary research activities are in the clinical sphere are encouraged to enroll in the Advanced Training in Clinical Research (ATCR) and Training In Clinical Research (TICR) programs. These programs, sponsored by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, provide courses in epidemiology, design of clinical trials, interpretation of data, and presentation of results. Detailed information about the various aspects of the program are available at the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics website.

Institute for Health Policy Studies (IHPS)

Neonatology Fellows who wish to pursue research in health policy studies can select a preceptor in the IHPS, a multidisciplinary research unit established at UCSF in 1972 and directed by Dr. Harold Luft. The faculty members are active in research in epidemiology and health policy services; several have a particular interest in perinatal and neonatal medicine. Facilities include conferences and courses as well as extensive databases for each of the various research projects and computer facilities for use by the trainees.

Evaluation

As mandated by the American Board of Pediatrics for subspecialty fellows, each Fellow has a Scholarship Oversight Committee. The Committee may include the Fellow's Research Mentor as one member of the committee. The purpose of the Scholarship Oversight Committee is to meet periodically with the Fellow to review progress, both clinical and research, and to provide advice and constructive criticism.