Basic Biomedical Research

Training Program

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Fellowship Program in Clinical Research

The goal of the biomedical research track of the Fellowship Program is to provide a rigorous, exciting, and productive training experience for those individuals interested in developing careers as independent physician-scientists. This requires at least a three year commitment to the study of molecular and cellular mechanisms of arthritis, autoimmune, and musculoskeletal diseases, or to the development of novel therapeutic agents or vaccines targeted at these conditions. During the first year of the program, each fellow will have the opportunity to meet with principal investigators as well as other trainees, to discuss specific projects, interests, and plans for career development, which will be tailored to each candidate’s interests, abilities, and goals. Prior to the start of the second year, each fellow is expected to identify a mentor, who will usually be a member of one or more of the six specific Research Programs described below.

An extensive biomedical research program is available to Rheumatology fellows at the University of Pittsburgh. The biomedical research base, defined as independently funded research projects related to arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases (and the related basic sciences such as Immunology, Molecular Genetics and Biomechanics) currently consists of 60 projects from 26 Principal Investigators representing 12 Departments in 3 Schools of the University. In addition, this base is only a subset of more than 100 investigators working in related fields that may be of interest to Rheumatology fellows seeking to become independent physician-scientists. Members of this biomedical research base have an outstanding record of established extramural funding.

The following descriptions of current biomedical research activities at the University of Pittsburgh has been organized into Research Programs which define groups of investigators with common research interests. All faculty within these Programs are Principal Investigators of independently funded basic and/or clinical scientific projects with specific aims that focus directly upon molecular and cellular mechanisms of arthritis, autoimmune, and musculoskeletal diseases, their treatment, or their prevention. It should be noted that there is extensive collaboration among members of many program areas and that these collaborations extend across the boundaries of basic science and clinical medicine. In fact, one of the strengths of the research base at the University of Pittsburgh is the close working relationships among basic science and clinical faculty.