PhD (CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH) at University College Cork

The PhD (Clinical and Translational Research) is a full-time inter-institutional thematic structured PhD programme running over 48 months from the date of first registration for the programme, offered collaboratively by UCC, NUIG, UCD and TCD. Students on the programme are awarded their PhD by their host institution. Students registered in UCC for the programme are awarded their PhD by UCC on successful completion of the programme.

Students registered for the PhD (Clinical and Translational Research) undertake a four year programme of study comprising a total workload equivalent to 360 ECTS including taught modules to the value of 90 credits over Years 1, 2 and 3, as detailed below.

Programme overview:

Year 1:

• Graduate education modules (including placements in academic labs, industry and clinical research facilities), 70 ECTS.
• Students start PhD research project towards the end of Year 1.

Years 2 and 3:

• PhD research project.
• Graduate education modules in Years 2 and 3, 10 ECTS to be completed in each year.

Year 4:

• PhD research project

Yearly:

• Annual review by host department from Year 2.
• 6 monthly progress review for UCC students by UCC programme committee.
• Annual Scientific Meeting where students present a report on their research to an audience of relevant supervisors, co-supervisors, research teams and colleagues from each of the four member Universities, in addition to MMI-associated personnel and management.

Students registered in UCC on this programme will be governed by UCC's regulations on monitoring and progression (available here). This process may involve the inter-institutional programme team.

Programme Learning Outcomes for PhD (Clinical and Translational Research) (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)
The primary learning outcome of this thematic structured PhD is that of all PhD degrees, i.e., the generation of new knowledge in the field which is publishable in whole or in part as a work of serious scholarship. The degree will accordingly be awarded solely on the basis of the thesis.

In addition, consistent with the national understanding of the goals and objectives of structured PhD education, the inclusion of a formalised programme of structured training and education undertaken in parallel with the thesis research adds several learning outcomes which ultimately enhance the breadth of education and in particular the career opportunities of the doctoral graduates.

In this case, on successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Conduct patient-focused and disease-oriented research demonstrating a high level of discipline-specific skill developed through coursework, placements and the conduct of independent research;
• Describe the requirements of good laboratory practice and good clinical practice and the maintenance of a laboratory book;
• Illustrate a deeper understanding of practical translational research through laboratory rotations in disease-oriented research groups;
• Demonstrate understanding of the complexity of patient-focused research studies and clinical trials following a placement in a Clinical Research environment;
• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in maintaining a three-way 'dialogue' between bench, bedside and business so that real clinical outcomes result from the research activity;
• Describe in detail the translation of innovative research to the clinical and commercial arena;
• Demonstrate awareness of the development and protection of Intellectual Property;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory environment governing the commercialisation of patient-oriented research;
• Demonstrate a high level of generic skills in management and communication of research.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical and Translational Research (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of patient-focused and disease-oriented research methods;
• Demonstrate a high level of discipline-specific skills developed through coursework and placements;
• Describe the requirements of good laboratory practice and good clinical practice and the maintenance of a laboratory book;
• Illustrate an understanding of practical translational research through laboratory rotations in disease-oriented research groups;
• Critically discuss the complexity of patient-focused research studies and clinical trials following a placement in a Clinical Research environment;
• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in maintaining a three-way 'dialogue' between bench, bedside and business so that real clinical outcomes result from the research activity;
• Describe the translation of innovative research to the clinical and commercial arena.