Research Training

Scholarly Activity

The fellowship program is committed to the training of academic leaders in Pediatric Hematology. This means the training of innovative, creative scholars who are dedicated to the advancement of the field. This may involve training in basic research, clinical investigation, or education.

It is expected that the first year fellow will be exposed to a variety of clinical, translational, and basic research during that year. He/She will become acquainted with the broad opportunities in fundamental, and translational research available on the University Campus, as well as the unique environment in which to become a master teacher.

Advanced Degrees

Fellows interested in obtaining advanced degrees may apply to the UCLA STAR program to obtain either a PhD or a masters in Clinical Research, Masters in Clinical Science, or Masters in Public Health. Fellows may also participate in the core curriculum of the UCLA Graduate Training Program in Translational Investigation (K30).

Research Opportunities

UCLA provides a wide spectrum of research opportunities. The Howard Hughes Institute and the Molecular Biology Institute are just two examples of the infrastructure of basic research at the University available to our fellows. Fellows also have the option of doing research at California Institute of Technology. For trainees more inclined toward translational and clinical investigation, the UCLA-Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Rand Corporation, and the UCLA School of Public Health provide a milieu in which clinical investigators will flourish. The School of Public Health now offers a Masters Degree in Clinical Investigation. And for those trainees dedicated to the development of innovative educational approaches to our field, the School of Education provides an environment in which novel tools and ideas can be developed, adapted, and evaluated.

Training Grant

The Division of Pediatrics Hematology-Oncology has an NIH funded training grant in Developmental Hematology (T32). First year fellows interested in Basic, Translational, and clinical research will be expected to apply. The training grant supports fellows for two years. (UCLA Training Program in Developmental Hematology website)

Scholarship Oversight Committee

During the second and third years of training the fellow is expected to focus on and develop an area of creative interest. Early in the initial year, the fellow is expected to recognize (with faculty guidance), the appropriate avenue for pursuit (e.g., basic translational research, clinical investigation, or educational scholarship). The fellow will select an appropriate mentor during the initial year of training, a supervisor who will guide the trainee to develop the skills and potential for productivity that are required for a successful academic career. The Fellowship Director and Division Chief will appoint a Committee of three or more faculty (appropriate to the specific scholarly activity of the fellow) to oversee the progress of the fellow’s scholarly efforts. The fellow’s scholarly mentor will be an ex officio member of the Committee. The fellow will present plans and progress to the Scholarly Oversight Committee no less often than twice per year, and the Committee will provide a reports of those meetings to the Fellowship Director, for inclusion in the fellow’s dossier.

Fellows are encouraged to submit abstracts to national meetings, including ASPHO, ASH, AACR, and ASCO. Third year fellows are expected to present their research to the departmental fellows noon seminar as "work in progress" and on Science Day in June of their third year. Second year fellows present posters on Science Day.

A successful academic career is measured by clinical competence, the ability to impart knowledge and, most importantly, by innovation. Academicians are expected to seek competitive funding for their innovative efforts, and the Department of Pediatrics at UCLA, requires that all fellows seek independent funding for their second and third years of training. This exercise is expected of faculty and there is no better time to learn how to do it than during training. Over the last 8-10 years, every fellow has been successful in finding partial or complete support for his/her training during the second and third years of training.

And Beyond...

We recognize that many fellows will not be ready to assume full faculty responsibility after the completion of the three years of required training. Dedicated scholars often require more time to achieve the independent academic momentum to progress to tenure rank in a defined limited time. Promising scholars who require additional experience will be encouraged to spend an additional year or two as Clinical Instructors, with limited clinical responsibility, in order to attain this level of productivity. This option requires that the Division and the fellow work together to secure salary support for the extension of the protected training period.

The Department of Pediatrics recognizes that physicians at this level of experience have outside family and financial responsibilities. Applications for debt remission are encouraged and a new salary scale for Clinical Instructors make this continued experience a valuable opportunity. The Department of Pediatrics has a K12 (or Institutional Mentored Investigator Award) in which Clinical Instructors and Assistant Professors can apply for funding for two years. There is also a Grant Mentorship Program.