The Senior Research and Career Development Awards will support physician investigators who qualify for admission to an established Master’s training program at Harvard Medical School. Upon completion of their training, the trainees will return to Portugal with a full and thorough understanding of clinical research and an active and ongoing clinical research project that will be continued and expanded in Portugal with the help of a two-year research and career development grant including an annual stipend (including benefits) and an annual supplement toward research costs in Portugal. An important condition of the award will be an institutional guarantee of the support and infrastructure required to carry out the work. This support and infrastructure must be guaranteed in writing by the Portuguese hospital, clinical institution, and/or research laboratory in which the clinical research will be conducted.

Each Senior Research and Career Development Award will include funding for the two-year Harvard Scholars in Clinical Science Program. This two-year post-graduate training program in clinical investigation includes formal course work, a longitudinal seminar series, and a mentored clinical research project. Students who successfully complete the program are awarded a Master of Medical Sciences degree from Harvard Medical School. 

Duration: Up to 4 years

Training at Harvard Medical School: Master of Medical Sciences - Scholars in Clinical Science Program (SCSP); http://www.hms.harvard.edu/gradprograms/scsp/admissions.html

Duration at HMS: 2 years

Funding: Up to 100,000 Euros / year (max. 400,000 Euros / 4 years. For the 2011 Calls funding is available for 1 award.

Please consult the Official Call for detailed application content. Submit online application through FCT website including the relevant annexes.

For information in English:
http://www.fct.pt/apoios/projectos/concursos/harvard/2011a/index.phtml.en

Application at HMS:Candidates must follow the HMS application guidelines.

The applicant must comply with the online FCT application form (see Guide to writing and submitting proposals available through the FCT website). In addition, applicants must create a complete application in .pdf form, written in English, that includes:

• Three detailed letters of recommendation sent by individuals who are familiar with the applicant's clinical ability and/or research potential. One of these letters must be from the applicant's Department or Division Head who must take responsibility for protected time of the applicant from clinical effort.
• A statement of intent that
  1. Describes the general area of research in which the applicant is interested and his/her reasons for choosing this area (maximum of 300 words).
  2. provides a general outline of the project(s) that the applicant wishes to complete during the tenure of his/her involvement in the Scholars in Clinical Science Program. Please provide as much detail as possible including hypothesis, methods and potential pitfalls. If the applicant does not have a specific project, describe in general what the project(s) might be (maximum of 700 words).
  3. If the applicant has already chosen a mentor, what were the reasons for doing so? (maximum of 200 words).
  4. Describes the applicant's reasons for wishing to attend this program, indicating his/her professional goals and describing why he/she feels that this program will be beneficial to him/her (maximum of 600 words).
• The CV of the applicant.

Please refer to the document “Application Guidelines” for practical information on the application.

Start of activity: Program starts July, 2012.

Progress Report: A yearly report will be delivered, for interim review by the Review Committee. The Committee has the right to recommend that further funding be discontinued or extended for one more year.

Final Report: A final Report will be delivered, for review by the Review Committee.

For more information on how to complete applications in the Project Calls portal please visit:

http://www.fct.pt/apoios/projectos/concursos/instrucoes.phtml.en

Please refer to the document “Terms of Reference for the 2011 Calls for Proposals” for extensive information on the call.

1. Who can apply for the JUNIOR Clinical Research Awards?

MDs in Portuguese residency training who want to initiate their clinical research in Portugal. These awards are intended for young MDs who are willing to complement their clinical training with a competitive research project.

Successful applicants will also attend the summer course "Program in Clinical Effectiveness" (PCE) at Harvard Medical School (HMS), which is designed for the clinician seeking the quantitative and analytic skills needed for clinical research or interested in health care administration.

2. Who can apply for the SENIOR Clinical Research Awards?

Physician investigators who are willing to take a 2-year Master's training program at Harvard Medical School, followed by a clinical research project in Portugal for an additional two years.

The Scholars in Clinical Science Program (SCSP) is a two-year post-graduate training program in clinical investigation and consists of formal didactic course work, longitudinal clinical research seminar series, and a mentored clinical research project.

3. What is the institutional support that must be guaranteed for a successful application?

Candidates (both Junior and Senior) must demonstrate the support of their institution, namely the health institution where their clinical training and/or practice is taking place, and the research infrastructure that will enable them to carry out the work. This support must be guaranteed in writing by the Portuguese hospital, clinical institution, and/or research laboratory in which the clinical research will be conducted.

Junior Awards candidates must also choose a Portuguese mentor. Where appropriate, a Harvard co-mentor may also be recruited.

4. Is this a full-time research project? How is it compatible with the medical residency?

Full-time dedication is only required during the training periods at Harvard.

Medical residencies are submitted to specific legal regulations ("Regime Jurídico do Internato Médico" - Decreto-Lei No. 203/2004 203/2004 ; DR, I Série-A, No. 194, 18 Agosto 2004) and research training projects must be organized accordingly.

For the specific case of residents committed to PhD training please consult "Regulamento dos Internos Doutorandos" (Portaria no. 172/2008 172/2008 ; DR, 1ª Série, no. 33, 15 Fevereiro 2008).

5. How long is the training period at Harvard Medical School for the Junior Awards?

Junior candidates will apply for the summer course "Program in Clinical Effectiveness". The research project itself will be conducted in Portugal.

6. How long is the training period at Harvard Medical School for the Senior Awards?

Senior candidates will apply for the 2-year Master in Medical Sciences "Scholars in Clinical Science Program" (the academic year begins the first week of July and runs through the last week in April). Following that, trainees will return to Portugal for an active clinical research project.

7. How is the application process for the Harvard Medical School training programs?

The applications for the summer course (Junior Awards) and the Master in Medical Sciences (Senior Awards) will follow the normal HMS admissions process. Please contact the HMS-PT team for further guidance into these applications.

For Junior Awards, tuition and registration will be provided for each qualified MD resident to attend the Harvard Medical School "Program in Clinical Effectiveness" (PCE) summer course during the first and second year of their award. The awardees must apply and be accepted to the PCE summer course through the normal PCE admissions process. Participation in the PCE for two successive summers will provide each awardees with a solid underpinning for clinical research.

For Senior Awards the HMS-PT Program Admissions Committee will forward the application of two students per year to the Harvard Medical School "Scholars in Clinical Science Program" (SCSP) Admissions Committee. If the top Portuguese applicant is accepted through the SCSP's normal application and admissions process, the program will award the student two years of funding to attend the program.

For more information on HMS applications: Program in Clinical Effectiveness (PCE) http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/adacemics/clinical-efectiveness/application/ and

Program for Scholars in Clinical Science (SCSP) http://www.hms.harvard.edu/gradprograms/scsp/admissions.html

8. Can I apply for the Junior Awards while doing my PhD?

Yes. PhD students can apply for the Junior Awards to complement and integrate their clinical and research training.

(Please note that the Junior Awards are attributed to a maximum of three years).

9. If I already have a PhD can I apply for these Awards?

Yes. The Senior Awards are intended to provide support for physician investigators, whether having a PhD or not. Candidates who qualify for an MSc training program at Harvard Medical School (HMS) will afterwards pursue a clinical research project in Portugal.

The "Scholars in Clinical Science Program" 2-year Program at HMS provides superior, coordinated didatic and practical training for individuals interested in careers in translational research.

10. What funding is available and what expenses does it cover?

For the Junior Awards funding is available for up to 80,000 Euros per year (maximum of 240,000 Euros for 3 years). Funding includes salary, travel expenses (namely to cover for the summer course at HMS) and research support in Portugal.

For the Senior Awards funding is available for up to 100,000 Euros per year (maximum of 400,000 Euros for 4 years). Funding includes salary, travel and tutorial costs during the 2-year MSc at HMS, followed by an annual stipend (including benefits) and an annual supplement towards research costs in Portugal for an additional two years.

11. Who will evaluate the applications?

Applications for the Junior Awards will be assessed by a Review Committee of independent experts, to be organized by FCT in close collaboration with Harvard Medical School. The top 2 applications will be forwarded to the "Program in Clinical Effectiveness" Admissions Committee.

Applications for the Senior Awards will be assessed by a Review Committee of independent experts, to be organized by FCT in close collaboration with the Harvard Medical School. The top application will be forwarded to the "Scholars in Clinical Science Program" Admissions Committee.

The application process is designed to recruit the most competitive Portuguese post-graduate student for intensive training in clinical research at Harvard Medical School. The Admissions Committee will include representatives from the Faculties of Medicine and teaching hospitals throughout Portugal as well as one advisor from the Harvard Scholars in Clinical Science Program. Applications will be ranked on the basis of their grades, test scores, research experience, letters of recommendation, and interest and aptitude for international-caliber careers in clinical investigation.

12. Do I need to have a defined research project by the time I apply?

For the Senior Awards, yes.

For the Junior Awards, no. However, we strongly suggest including as much information as possible on your main areas of interest and motivation to pursue a clinical research career.

13. Do I need to be a resident or PhD student to apply for the Junior Awards?

No, the only requirement is to be an MD and have a strong motivation to pursue a clinical research career.

14. I am not sure if I should apply for the Junior or for the Senior Award?

It only depends on your past research experience. For example, if you have already completed your residency but you have never developed a research project you are still eligible to apply for the Junior Awards.

15. Can I involve a third-party institution?

Yes, any third-party institution can be involved in the research project independently of its location. However, funding available for this grant can only finance national institutions and activities. The third-party institution should seek independent funding.

16. Where can I get additional information about these Awards and/or guidance for my research career path?

For discussion on guidance on your research career please feel free to contact the HMS-PT Program Director Prof. Carmo Fonseca (carmo.fonseca@fm.ul.pt). For practical information regarding applications and process please contact HMS-PT Project Manager Andreia Vaz (andreiavaz@hmsportugal.pt).