The Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) for Medical and Dental Students is a 12-month program designed to attract the most creative, research-oriented medical and dental students to the intramural campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Participants, known as Fellows, spend a year engaged in a mentored clinical or translational research project in an area that matches their personal interests and goals.

An individualized program is developed for Fellows, who attend clinics, see patients on the wards, and work with a principal investigator in our laboratories on selected clinical research projects. Fellows learn about translational research, that first step from the bench to the bedside and back to the bench; attend lectures on clinical research; and participate in an interactive, group learning experience with the members of the class and leading NIH physicians and scientists.

Fellows can remain at the NIH for a second year, depending on support of the sponsoring NIH institute, availability of funds, and permission from the student’s home institution.

The training program was established at NIH in 1997.  Since 1998 it has been supported jointly by the NIH and the Foundation for NIH through grants from Pfizer Inc as part of the company’s commitment to public-private partnerships.  In 2004, the program was expanded to accept 30 students a year thanks to support through the NIH Roadmap as part of its Re-engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise initiative

The Foundation for NIH was established by the United States Congress to support the mission of the National Institutes of Health - improving health through scientific discovery.  The Foundation identifies and develops opportunities for innovative public-private partnerships involving industry, academia, and the philanthropic community.  A non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, the Foundation raises private-sector funds for a broad portfolio of unique programs that complement and enhance NIH priorities and activities.  The Foundation’s Web site address is www.fnih.org.

Information about CRTP’s ten-year anniversary is online.