# Molecular Medicine Training Program at Cleveland Clinic/Case Western Reserve University

> **NIH NIH T32** · CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU · 2022 · $312,217

## Abstract

The Molecular Medicine Training Program of the Case Western Reserve University School of
Medicine is specifically designed to introduce medical knowledge into graduate training and
foster translational research relevant to human disease. It is one of the very few stand-alone
Molecular Medicine PhD programs in the United States. It takes advantage of four factors to
create an environment particularly suited to this purpose. First, this Program is located in the
Lerner Research Institute where physicians and scientists from both the Cleveland Clinic and
the School of Medicine have historically worked closely together to focus cutting edge research
upon the causes and treatments of human illness. Second, a novel core curriculum has been
designed to provide a solid foundation in basic scientific principles presented in the context of
human organ systems and disease. Faculty research presentations, lab rotations, student
research seminars, and an annual program showcase reinforce the translational application and
potential clinical impact of the basic scientific principles throughout training. Third, the Training
Program contains a broad range of trainers heading outstanding translational research
laboratories in which our trainees perform rotations and thesis work. The range and strength of
these laboratories, their collaborative interactions, and the commitment of the trainers to support
of the Training Program is evidence of the collegial scientific environment within the Training
Program. Finally, to ensure that each of the trainees comes to understand the clinical aspects
of their area of investigation, each selects a Clinical Co-Mentor who helps organize an individual
clinical experience. Through this experience trainees are introduced to patient diagnosis and
treatment on a first hand basis. The Clinical Co-Mentor remains on the student’s thesis
committee through graduation. In addition, the Program has been at the forefront in including
program evaluation, responsible conduct of research training, rigor and reproducibility training,
sexual harassment awareness, individual development plans, and career/professional
development seminars that provide information about diverse career pathways. This proposal
seeks funding for 6 trainees within the Training Program. This Training Program has gained
national recognition and has had excellent outcomes. Since our first class matriculated in 2007
there has been a total of 55 PhD graduates with an average time to degree of 5.38 years. Our
trainees preparing to take their places in diverse roles in the biomedical workforce, including as
the leaders of the next generations of NIH funded laboratories translating basic scientific
principles to address patient needs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10426323
- **Project number:** 5T32GM137868-02
- **Recipient organization:** CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonathan D Smith
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $312,217
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10426323

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10426323, Molecular Medicine Training Program at Cleveland Clinic/Case Western Reserve University (5T32GM137868-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10426323. Licensed CC0.

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