THE DRUG SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS CROSS-DISCIPLINARY TRAINING (DSECT) PROGRAM

Abstract

Clinical therapeutics are a cornerstone of treatment for most medical conditions. Pharmacotherapy research is a substantial worldwide enterprise. There are too few researchers who are flexible enough to understand how molecules move from bench to bedside and how their own work transcends conventional boundaries. The Drug Safety and Effectiveness Cross-Disciplinary (DSECT) Training Program has been designed to provide a training environment for future scientists in Canada to generate new knowledge that is focused on integrative thinking about the discovery and use of effective and safe medications. This one-year program fosters cross-domain learning and collaboration using a multi-pronged approach to encourage development of both content-focused and research methods knowledge related to drug safety and effectiveness, as well as practical skill and capacity building. The curriculum consists of: an annual symposium, development of an individualized learning plan, one-to-one mentorship, a series of on-line sessions on integrative concepts in drug safety and effectiveness, on-line self-study modules and discussion sessions, a series of practical research skill-building sessions, practicum/exposure opportunities, a seminar series, an Objective Structured Knowledge Translation Experience (OSKTE) and a Book Club. This innovative curriculum is poised to broaden and strengthen the competency and culture of drug safety and effectiveness research while capitalizing on the benefits derived from knowledge pursuit that crosses multiple domains of the scientific academy.