ACTSI Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) Scholar Success
Lauren Colbert is a fifth year student at the Emory University School of Medicine in the dual MD-MSCR program. She was supported by the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute’s (ACTSI) TL1 Medical Scientist Training Program, has successfully completed the coursework requirement for her Masters of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR), and is on track to graduate with both MD and MSc degrees in May 2014. She graduated, cum laude with a BA in chemistry and religion from Hope College and carried out research in the field of Organic Chemistry during her time there.
Her current research focus under the ACTSI-MSCR program is on molecular markers of cancer in GI cancers and she is currently in the data collection and analysis stage of her independent research. The ACTSI’s TL1 program supports pre-doctoral clinical and translational research training including the MD-MSCR dual degree program. Lauren is the recipient of a RSNA Research and Education Foundation grant which is in part supporting her research on molecular markers. She recently published a research paper on mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) and how it can be used as an effective biomarker for prognosis in patients with early stage pancreatic cancer. The International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics has also published abstracts and complete texts of her work focusing on this research.
This month Lauren was invited to give two oral presentations during the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology in Atlanta. In addition, she will be presenting the use of Observed Structured Teaching Exercises (OSTEs) to enhance teaching of bedside physical examination by senior students at the 40th Anniversary STFM Conference on Medical Student Education in Nashville in January 2014. She also gave poster presentations on her research at the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington D.C. and at the ASCO GI Cancer Symposium 2013 in San Francisco.
For more information about ACTSI's TL1 Medical Scientist Training Program and other MSCR programs please visit our training section or contact Cheryl Sroka.