BIRCWH Program Activities

Program Activities

Although the program structure is relatively malleable, the didactic components that is required of all BIRCWH Scholars include:

  • Core competencies in interdisciplinary translational/clinical science
  • Responsible Conduct of Research Training
  • Tulane BIRCWH Seminar Series
  • Tulane Health Sciences Research Days
  • NIH’s Annual meeting for all of the BIRCWH Scholars and PIs across the country
  • Other National Meetings

Core competencies in interdisciplinary translational/clinical science

All scholars are required to have basic training in biostatistics, epidemiology and research methods. A course in grant writing is also strongly encouraged if no such experience is documented. Competencies related to ethical conduct of research, scientific writing, review of papers, development of abstracts, research design, analysis plan, specific aims and grantsmanship are all regarded as essential.

Responsible Conduct of Research Training

The CITI human subjects’ research educational program consists of a basic course of 12 modules for biomedical investigators, 11 modules specifically prepared for investigators conducting social/behavioral research and 5 general interest modules. The CITI course meets the Federal training mandate for institutions that supervise the conduct of human subjects’ research. All Tulane University employees who are involved in the conduct of research are required to complete the CITI training. CITI training completion reports for all BIRCWH Scholars and their mentors will be required.

Tulane BIRCWH Seminar Series

The monthly BIRCWH Seminar is coordinated by the PD. Grantsmanship, review of articles and grants, mock grant sessions, career development issues, career management aspects are covered, in addition to topics related to women’s health and cardiovascular disease. Scholars are encouraged to provide input regarding the BIRCWH seminars and the topics they address. Former BIRCWH scholars, also called BIRCWH Associates, will also present to current Scholars in the area of mid career development.  

Health Sciences Research Days

To emphasize the existing Women’s Health research as well as promote interest and facilitate future collaboration, Tulane BIRCWH sponsors the Tulane BIRCWH Distinguished Lecture Series in collaboration with the Tulane Health Sciences Research Days. Additionally, the BIRCWH Scholars, HSC faculty and students are invited to submit abstracts and posters.  This format has served as an excellent opportunity for BIRCWH Scholars to gain experience in giving conference-style presentations. The Tulane BIRCWH Program sponsors the Award for Research in Women's Health and Sex Differences in Cardiovascular and Related Diseases for a distinguished student poster presented during Health Sciences Research Days.
 

Tulane BIRCWH Scholars with the 2018 BIRCWH Distinguished Speaker, Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz, Director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Tulane BIRCWH Scholars with the 2017 BIRCWH Distinguished Speaker, Dr. Jane Reckelhoff, Director of the Women's Health Research Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Tulane BIRCWH Scholars with the 2016 BIRCWH Distinguished Speaker, Dr. Janine Clayton, Director of the Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health.

NIH Conference and National Meetings

Part of the training in academic medicine is to attend and present at scientific meetings, building experience and one’s professional network. All current Tulane BIRCWH Scholars are expected to participate in a national meeting each year and to submit and prepare posters, abstracts, and presentations. All Scholars are required to attend the annual Women’s Health Conference sponsored by the NIH, highlighting SCORE (Support of Continuous Research Excellence) and BIRCWH programs. This meeting is usually held for two to three days in November of each year.  In consultation with their mentor, and as approved by the Program Director, BIRCWH Scholars may travel to one additional scientific meeting per year of award.

Scholar Resources

Click HERE for access to BIRCWH Scholar Resources