Spain

The Catholic University of Valencia (CUV) offers 4 - 8 week preclinical (experimental), clinical and translational research rotations to WVU medical students in key specialty fields and medical disciplines at the research laboratories and clinical centers affiliated to the CUV in Valencia (Spain).

Each rotation provides highly qualified students with the opportunity to have direct experience in the study of patients enrolled in investigational protocols for diagnostic and therapeutic innovation with the help of experimental bioassays and biotechnologic product developments under the co-mentorship of clinical and preclinical scientists.

Participants will learn fundamental principles of preclinical (experimental), clinical and translational research within a two-sided research track, from bedside to bench and thereafter from bench to bedside.  They will collaborate in research projects approved with the mission of translating scientific observations and laboratory discoveries into new approaches for diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases.

Laboratory facilities include: Primary human tissue culture and GMP level cell production for autologous transplantations; Multiplexed molecular physiology and proteomics; Genomics and functional genetics; Molecular histopathology and image analysis; Experimental animal models, in vivo microscopy and molecular imaging; Immunology.

State-of-the-art Valencia hospitals affiliated to CUV have over 800 inpatient beds and multiple ambulatory clinics accommodating approximately 10,000 admissions and over 100,000 outpatient visits each year.

Participants learn about the design and conduct of clinical students aiming to identify genes and molecules associated to specific diseases and disease stages, while evaluating or treating patients.  They will also learn about experimental models of disease, designed for the pathogenic and pathophysiologic research, at a preclinical level, of those genes and molecular pathways previously associated to specific diseases and disease stages.  Finally, they will learn about methods for the clinical validation as either diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets of those specific genes and molecules contributing to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of studied diseases.

Participants will stay in 1 - 2 different clinical services where they will learn about different clinical entities and their investigational protocols for diagnostic and therapeutic innovation.  Bedside teaching rounds are held daily, and grand rounds are held weekly.  Twice weekly, research activities in progress are presented for critical review.  Outpatient clinics are held twice weekly for screening of patients referred for admission and for follow-up observation and care of patients receiving therapy.  Students will attend all of these activities, including daily care of hospitalized patients.  Participants will focus in a single clinical entity, in order to understand validation studies on diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets of those genes and molecules contributing to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology in a specific disease.

Specific competencies/Skills are: Methods for the study of patients enrolled in investigational protocols for diagnostic and therapeutic innovation; Methods for the design of clinical models of disease that can be useful for gene and molecular profiling of patients at a specific disease stage; Methods for pathogenic and pathophysiologic research through experimental models of disease; Methods for the clinical validation of new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

General competencies: Research design, data collection, and statistical analyses.