As a preamble, this group discussed the need for training clinical investigators at multiple levels. One model is the type of clinical investigator developed in the Johns Hopkins program, who identifies a research idea, develops an investigative approach and assembles a research team to solve a novel problem in an interpretative, creative way. Also needed are individuals trained in clinical investigation at levels sufficient to collect data for clinical trials, to coordinate trials, and to manage data. Managed care organizations were considered very unlikely to support training of clinical investigators except, perhaps, if a stream of funds were to arise through the public's willingness to pay a fee on their managed care premiums for participation and access to clinical trials. Academia may support clinical investigators after some prioritization of funds, but there is nonetheless pessimism in some sectors about the ability of academic institutions to the primary souce of support.
Government represents the best hope for support of clinical research training.
Some vehicles include the GCRC mechanism and institutional training awards. As for the best routes to promote these attributes in clinical investigations, the group concluded that many routes work and all should be kept. D. is one of these routes and does produce leaders in academic medicine. However, this is not necessarily the same goal as the ability to do clinical research. D. dual degree.