Description

The Emergency Medicine Collegiate Program for Research (EM-CPR) is an interdisciplinary training initiative based at Los Angeles General Medical Center and supported by SC CTSI Workforce Development. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in clinical and translational research through a combination of hands-on clinical research experience, structured education, and longitudinal mentorship.

Participants are recruited from the University of Southern California and California State University, Los Angeles, and are embedded within active research studies in the emergency department. Students engage directly with patients as research participants screening, consenting, and supporting data collection while adhering to rigorous ethical and operational standards.

Training and program management are delivered through a web-based Learning Management System (Brightspace), which streamlines onboarding, tracks progress and supports continuous learning. The curriculum includes foundational training (CITI certifications) and bi-weekly didactic sessions led by faculty covering topics such as clinical trial design, research ethics, data analysis, and scientific communication.

In addition to workforce development, EM-CPR serves as an evaluation-driven initiative examining training effectiveness, student confidence, and career trajectory in clinical research. The program contributes to building a diverse and skilled pipeline of future clinical researchers while advancing research capacity in safety-net healthcare settings.

Goals and Strategic Vision

EM-CPR aims to develop a scalable, sustainable, and equitable model for integrating students into clinical research within community and public hospital settings.

The program’s long-term vision is to:

  • Strengthen the clinical and translational research workforce
  • Improve research participation in underserved populations
  • Build community-engaged research capacity
  • Increase entry and retention in clinical research careers

Key Focus Areas

  • Clinical and Translational Research Training
  • Workforce Development and Career Pathways
  • Ethical Patient Engagement in Research
  • Health Equity and Community-Based Research
  • Team Science and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
  • Scientific Communication and Dissemination

Building the future of clinical research through hands-on training, mentorship, and innovation in emergency medicine.

NIH Funding Acknowledgment: Important - All publications resulting from the utilization of SC CTSI resources are required to credit the SC CTSI grant by including the NIH funding acknowledgment and must comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.

This program is open to all eligible individuals. SC CTSI operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

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