<p>Hello,</p>
<p>So, I'm currently enrolled in a biomedical science PhD program. I like the program and am primarily interested in doing research, though am not sure about whether in academia or industry yet. </p>
<p>But the thing, is, am especially interested in clinical applications of science, i.e., drug or vaccine design, or in my case, designing immunotherapies.I would therefore also be interested in working on clinical trials, as opposed to just doing mouse models. Basically, my question is, would it be useful or worthwhile (necessary?) to go to medical school in order to productively pursue that kind of research? I've noticed that most of the researchers working in the areas I'm interested in (such as immunotherapy) are MD/PhDs, or even just MDs (including the PI who's lab I'm working in right now), and physicians do have access to human samples that PhDs do not, as well as a venue in which to conduct clinical research.</p>
<p>Could I, as a PhD, effectively pursue more clinical or translational research? Would I be able to garner most of the benefits of an MD by simply collaborating with one and using their access to, say, human cell lines, or human patients for testing immunotherapeutics?</p>
<p>I guess what I'm reflecting on is, though I want first and for most to be a research scientist, is it possible that my interests are 'clinical enough' that I should reconsider becoming a 'physician-scientist,' or would that be redundant or not worth the time and effort to invest after completing my PhD?</p>
<p>Thanks for any input.</p>
<p>I can’t really comment on your question, but if you don’t get many responses here, try posting here: [Pre-Med</a> Topics - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/]Pre-Med”>Pre-Med Topics - College Confidential Forums) It’s pretty active over there, and there’s several people who might be able to answer your question. :)</p>
<p>In short: Yes. </p>
<p>In most research institutions, you’ll find a number of collaborative studies being done with MDs and patients from local hospitals. In fact, as pharmaceutical companies are moving the burden of R&D more into academia, more money is coming from industry to build exactly the kinds of translational labs and relationships that you’re talking about.</p>
<p>If you want to treat patients directly, go to med school. However, if you’re just interested in getting your hands on patient samples, that’s very normal for research scientists. If you want to research and develop something like a therapeutic, work in collaboration.</p>
<p>To be clear, I think rabbitstew is saying yes, you can do the work you want to without an MD.</p>
<p>Would it be necessary for you to attend medical school to pursue applied or translational research, such as on clinical trials? No. Many PhDs do clinical trials alongside MDs. I think there’s a selection bias in that people who are interested in clinical trials are more likely to have done an MD or MD/PhD, and conversely, most PhDs may be more interested in more basic research in the biomedical sciences. But PhDs can certainly do that kind of research granted they get the training that’s necessary.</p>
<p>Would you garner most of the benefits of an MD by collaborating with them? It depends on what you mean “benefits.” Collaborating with MDs will, in general, produce more access to patients who are potential study participants. You can also contract for access to human cell lines with doctors and hospitals and patients directly; you don’t have to be an MD for that. There are lots of PhDs who work for pharmaceutical companies or contract with/are paid by pharmaceutical companies to do research. I see PhDs on published studies of RCTs all the time - more than MDs, typically, to be honest.</p>
<p>The four years you spend in med school would probably be better spent fostering a relationship with a clinic nearby the institution you work for, applying for grants, and trying to gain access to cell lines. It’s not that it’s not worth the time and effort overall, but you don’t need it to do what you want to do.</p>