Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship Program

The overall goal of the Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship program is to achieve excellence in clinical pharmacology education through mentored research, structured teaching and self-guided instruction. Comprised of trainees with an MD, PhD or PharmD degree, our program has successfully produced graduates who have advanced to prominent positions in academia, industry and regulatory agencies.

The Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship program is generally completed within two years, and is weighted primarily towards learning through mentored research. Formal coursework and directed learning, including weekly division grand rounds, fellows’ conferences and didactic courses, also provide education in core skills that can be individualized for each fellow’s chosen career path. Because of this, more traditional lab-based postdoctoral trainees are encouraged to utilize Vanderbilt’s clinical research resources, while clinically trained individuals become familiar with relevant basic science research concepts.

Upon completion of at least two years of approved fellowship training, as well as participation and completion of the educational curriculum of the Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship Program, trainees are eligible to sit for the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology board exam.

Although the program is primarily structured around supervised research, there are several expectations to ensure fellows are adequately prepared to sit for the board exam:

  • Acquire fundamental research skills through mentored research
  • Attain competency in the areas outlined by the core skills below through structured and informal teaching and self-study
  • Attend all Clinical Pharmacology Grand Rounds and Fellows’ Conferences
  • Present at Clinical Pharmacology Grand Rounds
  • Actively contribute to the success of the program

Fellows are also strongly encouraged to form a mentoring committee. Mentoring committees are required for all T32 fellows who have access to one of two standing T32 mentoring committees led by our faculty. Meetings are coordinated every six months by the mentee, and discussions are guided by a pre-developed mentoring committee. Fellows obtaining training in clinical pharmacology, including all T32 fellows and anyone intending to sit for the board exam, must attend the majority of educational programs and obtain education in all elements of the program’s core curriculum. Those wishing to write for the Clinical Pharmacology board exam must also provide an annual written report summarizing their educational progress.

Core Skills in Clinical Pharmacology

Key skills and knowledge that are integral to clinical pharmacology have been identified below, and essential courses are in bold. • Basic molecular biology

  • Biostatistics, study design and data analysis
    • Covers study design, basic statistical methods (parametric and non-parametric), hands on use of SPSS Statistics, or a similar package, common statistical errors, and data presentation
  • Career planning
  • Drug analytic methods
  • Drug effects and disposition in special populations (elderly, children, pregnancy liver and renal impairment, pregnancy and lactation)
  • Drug regulation and development
    • Covers history of the FDA, the new drug application and approval process, the FDA Advisory Committee process, drug discovery, biomarkers and outcome measures, intellectual property issues, preclinical testing, and early clinical development
  • Drug safety - surveillance, adverse drugs reactions and drug interactions
  • Grant writing and strategy
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics
    • Covers absorption, metabolism and excretion, basic pharmacokinetic calculations, effect of variation in drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters and pharmacogenetics
  • Presenting data and teaching skills
  • Research ethics and IRB processes
    • Covers ethics of research, protection of human subjects, protection of privacy, responsibilities of an investigator, the role and function of the IRB and data safety monitoring
  • Toxicology and poisoning
  • Writing and reviewing a paper

Vanderbilt provides a rich postgraduate education experience. In addition to mentored research, fellows’ training is supplemented by weekly Clinical Pharmacology Grand Rounds, conferences and formal courses. Regular attendance at prearranged seminar series, as well as attendance at lectures relevant to career enhancement, will strengthen the fellow’s overall educational experience.

Weekly Clinical Pharmacology Grand Rounds feature presentations by external speakers, faculty, and fellows on research or topics that are of interest to clinical pharmacologists. All fellows are expected to attend.

Fellows’ Conferences are arranged weekly by the Chief Fellow, and include journal clubs, formal lectures by faculty and fellows, biostatistics lectures, and faculty roadshow lectures where faculty give talks they have been invited to deliver at other institutions. All fellows are expected to attend.

Most formal courses are provided by the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and the Department of Pharmacology, while others are provided by the Vanderbilt Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) Program, the Vanderbilt Clinical Research Center, and the National Institutes of Health. Courses required of fellows include:

  • Research Ethics and IRB Processes: This course covers ethics of research, protection of human subjects, protection of privacy, responsibilities of an investigator, the role and function of the IRB, and data safety monitoring.
  • Biostatistics and Study Design: This course includes study design, basic statistical methods (parametric and non-parametric), common statistical errors, data presentation, and hands on use of SPSS or a similar package.
  • Drug Regulation and Development (MSCI): This course covers history of the FDA, the new drug application and approval process, the FDA Advisory Committee process, drug discovery, biomarkers and outcome measures, intellectual property issues, preclinical testing and early clinical development.
  • Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics (Pharmacology): This course covers absorption, metabolism and excretion, basic pharmacokinetic calculations, effect of variation in drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters and pharmacogenetics. 
  • "Principles of Clinical Pharmacology"(NIH): An online course that has a weekly series that covers the fundamentals of clinical pharmacology.

The division also arranges a Fellows Research “Bootcamp,” which includes a three- to four-hour Saturday morning immersion experience for new fellows. While the course is designed primarily for Clinical Pharmacology fellows, it is open to other fellows at Vanderbilt. This course takes place at the beginning of each academic year and provides training to jumpstart research. Topics include choosing your mentor and project; introduction to IRB and human subjects research; how to start a clinical research project at Vanderbilt; creating a database - BioVU and the synthetic derivative; and calculating sample size.

We are currently accepting applications for our Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship Program. To apply, please submit a letter of application stating why you wish to train in Clinical Pharmacology via email to Dr. Bjorn Knollmann along with the following:

  • Current CV
  • Indicate if you are eligible for a T32 training grant (must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident)
  • Indicate if you have identified a source of funding that will support your salary during fellowship training

If you have additional questions, please contact us.

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What is a T32 fellow?

The NIH provides funding for the training of seven fellows in the T32 program. T32 fellows are supported for two years and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Is this a two-year program?

The T32 program is two years, and most other fellows stay one to three years depending on the source of their funding and career goals.

When does the program start?

While most T32 fellows start in July, the program has rolling start dates that depend on the individual’s funding, mentor needs, visa, etc. There is no formal closing date for applications.

How do I apply for T32 fellowship?

Please reference the application process outlined above, and indicate if you are eligible for a T32 position.

What is the primary source of funding support for trainees?

Positions for fellows are funded through the division’s NIH training grant. To be eligible for funding through the NIH training grant, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Does the program accept non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents?

Yes, non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents are accepted into the program. However, they are not eligible for NIH T32 funding, so they many come with their own funding from a home institution, or find a Vanderbilt mentor who has grant funding that requires a fellow. To connect with a mentor, please explore our lab and research centers for faculty working in your area and contact them directly.

How are T32 positions allocated?

T32 positions are competitive, and we select individuals with the greatest academic potential in clinical pharmacology.

Am I competitive for a T32 position?

Successful candidates have already demonstrated a commitment to research by publishing papers and exhibiting future career plans that involve clinical pharmacology.

Can I be a clinical pharmacology fellow if I am not a T32 fellow? Yes. We have approximately 30 fellows, eight of which are funded by the T32 training grant. Others are funded by individual research grants. To secure such a position, you should contact individual mentors for whom your skills are a good fit.

Do I get a degree or certificate?

No, this is not a degree or certificate awarding program. Individuals who complete training may be eligible to sit for the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology exam.

Program Leadership

Bjorn Knollmann, MD, PhD

Professor of Medicine
Fellowship Program Director