Courses

This core course runs January – April.

The purpose of this course is to explore the methods through which we acquire and make apparent knowledge in a variety of contexts, from early stakeholder engagement to implementation science.

The first part of the course will be an exploration of ‘Ways of Knowing’ and research ethics.

The second part of the course will focus on quantitative research methods: emphasizing objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational techniques.

The third part highlights qualitative research methods that collect and work with non-numerical data and seek to interpret meaning from these data to understand phenomena through the study of targeted populations or places/settings.

The final sessions will look at design and quality improvement approaches alongside data visualization and (knowledge) translation.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to demonstrate:

An understanding of different research methods.
How to evaluate and prioritize methods based on needs.
The ability to articulate information needs.

Enrollment

These are the mandatory classes you must take to complete the program.

You will automatically be enrolled in these courses and they will be preloaded to your ACORN (U of T’s learning system) before the given semester.

LMP 2330Y: Capstone Project in Translational Research

Credit: 2.0 FCE

Core course

Category

Core course

This core course runs September in your second year until your project is completed.

Capstone Project in Translational Research is a vehicle for learning to integrate knowledge and an opportunity to demonstrate new skills and competencies that are core-learning outcomes for the Masters in Health Science in Translational Research.

This is an Experiential Learning course where you will be guided in the development of your own project ideas and supported by the TRP teaching team and a committee of external advisors.

The project course provides opportunities to network and develop professional contacts through student-initiated activities such as interviews, engaging contacts as mentors, and committee members and collaborators. Through capstone projects you gain skills and competencies to navigate ambiguity and deal with setbacks in real-world contexts.

Translation spans a wide range of practices, from discovery science and clinical investigation to knowledge translation, commercialization and implementation, you may focus on a range of activities along the translational pathway.

The projects must be novel, collaborative, focus on a specific unmet health science need, allow you opportunities to demonstrate program competencies, and may contribute to:

Practice
Research (or scholarship)
Implementation
Leadership in translational research or practice

Learning outcomes

In order to successfully complete this course, you must demonstrate the following competencies:

Adaptability: open-mindedness, to be open to new initiatives, ability to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty.
Problem solving: ability to discover, identify, and assess problems, ability to pivot.
Critical thinking: ability to locate, assess, organize, analyze, and synthesize information.
Effective communication: ability to listen, ask pertinent questions, ask for and accept feedback, and communicate ideas clearly and effectively.
Initiative: ability to assess and take initiative independently, to champion new ideas, shows resourcefulness and effort.
Leadership: ability to provide direction, encourage others, implement and monitor the plan of action, plan and manage time and resources.
Continuous learning: ability to learn from experiences, to identify personal strengths and areas for growth, to identify learning opportunities.
Managing and resolving conflicts: capacity to negotiate effectively to resolve conflicts.
Assessing and managing risk: ability to establish, implement, and monitor progress and contingencies and to moderate uncertainty.
Integrity: demonstrates honesty, integrity, personal and professional ethics, accountability, and social responsibility.
Relationship management: ability to establish and maintain professional networks, shows respect for others and alternative points of view.
Team collaboration: accepts and provides feedback, shares information, work, and expertise, and contributes actively and effectively.

Instructor

Dr. Edyta Marcon

Enrollment

These are the mandatory classes you must take to complete the program.

You will automatically be enrolled in these courses and they will be preloaded to your ACORN (U of T’s learning system) before the given semester.

LMP 2340: Project Management Part I

Category

Module

This module covers:

the definition of projects
project management tools
techniques and organizational and interpersonal issues in project management within the context of the health care profession.

Although the course will focus on project management skills necessary to successfully undertake the Translational Research Program Capstone Project (LMP 2330), it will be of value to students outside of TRP.

This module is intended to help prepare you for successful careers or roles in health care where the successful completion of projects plays an increasingly important role.

The course is designed to help you understand the terminology used in, and theories behind, project management and to help them function successfully in project environments.

LMP 2341: Project Management II continues the theme.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Apply project management principles and practices (including specific techniques) in a variety of project contexts.
Determine and describe their own personal goals, motivations, and ways of working individually and within teams.
Apply and describe the management and communication techniques and skills that lead to successful project outcomes.
Determine when and under which circumstances to apply specific project management techniques.
Identify the role of time, cost and quality management in successful projects and determine trade-offs.
Explain the role of communication in project management and demonstrate effective communication both orally and in writing.

Enrollment

Students are required to complete eight modules (0.25 FCE each) spread out within 2 years of study.
Students may enroll in modular courses using ACORN.
The modular schedule will be emailed to students prior to the start of each semester.
Modules offered outside of the program are also permitted such as ones offered by the Institute of Medical Science (IMS).

LMP 2341: Project Management II

Category

Module

This module covers:

the selection of projects within different organizations
the impact of organizational culture on the undertaking of projects
project leadership
negotiation
techniques for budget and schedule tracking within the context of the health care profession.

Although the course will focus on project management skills necessary to successfully undertake the capstone projects, it will be of value to any graduate students whose future might involve the coordination, planning and allocation of resources.

Project Management, Part 2 is intended as a continuation of Project Management, Part 1.

While the first part is not a required prerequisite, students would benefit from (and are encouraged) to complete Part 1 prior to enrolling in Part 2.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Articulate strategies for selecting and evaluating potential projects.
Demonstrate the approaches to budgeting and monitoring milestones.
Describe the importance of Agile PM to innovation and translational projects.

Instructor

Steve Szigeti

Enrollment

Students are required to complete eight modules (0.25 FCE each) spread out within 2 years of study.
Students may enroll in modular courses using ACORN.
The modular schedule will be emailed to students prior to the start of each semester.
Modules offered outside of the program are also permitted such as ones offered by the Institute of Medical Science (IMS).

LMP 2342: Intellectual Property Fundamentals

Category

Module

This module introduces scientists to IP by weaving the basic areas of IP (patents, copyright, trade-marks and trade secrets) with an understanding of inventors’ rights and obligations and the mechanisms by which such rights can be harnessed into the economically beneficial outcomes of commercialization, both within the academic milieu and beyond.

Using a case study, you will learn to read and interpret patent documents, conduct patent and trade-mark searches, and gain an understanding of IP matters in the context of commercializing an invention by conducting freedom-to-operate analyses.

The module also includes a panel presentation of the IP policies of the University and its affiliated hospitals to familiarize you with each institution’s invention policies.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Identify different types of intellectual property.
Understand basic practices around establishing companies including registering corporations and trade names.
Understand basic patent searching and strategy.

Enrollment

Students are required to complete eight modules (0.25 FCE each) spread out within 2 years of study.
Students may enroll in modular courses using ACORN.
The modular schedule will be emailed to students prior to the start of each semester.
Modules offered outside of the program are also permitted such as ones offered by the Institute of Medical Science (IMS).

LMP 2343: Applied Intellectual Property

Category

Module

This module moves beyond a discussion of basic intellectual property (IP) concepts and will provide you with an opportunity to explore the implications of IP development and ownership, both generally and as specifically related to your career.

We will examine the content and key terms of a variety of agreements that impact IP rights including licensing, employment, consulting, and non-disclosure agreements, as well as IP terms of government calls for proposals (i.e. RFPs).

You will also have an opportunity to become conversant in basic ethical issues of IP through an examination of the potential abuses of IP rights, such as anti-competitive behaviour, barriers to IP access, IP non-use, and patent trolling.

The module concludes with an overview of business structures, and an introduction to corporate concepts such as shares, share vesting, and financing.

Throughout the module, you will have an opportunity to read and discuss recent case law and apply the material through negotiation exercises.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Appreciate the ubiquity of IP.
Gain a basic understanding of various agreement terms.
Refine negotiation skills.
Appreciate the key concepts, terms, and vehicles of commercialization/translation.

Enrollment

Students are required to complete eight modules (0.25 FCE each) spread out within 2 years of study.
Students may enroll in modular courses using ACORN.
The modular schedule will be emailed to students prior to the start of each semester.
Modules offered outside of the program are also permitted such as ones offered by the Institute of Medical Science (IMS).

LMP 2344: Translational Thinking

Category

Module

This module is designed to allow you to apply the Toronto Translational Framework to define your Capstone project.

The module is designed as a series of workshops and follow up activities intended to move you through the process of:

understanding a specific problem space
defining a range of patient-centric needs
analyzing a specific gap to define a particular problem
to be able to articulate that problem in the form of a research proposal.

This module is meant to supplement the introduction provided in LMP 2301Y: Projects in Translational Research and apply the learned approaches to develop or refine a translational capstone project.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Explore project domains, needs & problems.
Identify project teams, resources & milestones.
Develop a clear capstone proposal for review.

Enrollment

Students are required to complete eight modules (0.25 FCE each) spread out within 2 years of study.
Students may enroll in modular courses using ACORN.
The modular schedule will be emailed to students prior to the start of each semester.
Modules offered outside of the program are also permitted such as ones offered by the Institute of Medical Science (IMS).

LMP 2348: Knowledge Translation & the Community

Category

Module

Knowledge translation (KT) is defined “as a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically-sound application of knowledge to improve the health of Canadians, provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system” (CIHR 2000, 2010).

“This process takes place within a complex system of interactions between researchers and knowledge users which may vary in intensity, complexity and level of engagement depending on the nature of the research and the findings as well as the needs of the particular knowledge user” (Graham, 2010).

Designed as an experiential learning opportunity, this module is intended to allow you to investigate and to apply KT concepts in small collaborative groups with specified community partners/knowledge users.

Deliverables shall demonstrate a focus on integrative reflective learning and result in outcomes that demonstrate clear, specific, and individual learning objectives for each participant and tangible benefits or contributions to ‘translation’.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Understand varying knowledge translation approaches/frameworks/tools and strategies to be tailored to specific stakeholders and/or knowledge users.
Understand the different phases of the knowledge translation process and the role of knowledge brokers.
Exhibit the ability to collaborate with different stakeholders and/or knowledge users on knowledge translation projects/tools and/or the development of knowledge translation strategies.
Exhibit initiative, responsibility, and accountability for a knowledge translation/knowledge tool-related project in collaboration with stakeholders/knowledge users.
Display evidence of networking and collaborative strategies (including effective team building and community interaction).

At the end of the module, you will have gained insight into a range of knowledge translation approaches/frameworks/tools and implemented a knowledge translation approach/strategy in a community setting/with knowledge users that addresses a specific gap.

You will be expected to understand how knowledge translation and brokerage can lead to new and better ways of thinking about and improving health care.

Enrollment

Students are required to complete eight modules (0.25 FCE each) spread out within 2 years of study.
Students may enroll in modular courses using ACORN.
The modular schedule will be emailed to students prior to the start of each semester.
Modules offered outside of the program are also permitted such as ones offered by the Institute of Medical Science (IMS).

LMP 2349: Student Work and Research Module (SWARM)

Category

Module

The SWARM module is conceived as a “mini capstone” experiential learning opportunity.

The participating TRP students propose and implement a small collaborative project (10 – 12 hours of individual contribution toward implementation each) guided by the Module Facilitators and an SGS-appointed Faculty Member.

SWARM projects shall demonstrate a focus on integrative reflective learning and result in outcomes that demonstrate clear, specific, and individual learning objectives for each participant and tangible benefits or contributions to ‘Translation’.

Projects may vary in nature and can range from secondary research to prototyping or knowledge translation.

For example, a SWARM project may explore a method such as piloting a focus group, developing a marketing plan, or testing a proof-of-concept.

The deliverable may be a report, an artifact or a guide for future students (eg. quick guide to focus groups). A group may also work with a community partner to design and conduct a survey.

Specific rigorous learning outcomes and deliverables must be outlined in the SWARM proposal. Proposals must be assessed and approved before the project is started in order for credit to be granted on completion.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module you will be able to:

Indicate an understanding of planning and executing translational research related projects.
Exhibit the ability to collaborate on translational research related projects.
Exhibit initiative, responsibility, and accountability for a translational research related project.
Display evidence of networking and collaborative strategies.

At the end of the module, you must demonstrate a range of skills associated with project management, effective communications, collaboration, design thinking, implementation science and reflective evaluation.

You should be able to demonstrate initiative, leadership, accountability and responsibility through the successful execution of the proposed deliverables.

Instructors

Enrollment

Students are required to complete eight modules (0.25 FCE each) spread out within 2 years of study.
Students may enroll in modular courses using ACORN.
The modular schedule will be emailed to students prior to the start of each semester.
Modules offered outside of the program are also permitted such as ones offered by the Institute of Medical Science (IMS).

LMP 2351: Leadership

Category

Module