Designing Clinical Research for Beginning Investigators
The course focuses on the most important aspects of clinical research, which are finding a meaningful research question and planning an efficient, effective, and ethical study design. Designed as a practical guide, the course addresses basic and advanced concepts of most forms of clinical research, including translational research, clinical trials, patient-reported outcomes research, epidemiological studies, behavioural science and health services research conducted by physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals. It explains terms and principles of epidemiology, emphasizing a systematic and common-sense approach to challenging judgments one has to make when designing and implementing a clinical study.
Upon successful completion of this course, the participants will be able to
- Understand basic principles of patient-oriented and translational studies, epidemiological and behavioural studies, public health and health services research
- Critically analyse study design (research questions, study populations, measurements, hypotheses, and sample size)
- Evaluate different research design options, i.e., cross-sectional and cohort studies, case control and diagnostic test studies, and different types of clinical trials
- Apply additional skills needed for designing and implementing clinical research i.e., analytic approaches used to enhance design of clinical research
| Course language: | English |
| Duration: | 12 weeks |
| Next Start: | 15 September 2026 |
| Workload in hours or ECTS: | 2 ECTS |
Classroom training dates 2026:
The course takes place every Tuesday from 10.10 - 12.00 over a period of 12 weeks.
15 September 2026
22 September 2026
29 September 2026
20 October 2026
27 October 2026
03 November 2026
10 November 2026
17 November 2026
24 November 2026
01 December 2026
08 December 2026
This 12-week course requires students to:
- complete weekly assignments (1-2 questions related to the specific topic of the week) and
- attend a 2-hour session (1-hour lecture on the specific topic of the week+ 1-hour presentation and discussion of assignment responses).
12 x 2 hours
Certificate of attendance will be issued after successful course completion.
The crediting of 2 ECTS requires
- Written response to all weekly assignments related to the course content
- Leading and moderating one of the weekly journal clubs
- Active participation in weekly discussions
To add the course to your academic record, create a Learning Contract (LC) in MOnA (choosing your supervisor as the assessor and pass/fail as assessment) before the start of the course.
This course is open for everyone who is interested in conducting or understanding Clinical Research. The course is specifically tailored for PhD students of the PhD subject Clinical Research enrolled at the University of Basel, Faculty of Medicine.
Moreover, PhD students of the GSMHS and of other PhD subjects of the Faculty of Medicine (Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Ethics, Medicines Development, Nursing Science, Public Health/ Epidemiology or Sport Science) are eligible to register for the course.
Minimum 8 and maximum 15 registered participants.
The course is free of charge.
Organiser
Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, c/o University Hospital Basel
Director of Studies
Prof. Maria C. Katapodi, PhD, RN, FAAN
Teaching staff:
- Prof. Dr. Maria C. Katapodi, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing
- Chang Ming, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel
- Zhongxing Zhang, Senior Scientist, Center for Sleep Medicine, Sleep Research and Epileptology, Clinic Barmelweid AG
- Alexandra Kulinkina, PhD, Project Leader Swiss TPH, Adjunct Ass. Professor, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Mareike Gräter
Training and Education
Department Clinical Research (DKF), University of Basel
c/o University Hospital Basel
Spitalstrasse 8/12
CH-4031 Basel
mareike.graeter@clutterusb.ch
Tel. +41 61 556 59 76
Please register here.
Registration deadline is September 1, 2026.
Medical Faculty, University of Basel
For PhD Students: To add the course to your academic record, create a Learning Contract (LC) in MOnA (choosing your supervisor as the assessor and pass/fail as assessment) before the start of the course.
Required Book:Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, Grady DG, Newman TB. Designing Clinical Research, 4th Edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilking
Universität Basel, Seminarraum 02.094
Biozentrum
Spitalstr. 41
4065 Basel