What is the CIP?

The University of Calgary’s Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) is a postgraduate medical training program for residents in any specialty or subspecialty who want to develop a strong foundation for a career in clinical research.  It provides a tailored combination of research, clinical and coursework experiences that provide the knowledge, attitudes and technical competence graduates need to be successful in clinical and translational research in their chosen field.  The CIP is recognized and accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCSPC).  

If you’re interested in taking your clinical research skills to the next level, then this program is for you!

The CIP is the only postgraduate medical program that allows residents to pursue a graduate research degree (MSc or PhD) whilst concurrently completing their residency specialty or subspecialty.  Furthermore, it provides an established framework of instruction specifically designed for aspiring clinician investigators.  

Your program experience will be tailored to compliment your area of study.  The CIP allows you to choose areas of study including traditional streams of laboratory and clinical research, and fields as diverse as health care economics, management, and social, behavioural and information sciences as they apply to health and disease.  

The University of Calgary is highly renowned in Canada and internationally for its world-class basic and clinical research facilities, collaborative, trans-disciplinary approach, and strong, successful translational research focus.  As a CIP resident, you will have access to a wealth of basic and clinical expertise, resources and infrastructure to help you develop and answer your clinical questions while forming strong collaborations with other clinician investigators and research experts.    

As a clinician investigator you will be able to seek answers to your clinical questions at the bench, and bring your findings right back to the clinic again, allowing you to have a much bigger impact on patient outcomes.  You will be highly competitive in grant competitions and be an influential voice in the research community. 

Your research must be related to your residency specialty or sub-specialty program, but you can potentially choose research projects from a large variety of PGME Residency Programs and Research Institutes.

You must be enrolled in a Royal College-accredited specialty or subspecialty residency program at the University of Calgary (through PGME) and devote at least 80% of your time to research for a minimum of two years. You must successfully complete all requirements of your graduate degree program or approved postdoctoral program, as well as all CIP program requirements.

To receive the Royal College Attestation of Completion of the Clinician Investigator Program, you must have completed all three components: your graduate or post-doctoral program, CIP requirements, and your primary specialty residency training, including obtaining Royal College certification. If you complete your CIP research training before finishing your residency, you will not receive your CIP attestation until you have completed your residency and obtained certification in your primary specialty.