Dear Prospective Applicant,

I am pleased to serve as the Director of the Berkeley Clinical Scientist Development Program (BCSDP), an important new clinical training program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During my many years of working as a clinical scientist, I have observed a serious decline in the number of qualified individuals who can launch and maintain successful patient-based eye and vision research programs. The NIH has recognized that the decline in the numbers of clinician scientists represents a serious impediment to the translation of laboratory discoveries into the prevention, diagnosis and  treatment of eye diseases and disorders.

In recognizing this lack of qualified clinician scientists, the NIH has adopted several grant programs to reverse the trend. So far, success has been limited, due in part to inadequate resources in support of aspiring clinician scientists. The NIH has now modified its programs to provide sufficient compensation to clinicans as they pursue their training. 

Responding to this new commitment for more substantial support, The University of California, Berkeley has developed the BCSDP, a clinician scientist training program featuring novel and exciting opportunities for intensive training in clinical patient-based research. We have assembled some the best clinical scientists in the world to mentor individuals dedicated to pursuing a career in patient-based eye and vision research. We are hopeful that the BCSDP will, along with other NIH clinical training programs, reverse the serious decline in the number of clinician scientists within the vision research community.

As you review the BCSDP, I hope you will not hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have regarding participation in the program.

Kenneth A. Polse, OD, MS
Director, BCSDP