The field of medical research has a vital role in our increased longevity over the years. Through this field, vaccines, antibiotics, and other medicines, as well as new surgical procedures are discovered, developed, and tested. If you think becoming a medical research professional is the career path for you, take a closer look at the following top medical research teaching schools in the US (US News and World Report Ranking for 2010):
1. Harvard University
Ivy League member Harvard Medical School boasts a large and highly distinguished faculty. The school also manages several medical research divisions, centers, and institutes. These include the Harvard Clinical Research Institute and the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center. Plus, Harvard Medical School has produced numerous Nobel laureates who have contributed a lot to medical research: George Minot, William P. Murphy, and Torsten Wiesel.
2. University of Pennsylvania
Also a member of the Ivy League, University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine is proud to offer a variety of medical research training programs. Students also enjoy access to various institutes and centers, more than 892,000 net square feet for laboratory space, and an annual funding that goes beyond $400,000,000.
3. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins served as a model for research universities in the US. Approximately 80% of the school’s undergraduates experience some form of independent research. Many of the research conducted by Johns Hopkins’ medical school are supported by national agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
4. University of California – San Francisco
Research training programs offered by the University of California – San Francisco School of Medicine include Clinical & Translational Sciences and Clinical Research. The school is also considered as one of the country’s leading HIV/AIDS research centers. The UCSF School of Medicine is also one of the largest recipients of research funds from the NIH.
5. Washington University in St. Louis
Also one of the top recipients of NIH’s research funds, Washington University in St. Louis’ School of Medicine offers various research training programs. The school is also known for its major role in the Human Genome Project (HGP).
