From Petri Dish to Patient Care: Translating Science into Improved Healthcare

The Master of Science in Biomedical and Translational Science (MS-BATS) program at UC Irvine gives researchers and clinicians the knowledge and tools needed to translate laboratory research into medical breakthroughs.

As a pediatric neurologist specializing in epilepsy at Rady Children’s Health, Daniel Shrey, MD, is dedicated to improving the lives of children under his care. “I’ve spent the last decade developing myself as both a clinician and a scientist,” he says. Clinical care addresses patients’ immediate needs, while scientific research offers broader hope for future advances in diagnostics and treatment outcomes.

So when Shrey wanted to further develop his research skills, he turned to the Master of Science in Biomedical and Translational Science (MS-BATS) program at UC Irvine.

“MS-BATS is unique in that the curriculum can be personalized to meet your research goals,” says Gerard Slobogean, MD, MPH, who recently took over as program director. “Whether you’re a medical student, clinician or full-time researcher — we want you to tailor the program to meet your needs.”

Shrey completed the one-year program in spring 2025. “The program’s emphasis on translational science and multidisciplinary collaboration has directly supported my work in developing computational biomarkers for children with severe epilepsy,” he says. The program enhanced his understanding of research design, biostatistics and data interpretation. “The knowledge gained continues to shape my research and have a lasting impact on my career development as a physician-scientist dedicated to improving outcomes for children with epilepsy.”

Bench-to-Bedside Training

Since 2012, MS-BATS has supported translational research. After a decade of success, the program revamped its curriculum in 2023 to remain on the cutting edge of training investigators to turn biomedical discoveries into clinical practice. Now, with its new director, MS-BATS is poised for continued growth and expanded impact, which is as critical as ever given the severe workforce shortage of clinical and translational researchers.

“The process of moving from ‘bench to bedside’ is a distinct science, which is why we need MS-BATS,” explains Slobogean, who joined UC Irvine in September 2025 as a professor and research director of clinical trials for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “The fundamental problem is the declining pipeline of well-trained investigators capable of conducting high-quality studies along the entire continuum of discovery.”

Throughout the entire translational process, from exploring new ideas to conducting clinical trials, the MS-BATS program enhances scientific rigor. “The program provides the tools needed to successfully move from petri dish to patient care,” says Slobogean, “regardless of where you land on that pathway.”

A Flexible and Personalized Program

“The major strength of this program is its flexibility,” stresses Slobogean. “The curriculum teaches principles of translational science, applicable to all fields of medicine and at all stages, so whatever your background or career goals, we can accommodate you and accelerate your research success.”

Michelle Paff, MD, a neurosurgeon at UC Irvine and the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, appreciated this flexibility. “I have to care for patients, I have surgeries, I have clinics, and they were understanding of that,” says Paff, who joined the program to learn how to design her own studies. “A lot of times they would record the lectures, which made the program feasible for people like me with full-time clinical work.”

The program also emphasizes flexibility in capstone projects, personalized to address each student’s interests. These can vary from standalone research projects to career development grants.

“With the guidance of experts in a variety of fields, I was able to design and carry out the first phase of my own research project aimed at cancer survivorship,” says Danielle Greenberg, MD, a fellow in UC Irvine’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She highlights how the program taught her the fundamentals of clinical trial design and statistics and provided critical feedback on grant writing and research presentations. “The MS-BATS program was invaluable to my early career development as a clinician-researcher.”

The program also supports current medical students, such as Ivan Alvarado, Natalie Llauro and Aileen Navarrete. As MS-BATS students who are also part of UC Irvine’s Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC), Slobogean is catering the program to their interests. “The goal,” he says, “is to help them find ways to further the PRIME-LC mission, which is not only to be good clinicians in their community but to also identify research questions or solutions that can uniquely improve the care of the communities they will serve.”

To that end, Alvarado’s capstone project aims to bridge the gap in HPV vaccination among underrepresented populations. “Recognizing and understanding the gaps in healthcare unearthed through research serves as a reminder that being a physician is inextricably linked to advocacy for underrepresented populations,” says Alvarado, who has gained a deeper appreciation for the research behind everyday clinical decisions. “Additionally, access to mentors who are experts in multicenter clinical trials is an invaluable resource for my education as a future physician in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.”

Llauro’s capstone project focuses on how childhood trauma influences various dimensions of mental health in adulthood. “By investigating the lasting effects of early adversity on mental health, I hope to contribute to the development of more culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health interventions,” she says. “My long-term goal is to develop evidence-based solutions that reduce mental health inequities and improve outcomes for underserved communities.”

Navarrete is collaborating with John Billimek, PhD, on her capstone project, focused on how changes in beliefs about medication can influence medication adherence. “This closely aligns with PRIME-LC’s mission of addressing healthcare disparities and improving healthcare outcomes among Latino and medically underserved communities,” says Navarrete, an aspiring psychiatrist. “By identifying belief patterns that affect adherence, this work can inform behavioral interventions that promote trust, engagement and shared decision making.”

As for Shrey and his focus on pediatric epilepsy, his capstone project culminated in the submission of his first National Institutes of Health research project grant in 2025. “The mentorship and training I received have been instrumental in my growth as an independent investigator,” he says.

This type of practical, hands-on support for real-world impact is at the heart of the program. “MS-BATS inspires and prepares students to tackle hard questions,” says Slobogean, “with the goal of improving the care of our society.”

Learn more about the MS-BATS program and how to apply.