Stackables
Micro-credentials in Clinical Research

Bite-sized, self-paced training brought
to you by the University of Pittsburgh’s
Institute for Clinical Research Education

EXPLORE THE STACKS

Try a Module for Free

Give Crafting a Clinical Research Question and Proposal a try today!

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Featured Stacks

5 modules
Grant Writing

Discover what reviewers expect in each section of a grant proposal—and how to deliver it.

4 MODULES
Foundations of Clinical Research

Learn how to formulate strong research questions using PICOT and identify sources of bias and confounding.

3 modules
Mentoring

Learn the importance of mentorship in the health sciences and the roles and responsibilities of mentors and mentees.

Why Choose Stackables?

Stack the skills you need, skip the skills you don’t.

  • Bite-sized. One module, one hour.
  • Affordable. One module, $25
  • Flexible. Learn at your own pace
  • Just-in-time. Why wait a semester to learn?
  • Engaging. Story-based and interactive.

Why Choose Stackables?

Stack the skills you need; skip the skills you don’t.

  • Bite-sized. One module, one hour.
  • Affordable. One module, $25
  • Flexible. Learn at your own pace
  • Just-in-time. Why wait a semester to learn?
  • Engaging. Story-based and interactive

Mix-and-match modules or stack them to build essential competencies.

Who Are Stackables For?

Stackables are for anyone who wants to explore clinical research, brush up on skills, or develop expertise in a new area.

  • Trainees: Need to develop grant writing skills or research methods for a training grant?
  • Mentors: Have mentees with knowledge or skill gaps but don’t have the bandwidth to teach them?
  • Principal Investigators: Need to quickly bring team members up to speed in critical research areas?
  • Department Chairs: Want to make research training more accessible to your busy faculty?

Featured Modules

Foundations of clinical research
Working with a Biostatistician

Learn how, why, and when to enlist the help of a biostatistician in your research.

Scientific writing
Writing Your Discussion
Section

Learn to craft a clear, compelling Discussion section that interprets and explains the significance of your findings.

Foundations of clinical research
Accounting for Bias
and Confounding

Learn how to recognize and account for bias and confounding to ensure high-quality research.

“

Stackables gave me a flexible, engaging way to update and expand my research skills. I had my whole research team complete them, so now everyone is up to speed. And it was so fun!

Hongmei Wang, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Research & Administration
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Frequently Asked Questions

A module is a self-paced mini-course designed to teach you a specific, practical skill or knowledge area.

A Stack is a set of modules designed to build competency in a particular area (e.g., grant writing, implementation science). You can mix and match modules to build the skills most relevant to you or “stack” them to expand your proficiency in a specific domain. 

Each Stackable module takes approximately 1 hour to complete—with some individual variability, of course. We know you’re busy, so we’ve designed training you can complete during your lunch hour(s)!

Absolutely not! Mix and match modules any way that suits you. Stackables are designed to be flexible. It’s your learning journey, after all; you call the shots.

You’ll earn a badge for every module and a certificate for completing three modules within a Stack. These credentials reflect training completed and are issued by the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Clinical Research Education. However, they are not official University of Pittsburgh academic credentials. 

Stackables assume general familiarity with scientific research but no prior experience in clinical research. They are designed to be clear, accessible, and useful for a wide range of learners.

Traditional clinical research training comes in two forms: for-credit courses or one-off seminars. Courses are expensive and time consuming and their synchronous requirements are often a barrier for working professionals. Seminars may not address the topics you need when you need them. But Stackables provide affordable ($20 per module!), justintime training that fits into your busy schedule. 

Modules are built to be engaging and interactive, featuring evolving case studies, multimedia content, and knowledge checks that keep you participating from start to finish. We’ve done our best to make the learning experience enjoyable as well as meaningful. 

Stackables were developed by the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Clinical Research Education. Each module’s content was developed by one or more experts in clinical research who are passionate about their subject area. Rest assured that your instructors have poured their hearts and souls into creating the best possible learning experience for you.

Stackables can be valuable at every career stage: Early-career investigators can include Stackables in training grants. Senior investigators can use Stackables to train their research teams. Mentors can recommend specific modules to mentees with skills gaps. Department chairs can connect their faculty with research training. Even interested undergraduates can use Stackables to explore clinical research! 

Train Your Whole Team

Want to make Stackables available to your entire team, department, or institution? Contact us!

PLANS AND PRICING