Who This Is For
Any licensed clinician preparing to use peptides therapeutically — or currently using them without a structured framework. Foundations is the prerequisite for all individual peptide modules and the CSI Certification Pathway.
Functional Medicine Practitioners · Naturopathic Doctors · Integrative MDs & DOs · Nurse Practitioners & PAs · Longevity & Performance Medicine Clinicians · Health Coaches (when working under clinical supervision)
What’s Inside Foundations
Module 1 — Cellular Medicine & Peptide Overview
The science behind why peptides work, how to categorize them, and how to match a peptide to a patient’s clinical goals. Covers the cell cycle, checkpoint failure, and senescence as the cellular foundation for peptide intervention. Key molecular mediators (sirtuins, AMPK, NAD+/NADH, mTOR, NF-κB, FOXO3a) and how peptides engage them. Introduces the nine peptide categories and walks through a three-step implementation algorithm for personalizing peptide care plans.
Module 2 — Delivery Systems
The two-path framework lives here. Distinguishes dietary supplement peptides (oral liposomal, cGMP, DSHEA) from compounded injectable peptides (prescription, 503A/503B, higher regulatory burden). Compares all delivery routes by bioavailability, risk profile, and clinical match. Deep dive into liposomal encapsulation science. Maps each peptide in the curriculum to its available delivery formats. Covers injectable reconstitution, cold chain management, and injection technique. Patient counseling language for both routes.
Module 3 — Evidence Literacy
The CSI Evidence Tier Rubric (A–D), operationalized for clinical decision-making. How to grade a study’s evidence tier and translate that into appropriate confidence level, patient-facing language, consent requirements, and marketing claims. This framework governs every peptide module in the curriculum.
Two Pathways. One Framework.
Dietary Supplement · Oral Liposomal Peptides
Peptides regulated under DSHEA as food-class products, manufactured under cGMP. No prescription required. Lower regulatory risk exposure. High patient access. Available for: BPC-157, KPV, GHK-Cu (topical and oral liposomal), Epitalon, Thymulin (with zinc). Oral liposomal is the recommended starting route for most peptides in this curriculum.
Compounded · Injectable Peptides
Regulated as compounded drugs under Section 503A/503B. Prescription required. Higher documentation and compliance burden. Some peptides face FDA Category 2 restrictions. Available for: BPC-157, TB-500, Epitalon, Thymosin α1. Foundations provides the complete safety, compliance, and practice-management framework for this pathway.
What You’ll Be Able To Do
- Describe the cell cycle, senescence, and molecular mediators as the cellular foundation for peptide intervention
- Categorize peptides by biological function and apply a personalization algorithm to match peptides to patient presentations
- Distinguish dietary supplement from injectable peptides by regulatory pathway, quality standards, and available formulations
- Explain how liposomal encapsulation overcomes oral bioavailability barriers and counsel patients on oral liposomal use
- Apply global contraindication screening, stop rules, and escalation pathways across all peptide categories
- Document peptide interventions using CSI’s compliance templates — from EMR charting to PARQ informed consent
- Grade evidence using the A–D tier rubric and translate tiers into clinical confidence, consent language, and claims discipline
Course Details
Format: Self-paced, interactive online modules via Reach 360
Modules: 3
Time to Complete: Approximately 1-2 hours
Price: Complimentary — no purchase required
Prerequisite: None. This course is the prerequisite for all peptide modules.
