Research Opportunities for students undergraduate point of view

Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.” –Samuel Johnson, 1744

Outcomes for graduates:

• Doctor as a scholar and a scientist
• Doctor as a practitioner
• Doctor as a professional

Reading in medicine

• Browsing Reading for fun of it

Books and journals are used.

• Reading for information
• Approach the literature answers for specific question
• Focused searching
• Reading for research Comprehensive view of the existing state of knowledge Reviews (systematic) are used

Benefits of UG research experience?

• Research and Academics are complimentary to each other. They stimulate the interests in each other and doing research does not affect the academics.
• Research skills: it’s a developmental skill for the rest of our life.
• UG research experience enhances employability
• Enhanced PG research productivity irrespective of duration of UG research experience “UG experience fosters knowledge and skills needed to conduct other research and motivates graduates”.
• Associated with
• higher levels of student satisfaction
• Generic skills development
• Evidence based practice
  • Cornerstone of effective and good practice
  • Required to make informed judgements
• Critical appraisal
  • How is evidence derived?
  • Appreciate principles of research
• Improves student-faculty contact

Research Skill Areas

• Research Methods
• Information gathering/literature search
• Critical analysis and review
• Independent thinking
• Data processing

Thinking vs. Doing

• Most people associate research with doing something: observing people, using equipment, or analyzing data.
• However, the most critical parts of the research process are those parts that are associated with thinking not doing

Research Question Analysis

• What do I need to know and how is my topic different from what is already done in this area? (Literature search)
• How am I going to answer my question? (Methodology)
• Why is my work important to others? (Significance)

TYPES OF RESEARCH

• Systematic Reviews
• Randomized Controlled Trials
• Cohort Studies
• Case-Control Studies
• Case Series, Case Reports
• Editorials, Expert Opinion

Most of our barriers are more mental than physical.

Indian Scenario

• Though, every year about 35000 students join medical college, only a few motivated students- about 2-5% are interested in research.
• A recent study from south India on undergraduate medical research has shown that nearly 70% of undergraduate students are unaware of research.

Research Funding

• In India funding is a big issue as most of Universities cannot fund ad-hoc research projects undertaken by UG medical students.
• But things are improving as some of the Universities are allocating their budget to research.
• Apart from this, apex bodies are also encouraging undergraduate medical

MAA Research Grant

• Donated by the alumini of MMC from Batch of 1961 (10 grants upto 10,000 per study) & 1984 (2 grants upto 5,000 per study).
• Applications are called for in the month of february.

ICMR Short Term Studentship (STS)

• Indian Council of Medical Research Short-term Studentship (ICMR-STS) is a very popular program among medical students, which calls for application in January every year.
• Gives an opportunity to work in interested research areas.
• Enables recipients to work on project for 2 months and another month in writing report after which they receive certificate and stipend upon approval of report.
• From 2010, ICMR has doubled the stipend to encourage the UG students.

Science Academies’ Summer Research Fellowship Program for Students and Teachers

• The three national Science Academies: a) Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore b) Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi c) The National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad offer two-month Summer Fellowships to enable students/teachers (studying/teaching in India) to work with scientists in fields of Chemistry , Earth & Planetary Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences , Mathematics, Physics. 
• Applications are invited from interested students and teachers from all universities and colleges affiliated to UGC/AICTE/MCI/Accredited Institutions of State Universities for these Fellowships.
• The application includes: (a) the application form (b) write-up (150 – 250 words) as to what applicant wants to learn and achieve; (c) guide with whom the applicant would like to work.
• Selected candidate may work with the assigned guide for 2 months any time during the year, preferably during the summer.

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Visiting Students’ Research Programme (VSRP2014)

• Conducts annual summer programs in which talented students are introduced to research activities in the areas of Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics.
• The selected students are expected to work on a research project under the supervision of a TIFR researcher.
• Mumbai campus of the TIFR during mid May to early July each year.
• Participants are paid a monthly stipend of Rs 7000/-

Conferences for medical students

• Very important in any research to make the presentation of the work and new findings.
• Emphasis should be laid to motivate student to present their work.
• Presentation will boost their confidence and also provide chance to enhance their thinking in many ways. Venues for research exchange and interaction.
• Recently, regional/zonal medical conferences for ICMR and KVPY recipients organised by Padmashri Dr. MG Deo of Moving Academy of Medical Sciences has got overwhelming response.
• It should be publicised that the undergraduate students can present their work in various regional/ national/ international conferences.

UG Research Conferences in India

• MEDICON 2014 : 7th International Medical Students’ Research Conference of organised by Indian forum of medical research (INFORMER). At Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Foundation, Andhra Pradesh from 3rd to 6th July.
• ; Empower 2014: 10th International Medical Students’ Research Congress. At Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai in September.
• KARMIC 2014, 3rd international conference for undergraduate medical students by the Indian Medical Students Association(IMSA). At KIMS Bangalore, will take place on the 12th to 14th of April 2014.
• OSMECON 2014: 5th pan India Undergraduate Medical Conference. At Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad in August.
• Medsicon 2014: 4th Annual Medical Students International Conference. At Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi from 8 to 10 August 2014.  Illuminati 2014: 5th undergraduate medical research conference. At Armed Forces Medical College( AFMC), Pune in August.
• Axon 2014: 4th inter-medical academic fest, at PSG Institute of

Asian Medical Students

Conference AMSC- 2014

• 35th annual conference of the Asian Medical Students Association (AMSA International).
• At Bangkok-Pattaya, Thailand from July 8th- 14th

International Student Congress of Medical Sciences (ISCOMS)

• 21st edition of ISCOMS at the University Medical Center of Groningen in Netherlands, from 3rd- 6th June
• 2014 scientific programme : researches in form of poster, oral or plenary, in front of an international and professional audience, fascinating keynote lectures and hands- on workshops.
• Last year, 795 abstracts from 55 different countries. 342 presenters were selected
• international travel support to attend the international conferences.

Students Medical Journal

• Presentation of the work in conferences is important, equally important is the publication in various journals.
• Exposes us to the art of writing; in addition to executing the work guided by the guide and presenting the work.
• Once the research is conducted, evidence is generated and it’s disseminated through the scientific publications.
• Without publication, students work will be unrecognized and their potential will go waste.

International medical journals encouraging the undergraduate medical students

• Journal of Young Investigators,
• McGill Journal of Medicine,
• Student BMJ,
• Student Lancet,
• PLOS Medicine

Indian Journals

• Indian Journal of Medical Research(IJMR) and Journal of Postgraduate Medicine has introduced students section
• Indian Journal of Medical Specialities(IJMS), Give, preference to the articles submitted by undergraduate medical students

USMLE benefits

• Apart from gaining the knowledge; the research experience, paper presentation and publication will have an additional advantage in getting residency through USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination).
• Having a publication in a peer reviewed journal and preferably Medline indexed journal increases the chance of getting residency in US.

Research Career Senior Research Fellowship(SRF)

• MBBS students are eligible to get SRF through which they can work on a research project for 3 years and can extend the work by registering to PhD.
• It is offered by : Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Central Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), University Grants Commission (UGC).

PhD

• MBBS PhD would be a great combination for those who want to take up research as career.
• AIIMS, Delhi and NIMHANS, Bengaluru provide excellent research opportunities to MBBS students by offering PhD program.
• Entry to this program is based on entrance examination and interview.
• NIMHANS is offering five year PhD course in clinical neurosciences sponsored by ICMR and this programme is offering a very attractive stipend.

MD/MS-PhD programme

• In India ICMR sponsored MD/MS-PhD programme(ICMR MD/MS-PhD Talent search programme) is offered in:
• SRM University Chennai
• King George Medical University, Lucknow and
• NIMHANS, Bengaluru (PhD clinical neurosciences) to nourish the research temperament among medical Students.
• National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru has also started MD-PhD program to provide a platform for applying fundamental biology to clinical subjects.
• All these programs are of dual advantage to the medical graduates.

Your distance from light does not matter in the process of your enlightenment. You do!

Ms Anusha Raj Kabbur (Medical Undergraduate Student)