Research Opportunities for students

undergraduate point of view

Anusha Raj KabburFinal year MBBS studentMMC & RI

"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

BrowsingReading for fun of itBooks and journals are used.

Reading for informationApproach the literature answers for specific

questionFocused searching

Reading for researchComprehensive view of the existing state of

knowledgeReviews (systematic) are used

Browsing vs Searching

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 1

Enhanced PG research productivity 2

irrespective of duration of UG research experience

“UG experience fosters knowledge and skills needed to conduct other research and motivates graduates”

1. Metcalfe J R Soc Med 2008

2. Dyrbye Academic medicine 2008

3. Seymour 2004, Kardash 2000 +

Associated with • higher levels of student satisfaction• Generic skills development 3

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 MethodsInformation gathering/literature searchCritical analysis and reviewIndependent thinkingData processing

Stark et al Med Teacher 2005

Thinking vs. DoingMost 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

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 research.

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 ResearchVisiting 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. 

At Mumbai campus of the TIFR during mid May to early July each year.

Participants are paid a monthly stipend of Rs 7000/-, Sleeper class return railway fare and accommodation.

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 Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore from 6th and 7th June.

• Regional conferences and so on………..

Asian Medical Students’ ConferenceAMSC- 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.

Publish or

Perish !!!!

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 JournalsIndian 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 benefitsApart 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).

PhDMBBS–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!

THANK YOU