Basic Science Research Rotation

Educational Objective:

As part of promoting scholarly activity and research skills among trainees, the internal medicine residency program at Wayne State University/Sinai Grace Hospital offers the opportunity for residents to pursue a basic science research elective for a period up to two months. The specific educational objectives of the basic science research elective are as follows.

1. Obtained training and experience in basic science research under the supervision of an experienced investigator.
2. Develop valid hypotheses for experimental evaluation based on current knowledge of the research topic.
3. Review the background and significance of the proposed research by complete review of the literature.
4. Develop a study proposal and submit it for review by the research committee of the department of medicine.
5. Work in a basic science research laboratory under the supervision of an experienced investigator for a period up to 2 months.
6. Analyze the experimental data to test the proposed hypothesis.
7. Develop a Powerpoint presentation on the research project and results for presentation at the research conference.
8. Submit an abstract based on the research project to the regional and national meetings of the American College of Physicians and other relevant subspecialty professional organizations.

Teaching Methods:

The specific teaching methods will depend on the type of research activity. In the past residents have learned experimental procedures such as molecular assays, immunological assays, tissue culture, flow cytometry, PCR, Northern blot, Western Blot, and electrophysiology under the direct guidance of the investigators or their assistants such as post doctoral fellows.

Research Policy:

A departmental research policy has been developed to ensure that residents engage in a meaningful research project and adheres to a strict time line (see attached research policy).

Research Policy

Guidelines for Applying for Research Time During Internal Medicine Residency Training

The residency program in internal medicine at Sinai-Grace Hospital is committed to providing training in internal medicine for its residents in accordance with the guidelines of the American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The emphasis of the residency program is to provide the opportunity to acquire the necessary clinical skills and medical knowledge to practice primary care internal medicine. The program recognizes the basic science and clinical research is an important aspect of residency training and requires its residents to engage in research activity during the course of the residency. The program receives many requests from residents for dedicated time off from patient care responsibilities to engage in basic science research. Only a limited number of such requests can be accommodated during an academic year and research time will be grated purely on the basis of the merits of the proposed research project. Research time is meant to supplement clinical training and will not be granted if the minimum requirements of residency training are not met. The following guidelines and procedures will be used in determining which residents will quality for research time during their residency training:

1. A written request for research time should be submitted to the Department of Medicine Research Committee.

2. Dedicated research time will generally be granted only for basic science research. It is expected that clinical research will be done without dedicated time. Exceptions may be discussed with the program director.

3. Residents engaging in research projects must be in good academic standing with satisfactory to superior evaluations during previous rotations. Residents who are on academic probation will not be able to qualify for research time.

4. The maximum duration of time allocated for basic science research will be two months. The resident must demonstrate to the program that the major component of the proposed research, including all of the laboratory work, can be completed during this time. Only data analysis and writing up of findings may be completed after this period.

5. Basic science research requires a faculty sponsor who is actively engaged in research in the specialty of interest. The faculty sponsor should have a research lab in which the resident will conduct his/her research. The sponsoring faculty should provide the department with a written commitment stating that the resident will be permitted to engage in the proposed research at his/her facility.

6. It is the responsibility of the resident to meet with the faculty sponsor and develop a formal outline of the proposed research. The outline should be structured to include:

-- Background and significance

-- Review of existing literature

-- Specific objectives of proposed research

-- Study design

-- Methods

-- Data analysis

-- Anticipated time commitment of the resident and the faculty.

This information should be provided in the form available through the Department of Medicine.

7. Be advised that it will likely take three to six months of preparation to meet with faculty, design a research project and prepare the proposal in the format specified by the department. The resident must be the person who conducts the major component of the proposed research with clearly specified goals. Time will not be allocated just to acquire basic science laboratory skills or to contribute time to a project already in progress.

8. All submitted research proposals will be forwarded to the research committee for review. The committee will be blinded to the names of the residents. The following guidelines will apply during the review process:

-- Significance of the proposed research

-- Completeness of the literature review

-- Clearly stated research goals

-- Demonstration that the resident will be conducting the major component of the

research under the supervision of the faculty.

-- Demonstration that most of the research project would be completed within 2 months.

-- Demonstration that the proposed methods would achieve the stated research goals

9. Resident whose research projects are approved will be granted the requested research time with the following stipulations:

a. A copy of the research outline will become a permanent part of the resident’s file.

b. The residents would be required to develop a presentation of the research conducted and relevant findings within two months of completing their research. This presentation will be scheduled during a noon conference and will be evaluated by the audience.

c. A summary of the evaluations would be placed in the resident’s file.

d. The resident is also expected to submit his/her research findings for presentation at the Wayne State University Research Day.