Supporting the Biomedical Science UG Project Research Journey Through Staff-Student Partnerships.

Introduction: Developing research skills enhances graduate attributes and student employability. The UG research project is coined the pedagogy of the 21st century but the diversity of supervisory styles is a source of student perceived inequality of experience. The goal of this study was to provide structure and support to undergraduate (UG) biomedical science research students and supervisors by co-creating research informed resources that are accessible, engaging and student centred. We asked 1) How do UG students experience research supervision? 2) What approaches do supervisors use to support UG project students? 3) How do students as partners benefit from being involved in pedagogical research? Materials and Methods: In Stage One, 3 UG student research partners co-developed questionnaires and followed these up with semi-structured interviews. Fifty two UG project students took part in an interactive poll and 14 supervisors answered a questionnaire. Seven students and 4 supervisors were interviewed. These were analysed by thematic analysis. In Stage Two, the questions were asked of UG project students (n = 79) via an interactive poll and the resource developed in Stage One was trialled with students (n = 68) and supervisors (n = 37). Results: The global theme identified was that students feel strongly that the student-supervisor relationship influences their experience, satisfaction and success. In all polls, >90% of students but <60% of supervisors agree that a good student/supervisor partnership has an effect on the success of the final project. A smaller percentage of students felt strongly that they were able to develop a successful partnership with their supervisor. We co-created a visual model and a list of discussion points of how the student-supervisor partnership can be developed, aimed at making supervision more effective whilst being non-prescriptive. Discussion: The resource can be easily adapted. Students believe it helped them to develop a staff-student partnership and supervisors commented that it helps to clarify roles and manage student expectations. This scalable project will support the practice of future UG biomedical science project research students and supervisors. Working with students as partners enabled the development of richer ideas whilst supporting their employability.

Elements of successful NIH grant applications.

Is there a formula for a competitive NIH grant application? The Serenity Prayer may provide one: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the ability to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." But how to tell the difference? In this Perspective, we provide an inclusive roadmap-elements of NIH funding. Collectively, we have over 30 y of peer review experience as NIH Scientific Review Officers in addition to over 30 y of program experience as NIH Program Officers. This article distills our NIH experience. We use Euclid's 13-book landmark, The Elements, as our template to humbly share what we learned. We have three specific aims: inform, guide, and motivate prospective applicants. We also address ways that support diversity and inclusion among applicants and young investigators in biomedical research. The elements we describe come from a wide range of sources. Some themes will be general. Some will be specific. All will be candid. The ultimate goal is a competitive application, serenity, and hopefully both.

A method for managing scientific research project resource conflicts and predicting risks using BP neural networks.

This study begins by considering the resource-sharing characteristics of scientific research projects to address the issues of resource misalignment and conflict in scientific research project management. It comprehensively evaluates the tangible and intangible resources required during project execution and establishes a resource conflict risk index system. Subsequently, a resource conflict risk management model for scientific research projects is developed using Back Propagation (BP) neural networks. This model incorporates the Dropout regularization technique to enhance the generalization capacity of the BP neural network. Leveraging the BP neural network's non-linear fitting capabilities, it captures the intricate relationship between project resource demand and supply. Additionally, the model employs self-learning to continuously adapt to new scenarios based on historical data, enabling more precise resource conflict risk assessments. Finally, the model's performance is analyzed. The results reveal that risks in scientific research project management primarily fall into six categories: material, equipment, personnel, financial, time, and organizational factors. This study's model algorithm exhibits the highest accuracy in predicting time-related risks, achieving 97.21%, surpassing convolutional neural network algorithms. Furthermore, the Root Mean Squared Error of the model algorithm remains stable at approximately 0.03, regardless of the number of hidden layer neurons, demonstrating excellent fitting capabilities. The developed BP neural network risk prediction framework in this study, while not directly influencing resource utilization efficiency or mitigating resource conflicts, aims to offer robust data support for research project managers when making decisions on resource allocation. The framework provides valuable insights through sensitivity analysis of organizational risks and other factors, with their relative importance reaching up to 20%. Further research should focus on defining specific strategies for various risk factors to effectively enhance resource utilization efficiency and manage resource conflicts.

Characterizing redundancy in pharmacy residency research projects.

DISCLAIMER: In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. PURPOSE: Each year, roughly 5,000 residents conduct research on clinical and practice-based topics to meet the requirements of the ASHP residency standards related to research and project management. Several investigators have evaluated residency research project publication rates, but redundancy among projects has not been evaluated. The primary objective of this study was to determine the rate of redundancy among pharmacy residency research projects. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of abstracts accepted to various regional pharmacy residency conferences from 2017 through 2020. Each abstract was placed in a pharmacy domain by therapeutic area. The categorized data for each year were then further evaluated to identify clinical categories for the year. Topics were labeled as redundant if at least 10 projects fell into the same focus area within a clinical category. Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the incidence of redundancy each year. RESULTS: A total of 4,027 abstracts were included. The most common pharmacy domains were infectious disease, internal medicine, and benefit of pharmacy services. Overall, 8.2% projects (332 of 4,027) were categorized as redundant. The most common focus areas were rapid diagnostics, opioid reduction protocols, and vancomycin area-under-the-curve vs trough monitoring. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy residency research projects encompassed topics across a wide range of pharmacotherapy areas. Approximately 1 in 12 projects was redundant. This is likely because the project addressed a "hot topic" in practice and may represent an opportunity for institutions to collaborate to optimize project efficiency and impact.

Encuesta sobre la situación de investigación en rehabilitación en España. Resultados / Survey on the state of investigation in rehabilitation in Spain: Results

En la vocalía de investigación, formación e innovación de la sociedad Española de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación (SERMEF), quisimos aproximarnos a cuál es el estado de la investigación en nuestra especialidad en España. Para ello, se elaboró y distribuyó una encuesta online entre médicos rehabilitadores de España, que obtuvo 253 respuestas. De estos, el 65% afirmó que en su centro de trabajo sí se realiza actividad investigadora en rehabilitación; el número de proyectos activos en sus centros según declararon era de: ninguno en el 35,7%; uno en el 17,7%, 2 en el 23,3%, 3 en el 8,4% y 4 o más en el 14,9%. Entre las principales dificultades que se encuentran los encuestados el 89% destacan que no se dispone de personal contratado para investigación y el 95% que en sus centros no se destina parte de la jornada laboral para investigación. En cuanto a la actividad investigadora personal, el 56% atestiguan participar en investigación, siendo el rol más habitual el de investigador principal (58%). El 95% de los encuestados refiere que el principal obstáculo para desarrollar un proyecto de investigación es la presión asistencial y la falta de tiempo, y correspondientemente, una amplia mayoría (83%) alega que disponer de tiempo estipulado para investigar en su jornada laboral sería una motivación.(AU)

The research, training and innovation committee of the Spanish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SERMEF) wanted to know the state of research in our speciality. To this end, an online survey was developed and distributed among rehabilitation doctors in Spain, which obtained 253 responses. Of these, 65% stated that research activity in rehabilitation does take place in their work centre; the number of active projects in their centres as stated by them was: none in 35.7%; one in 17.7%, two in 23.3%, three in 8.4% and four or more in 14.9%. Among the main difficulties encountered, 89% highlight that there is no staff hired for research and 95% that in their centres part of the working day is not allocated to research. In terms of personal research activity, 56% reported that they were involved in research, with the most common role being that of principal investigator (58%). Ninety-five percent of respondents report that the main obstacle to developing a research project is the pressure of care and lack of time, and correspondingly, a large majority (83%) claim that having stipulated time for research in their working day would be a motivation.(AU)

The Use of Neural Network Modeling Methods to Determine Regional Threshold Values of Hydrochemical Indicators in the Environmental Monitoring System of Waterbodies.

The regulation of the anthropogenic load on waterbodies is carried out based on water quality standards that are determined using the threshold values of hydrochemical indicators. These applied standards should be defined both geographically and differentially, taking into account the regional specifics of the formation of surface water compositions. However, there is currently no unified approach to defining these regional standards. It is, therefore. appropriate to develop regional water quality standards utilizing modern technologies for the mathematical purpose of methods analysis using both experimental data sources and information system technologies. As suggested by the use of sets of chemical analysis and neural network cluster analysis, both methods of analysis and an expert assessment could identify surface water types as well as define the official regional threshold values of hydrochemical system indicators, to improve the adequacy of assessments and ensure the mathematical justification of developed standards. The process for testing the proposed approach was carried out, using the surface water resource objects in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan as our example, in addition to using the results of long-term systematic measurements of informative hydrochemical indicators. In the first stage, typing was performed on surface waters using the neural network clustering method. Clustering was performed based on sets of determined hydrochemical parameters in Kohonen's self-organizing neural network. To assess the uniformity of data, groups in each of the selected clusters were represented by specialists in this subject area's region. To determine the regional threshold values of hydrochemical indicators, statistical data for the corresponding clusters were calculated, and the ranges of these values were used. The results of testing this proposed approach allowed us to recommend it for identifying surface water types, as well as to define the threshold values of hydrochemical indicators in the territory of any region with different surface water compositions.

[Survey on the state of investigation in rehabilitation in Spain: Results]. / Encuesta sobre la situación de investigación en rehabilitación en España. Resultados.

The research, training and innovation committee of the Spanish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SERMEF) wanted to know the state of research in our speciality. To this end, an online survey was developed and distributed among rehabilitation doctors in Spain, which obtained 253 responses. Of these, 65% stated that research activity in rehabilitation does take place in their work centre; the number of active projects in their centres as stated by them was: none in 35.7%; one in 17.7%, two in 23.3%, three in 8.4% and four or more in 14.9%. Among the main difficulties encountered, 89% highlight that there is no staff hired for research and 95% that in their centres part of the working day is not allocated to research. In terms of personal research activity, 56% reported that they were involved in research, with the most common role being that of principal investigator (58%). Ninety-five percent of respondents report that the main obstacle to developing a research project is the pressure of care and lack of time, and correspondingly, a large majority (83%) claim that having stipulated time for research in their working day would be a motivation.

Analysis on key points of ethics review of horizontal scientific research projects: Based on the ethics review management system of horizontal scientific research projects in a tertiary hospital / 中华医学科研管理杂志

Objective:This paper aims to promote the standardization of ethics review of horizontal scientific research projects and improve the ethics review quality by analyzing the current ethics review practice in a certain tertiary hospital, identifying common problems during the review process, illustrating relevant causes and proposing corresponding solutions.Methods:Through introducing the current situation of ethics review of horizontal scientific research projects in a tertiary level hospital, the differences between the main points of ethics review of horizontal scientific research projects and government-funded scientific research projects were analyzed, so as to sort out the common problems and possible causes in the process of ethics review of horizontal scientific research projects, and then explore the possible corresponding solutions.Results:Based on the characteristics of horizontal research projects, ethics review should focus on their scientific and social values, potential conflicts of interest, protection of subjects′ rights and interests, and whole-process management and quality assurance. At present, there are still many problems, such as a large number of projects, but not many projects with high research value, inadequate project process management, and ineffective implementation of ethics review opinions.Conclusions:The hospital should further improve the management system of horizontal scientific research project approval, bring in more comprehensive review regarding to both scientific and ethics review, engage more experts at the outset of project funding decision-making, set up ethics specialists, strengthen the process management of horizontal scientific research projects, strengthen ethical publicity and education, and improve the ethical awareness of researchers to fully protect the rights and interests of subjects and promote the high-quality development of clinical research.

College Students' Reflections on Their Experience Facilitating a Photovoice Research Project with BIPOC Older Adults and Frontline Healthcare Workers.

The photovoice literature has focused mainly on research collaborations between researchers in academia and community partners. There is limited evidence of undergraduate students facilitating photovoice research projects with underserved Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC). Students' participation in photovoice research increases their understanding of local issues and can empower them to engage with local communities to create change. This qualitative study explored students' experiences facilitating photovoice research with BIPOC older adults and frontline healthcare workers. In this study, we trained college students in photovoice methodological skills by introducing photovoice as a participatory qualitative methodology, explained ethics issues and the informed consent process, and clarified the steps and requirements for the photovoice project. Students were paired with BIPOC older adults and frontline healthcare workers. They facilitated the photovoice research project in four stages. Throughout the study, students critically reflected and wrote about the various aspects of their experience facilitating the photovoice research activities based on weekly structured reflection questions. In their weekly journal, student facilitators commented on how both older and younger BIPOC participants were friendly and kind, flexible with the research activity scheduling, inspiring with their stories, and selfless. Students' reflections indicated that their participants experienced greater emotional and psychological burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by the long-standing epidemic of systemic racism. Student facilitators overwhelmingly recognized participants' resilience and perseverance despite these life challenges. Our findings highlight the importance of photovoice in developing and strengthening college students' qualitative research skills and stimulating critical thinking and creativity, a sense of critical consciousness about social issues and society, and a sense of empowerment. Our results will be relevant to hospital/long-term care managers, policymakers, and researchers.

Choosing a health behaviour theory or model for related research projects: a narrative review.

Background: Theories are integral to a research project, providing the logic underlying what, how, and/or why a particular phenomenon happens. Alternatively, models are used to guide a research project by representing theories and visualising the structural framework of causal pathways by showing the different levels of analysis. With the rise in chronic and behaviour-related diseases, health behaviour theories and models have a particular importance in designing appropriate and research led behavioural intervention strategies. However, there is a dearth of papers that explain the role of behavioural theories and models in research projects. Aims: The aim of this paper is to synthesise existing evidence on the relevance of health behaviour theories and models in research projects. Methods: This paper reviews health behaviour theories and models commonly underpinning research projects in public health and clinical practices. The electronic databases, such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus, as well as the search engines Google and Google Scholar were searched to identify health behaviour theories and models. Results: Theories and models are essential in a research project. Theories provide the underlying reason for the occurrence of a phenomenon by explaining what the key drivers and outcomes of the target phenomenon are and why, and what underlying processes are responsible for causing that phenomenon. Models on the other hand provide guidance to a research project and assist in visualising the structural framework of causal pathways by showing the different levels of analysis. Health behaviour theories and models in particular offer valuable insights for designing effective and sustainable research projects for improved public health practice. Conclusions: By employing appropriate health behaviour theory and/or model as a research framework, researchers will be able to identify relevant variables and translate these into clinical and public health practices.

Publication of Pharmacy Residency Research: A 12-Year Cohort From an Academic Medical Center.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacy residency programs provide research training experiences to residents, and publication is considered an indicator of high-quality research experiences. OBJECTIVE: This study described attributes of pharmacy residents, residency programs, and residency major research projects and their associations with the outcome of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. METHODS: Pharmacy residents who graduated from one academic medical center between 2001 and 2012 were invited to participate via an electronic survey distributed in February 2014. The survey collected attributes of the resident, residency program, and research project. The outcome of publication was self-reported by residents in 2014 and updated in July 2019 using a validated search strategy. RESULTS: This study included 53 resident graduates representing 66 major pharmacy residency projects. Eighteen (27%) projects were published, occurring at an average of 13.8 months after residency graduation. The outcome of publication was more likely for residents with human subjects research experience prior to PGY1 training, residency programs that cultivated resident expertise in Institutional Review Board submission and statistical analysis, and projects with Institutional Review Board approval, a larger number of co-investigators, non-pharmacy co-investigators, and a larger sample size. CONCLUSION: This cohort of residents, programs, and projects at an academic medical center identified many modifiable attributes that were associated with successful publication of resident research projects. Unfortunately, residency projects rarely used study design features that attenuate bias. Residents and preceptors were perceived as having limited expertise with statistical analysis and database management, which underscores the need to develop research infrastructure to enhance research training for pharmacy students, residents, and preceptors.

Occurrence data on beetles (Coleoptera) collected in Dutch coastal dunes between 1953 and 1960.

Background: Historical field data in ecology are exceedingly rare and, therefore, their preservation and publication is of high importance, especially as these data can function as a point of reference for present day biodiversity research. Therefore, we digitised a 65-year-old dataset on ground-dwelling beetles caught with pitfall traps in the coastal dune area "Meijendel", situated in the western part of the Netherlands. New information: The data presented in this paper has never been published in a systematic way before and has had a long journey from moment of capture to the current digitisation. From 1953 through to 1960, 100 pitfalls were active and catches were collected once a week. A total of 36,400 samples were aggregated with approximately 90,000 occurrences recorded. All captures were identified up to species level and counted and sex determined where possible. The database has been registered in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and can be found under: https://www.gbif.org/dataset/9d02b439-aa5c-4c22-b1d9-d27fbde9e3ee.

Discussion on the application value of knowledge graph in scientific research project selection / 中华医学科研管理杂志

Objective:Taking the research field of pulmonary infection as an example, this study analyzed the core author institutions, research hotspots and burst keywords, and explored the application value of scientific knowledge graph in the first step of scientific research management-optimization of scientific research project selection.Methods:" Pulmonary infection" or " pneumonia" were used as key words in CNKI data base from 2014 to 2020, and medical science was selected as the discipline. Cite Space was used to generate the visual graph to analyze publishing institutions, keyword co-occurrence, topic clustering, and timeline burst keywords.Results:13 169 documents were retrieved, and 4 of the top 5 institutions were in Henan Province. In 2020, " Novel Coronavirus" and " Novel Coronavirus pneumonia" were the new hotspot words. " Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease " , " blood gas index" , " inflammatory factor" , and " vitamin A" were the burst keywords in 2018.Conclusions:Scientific knowledge graph is objective, scientific, and efficient in the development of science. It has certain feasibility in the optimization of project selection in scientific research work, and can also be used as a reference basis for experts to evaluate the project reasonability, so as to ensure objectivity and equity. This study also provides reference for scientific research management strategy, reduces research funding costs, and improves the efficiency and capacity of scientific research management.

Response to "Impact of a Required, Longitudinal Scholarly Project in Medical School: a Content Analysis of Medical Students' Reflections".

We present a letter to the editor in response to the article by Nikiforova et al. "Impact of A Required, Longitudinal Scholarly Project in Medical School: a Content Analysis of Medical Students' Reflections". We discuss our experiences of undertaking a similar module in our medical school and examine the authors' use of feedback in their analysis. We also present our views on the importance of feedback and the aspects that we feel maximise students experiencing with undertaking a longitudinal research project.

Retos y desafíos de la investigación clínica independiente / Challenges of independent clinical research

Las compañías farmacéuticas financian la mayoría de los estudios clínicos sobre medicamentos. Sin embargo, existen cuestiones clínicas que podrían no ser prioritarias desde el punto de vista comercial, pero que sin duda deberían ser abordadas, dada su transcendencia para los pacientes y la sociedad en general. La investigación clínica independiente representa aquí un pilar fundamental y su elemento básico son los estudios iniciados por el investigador (también conocidos por su nombre en inglés, investigator-initiated studies/trials). En estos estudios, es el investigador el que concibe la idea, desarrolla el proyecto y además actúa como promotor. La mayoría de los investigadores están familiarizados con la participación como colaboradores en los estudios promovidos por las compañías farmacéuticas; en dichos estudios, la compañía se encarga de todos los aspectos científicos, legales y, además, económicos, quedando la responsabilidad del investigador limitada fundamentalmente a la inclusión de pacientes y el cumplimiento del protocolo. Por el contrario, la puesta en marcha y el desarrollo de un estudio de investigación independiente requiere considerables recursos —de conocimientos, económicos y de tiempo— y una cuidadosa planificación por parte del investigador. En el presente manuscrito revisaremos cuáles son las principales características de los estudios iniciados por el investigador y sus diferencias fundamentales con los promovidos por la industria farmacéutica. Nos plantearemos también cuáles son sus fortalezas y sus limitaciones. Por último, propondremos algunas soluciones a los principales desafíos que plantean. Nuestro objetivo final es estimular a los potenciales investigadores a acometer el reto de llevar a cabo un proyecto de investigación clínica independiente.(AU)

Pharmaceutical companies fund most clinical trials on drugs. However, there are clinical issues that might not be a priority from a commercial point of view, but that should certainly be addressed, given their importance for patients and society in general. Independent clinical research represents a fundamental pillar here and its basic element is investigator-initiated studies/trials. In these studies, it is the researcher who conceives the idea, develops the project and also acts as the sponsor. Most researchers are familiar with participating as collaborators in studies sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. In these studies, the company is in charge of all the scientific, legal and financial aspects, leaving the responsibility of the researcher mainly limited to the inclusion of patients and compliance with the protocol. On the contrary, the start-up and development of an independent research study requires considerable resources – of knowledge, money and time – and careful planning on the part of the researcher. In this manuscript, we will review the main characteristics of the studies initiated by the researcher and their fundamental differences with those sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. We will also outline what its strengths and limitations are. Finally, we will propose some solutions to the main challenges they pose. Our ultimate goal is to stimulate potential researchers to undertake the challenge of conducting an independent clinical research project.(AU)

Impact of A Required, Longitudinal Scholarly Project in Medical School: A Content Analysis of Medical Students' Reflections.

INTRODUCTION: Medical schools increasingly require students to complete scholarly projects. Scholarly project programs that are required and longitudinal require considerable resources to implement. It is necessary to understand medical students' perspectives on the impact of such programs. Students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine participate in a required, longitudinal research program (LRP) throughout all years of medical school training. Authors studied students' perceptions of this program. METHODS: Fourth-year medical students submit a written report in which they reflect on their experience with the LRP. Qualitative analysis of students' written reflections was performed on 120 reports submitted 2012-2017. Content analysis was performed using an inductive approach in which investigators coded information and searched for emerging themes. RESULTS: Four themes were identified. First, students described engaging in many steps of the research process, with many participating in projects from conception to completion. Second, students reported the LRP provided opportunities for leadership and independence, and many found this to be meaningful. Third, students developed appreciation for the difficulty of the research process through challenges encountered and practiced problem solving. Fourth, students acquired skills useful across multiple career paths, including critical appraisal of scientific literature, teamwork, and communication. DISCUSSION: Through participation in a required, longitudinal research program, medical students reported gaining valuable skills in leadership, problem solving, critical thinking, and communication. Students found that the longitudinal nature of the program enabled meaningful research experiences. These educational impacts may be worth the effort of implementing and maintaining longitudinal research experiences for medical students. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-021-01319-6.

The Practice of Science as the Pursuit of Knowledge.

Choosing what scientific project to pursue is the most important decision that scientists at all levels continually face. Time devoted to a project can further desirable knowledge and advance a career or cost years in lost opportunity. Knowing what to consider before embarking on a specific scientific journey, as well as when to drop a project and change course, offers a way of practicing science that keeps us mindful of what is relevant at a given time and place while preserving our freedom to explore the most exciting findings. This article explores both the pressures that restrict this delicate decision-making process and the processes that scientists can apply to overcome those pressures. Above all else, as it turns out, we must still love the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake - and this love directly impacts our results.

Evaluation of the Undergraduate Pharmacy Student Research Projects in Ambo University, Ethiopia: Retrospective Review.

BACKGROUND: Academic research is an essential part of undergraduate Pharmacy education to produce qualified Pharmacists. However, there are no documented studies that examine the nature of undergraduate Pharmacy students' research projects in Ethiopia. Therefore this study aimed to characterize the nature of students' research project conducted for a bachelor of Pharmacy degree program at Ambo University, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective review using data extraction form was conducted on 279 research reports of undergraduate Pharmacy students at Ambo University from 2013/14 to 2018/2019. The National Harmonized Modular Curriculum program for the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in Ethiopia was used as a framework to group research projects by research topics and domains. Students' profile (gender, program), supervisors profile, research types and topics, a domain of pharmacy curriculum, study setting, study design, target population, data collection strategy and techniques, and therapeutic classes of medicines for each project were extracted to see the characteristics of students' research project. Data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. RESULTS: From 279 Pharmacy undergraduate students' research projects, 83.9% were conducted by male students and 64.1% were by regular program students. Two hundred fifty (89.6%) of the projects were surveys. Slightly less than half (49.8%) of the research projects were clinical researches. One hundred twenty-six (45.2%) of the research projects were focused on the pharmaceutical care domain followed by dispensing (22.6%) and research and education domain (10%). Out of the 250 survey research projects, the majority 226 (90.4%) of them were used cross-sectional study design, 205 (82%) were conducted at hospitals and 187 (74.8%) were done on the clinical population. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the majority of the abstracted projects were surveyed type quantitative clinical researches focused on the Pharmaceutical care domain and takes place at hospitals affiliated with the University. On the contrary, a lower proportion of the research projects were laboratory-based researches, focused on Pharmaceuticals manufacturing, drug information service, regulation, and supply chain management domains, and takes place at community Pharmacy and educational institutions. Thus, it is highly recommended the University has to devise a system for expansion of the study settings other than its affiliated hospitals, and the research topics would encompass all areas and domains of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical sciences.

Challenges of independent clinical research. / Retos y desafíos de la investigación clínica independiente.

Pharmaceutical companies fund most clinical trials on drugs. However, there are clinical issues that might not be a priority from a commercial point of view, but that should certainly be addressed, given their importance for patients and society in general. Independent clinical research represents a fundamental pillar here and its basic element is investigator-initiated studies/trials. In these studies, it is the researcher who conceives the idea, develops the project and also acts as the sponsor. Most researchers are familiar with participating as collaborators in studies sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. In these studies, the company is in charge of all the scientific, legal and financial aspects, leaving the responsibility of the researcher mainly limited to the inclusion of patients and compliance with the protocol. On the contrary, the start-up and development of an independent research study requires considerable resources - of knowledge, money and time - and careful planning on the part of the researcher. In this manuscript, we will review the main characteristics of the studies initiated by the researcher and their fundamental differences with those sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. We will also outline what its strengths and limitations are. Finally, we will propose some solutions to the main challenges they pose. Our ultimate goal is to stimulate potential researchers to undertake the challenge of conducting an independent clinical research project.