The document provides information on research opportunities for undergraduate medical students in India. It discusses the benefits of undergraduate research experience such as enhanced employability, research skills, and improved student-faculty contact. It also outlines various funding opportunities for undergraduate research in India such as grants from universities and bodies like ICMR. Conference and publication opportunities for presenting and publishing undergraduate research are also presented.

1. Research Opportunities for
students
undergraduate point of view
Anusha Raj Kabbur
Final year MBBS student
MMC & RI

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

3. Outcomes for graduates
 Doctor as a scholar and a scientist
 Doctor as a practitioner
 Doctor as a professional

4. 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
Browsing vs Searching

5. 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 +

6.  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

7. Research Skill Areas
Research Methods
Information gathering/literature search
Critical analysis and review
Independent thinking
Data processing
Stark et al Med Teacher 2005

12. 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

13. 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)

15. TYPES OF RESEARCH

17. Most of our barriers are more mental than

19. 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.

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.
 At Mumbai campus of the TIFR during mid May to early
July each year.
 Participants are paid a monthly stipend of Rs 7000/-

26. 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.

27.  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.

28. 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

30. 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

31. 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.

33. 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.

34. International medical journals
encouraging the undergraduate medical
students:
 Journal of Young Investigators,
 McGill Journal of Medicine,
 Student BMJ,
 Student Lancet,
 PLOS Medicine

35. 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

36. 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.

37. 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).

38. 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.

39. 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.

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