Research in the Department of Surgery

Core Program August 5th 2009

Introduction

Catherine Gill Pottruff Research Coordinator for the

Academic Department of Surgery Contact Info:

302-43 Charlton Ave E. Phone: x 35287 Email: gillc@mcmaster.ca

What is expected during my residency in terms of research?

It is expected that you will do a minimum of 2 research projects over the 5 yearsSome programs have further requirementsIt is expected that you will present your work at least at one of our Research Days and strongly encouraged that you present at national or international meetingsThe privilege of sitting your exams will be denied if the minimum requirements are not met

What Kinds of Research?

Bench Level/Cellular Level (Drs. Pinthus, Ghert, Singh and Jiang)

Patient Level (Drs. Bain, Ruo, Cadeddu, Sne and Lovrics)

Surgical Outcomes (Drs. Miller, Anvari, Bhandari, Thoma and Lovrics)

Cutting Edge Technology (Drs. Anvari and Williams, MIU)

Economic Analysis (Drs. Lamy and Thoma)

Knowledge Translation (Dr. Simunovic)

Surgical Education (Drs. Dath, Szalay, Matsumoto and Wong)

Office of Surgical Research Services (OSRS)

Dr. James Bain, Associate Chair of Research

Dr. Forough Farrokhyar, Biostatistician/Clin. Epidemiologist

Ms. Catherine Gill Pottruff, Research Coordinator

Ms. Charneal Dixon, Research Assistant

Ms. Ann Kolkin, Research Admin Support for Dr. Farrokhyar

Mr. Ian Burt, Accountant

Ms. Sue Graci, Finance Assistant

Ms. Clare Mitchell, Manager of Dept of Surgery

Services We Offer

Formulation of the research questionMethodological supportSample size calculationBudget reviewsEthics applicationsFunding applicationsData analysisIn house reviews: ethics, funding, manuscripts etcShort term research support during projectsPoster design and printing arrangements

How do I get started?

Find someone to be your supervisor Surgeon Bench Researcher Physician or Researcher in another specialty

Determine what your question isTalk to Dr. Farrokhyar about your methodologyApply for some fundingApply for ethics approvalArrange for some time to do the work

Where can I find funding?

Local Funding OpportunitiesOutside Funding Agencies

Local Funding Opportunities

Dept of Surgery Research Advisory Committee Residents’ Research Fund $5000/resident/project/year Can’t be used for capital equipment,

computers, software or for travel Apply anytime by emailing me your

cover letter, protocol, budget and budget justification

Local Funding Opportunities

RMA Scholarships $7500/resident/year Resident must be PI Apply through the Postgrad Office Next Deadline: August 31st 2009 http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/postgrad/documents/Awards

%20Booklet%202008.pdf

Local Funding Opportunities

HHS New Investigators Fund $25 000/12-18 months Residents are eligible if the work occurs at an

HHS site Resident must have a Co-applicant who is an

experienced researcher, with peer reviewed funding and on staff at HHS

2 competitions a year: due electronically by 4 pm March 31st and October 1st

http://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/body.cfm?id=1074

Outside Funding Agencies

Physicians’ Services Inc. Foundation $20 000/ 1 year Resident as PI Project must be developed by the resident

and the resident must do the majority of the work of the project

4 competitions a year: Feb, May, Aug, Nov http://psifoundation.org/resident_research.htm

Outside Funding Agencies

Several professional organizations have grant competitions for which residents are eligible, such as: Canadian Association of General

Surgeons Canadian Society of Vascular Surgeons Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Orthopaedic Trauma Association (US)

When You Apply for Funding….

The Office of Surgical Research Services is happy to review your application to make sure you have completed all the requirements, obtained all the signatures and that the application is at the standard expected by the Department

We keep a running list of successful grants in the Department, and we can help you with setting up accounts etc.

Ethics Approval

Ethics approval is required from either the Research Ethics Board (FHS-HHS or SJH) for human research or the Animal Research Ethics Board for animal work

Office of Research Services can help develop consent forms, data collection sheets, complete the application forms and collect signatures

Ethics Approval Process

All forms, deadlines and any other information you will need can be found on the McMaster webpage under HRS - Health Research Services:

http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/healthresearch/ethics.html

Ethics Approval Process

Generally the deadlines are at the end of each month, for a meeting in the 3rd week of the next monthPlease make sure you use the most recent version of the forms and get all the appropriate signatures or your application will be sent back without reviewREB or AREB approval is necessary for release of research funding

Specifically….

Two Notes Regarding Ethics Applications Research projects involving data collection from

office or hospital charts require Ethics approval and completion of the online McMaster Privacy Tutorial

http://ethics.mcmaster.ca/chart/ As of Dec 31/08, all researchers doing clinical

trials at SJH are required to show proof of Good Clinical Practice training as part of the REB application (HHS/FHS does not require this yet, but they will in the near future)

Specifically….

One More Regarding Animal Work Central Animal Facility requires all researchers

using animals to complete the basic orientation as well as other training courses as required for your work

Animal Handling Gaseous and Injectable Anesthetics for Animals Blood collection

CAF has a Veterinarian and Veterinary Pathologist on staff to assist in the planning of your project, and Veterinary Technologists available to assist if required

When can I do my research?

You can arrange to have protected research time either in a 3 month block or on a weekly basis for a period of timePlease talk to your Program Director if you want to do this

PGY-2s can use the Core Program Research Seminar time as protected time

Things to Remember

Once your project is complete, it isn’t over: Write it up and submit it for publication Submit abstracts to national and

international meetings for oral or poster presentation (travel funding is available from the Department – ask your Program Coordinator for more information)

Apply for prizes!

Prizes?!

Royal College has yearly Canadian Research Awards for Specialty Residents, $2000PSI Foundation Prizes for Resident Research, 5x$2000, top paper gets an additional $1000Quality Assurance Awards, 5x$1000, for best work in quality assurance All are for completed research only

Upcoming Research Events

Divisional Residents’ Research Days 2009 Plastic Surgery-Sept 11th

Orthopaedics-Oct 2nd

General Surgery-Oct 9th Otolaryngology-Oct 21st

Neurosciences-Oct 30th

Department Annual Residents’ Research Conference 2009 Wednesday November 11th

PGY-2 Research Mornings

January 13th and June 2nd 2010Purpose: For the PGY-2s to gain experience in presenting and feedback on projects in developmentCan be a proposal, a work in progress or a completed projectPGY-1s, senior residents and faculty will be invited to provide constructive criticism to the presentersList of presenters for each date will be available in late September

In Conclusion….

When you are thinking about doing research projects: Keep in mind all the prep work that

goes into a project and have an appropriate timeline

The Office of Surgical Research Services can help make your project outstanding

http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/surgery/research.html