Research should be an integral part of Medical Education. Questions about a disease, its diagnosis and treatment are raised day to day in clinical settings, and answers obtained through scientific methods are then translated into clinical practice. The students of the medical profession need to be trained in the basic elements of planning and executing quality scientific research with well-defined objectives.
Research mindedness can greatly improve the quality of the Teaching-Learning process. A teacher engaged in research is up to date with recent information, and can also inculcate a spirit of enquiry and freedom of thought into his/her students.
The SMIMS Research Unit has the following Objectives, Structure and Function.
OBJECTIVES
1. To facilitate research activities in the institution among the faculty
2. To sensitise medical students towards being research minded
3. To obtain and implement Research projects from external agencies
4. To conduct Conferences and Research Methodology Workshops
5. To guide and support individuals who take up research work
6. To promote the submission of articles to scientific journals for publishing.
STRUCTURE
The following shall be structure of the Research Unit of the Institution:
Patron : Dr. Rema V. Nair, Director, SMIMS.
Chair Person : Dr. P. Sreedevi, Principal, SMIMS
Vice- Chair Person : Dr. K. Usha Devi, Prof. & Head of Community Medicine
Advisory Board : All Heads of Departments and Professors
Coordinator : Dr. D. Pethuru, Assistant Professor of Community Medicine
Epidemiologists : Dr. Haneephabi, Professor of Community Medicine
Dr. Jayasree C.S., Assistant Professor of Community Medicine
Dr. Anoop Lal, Assistant Professor of Community Medicine
Dr. Vijayakumar, Assistant Professor of Community Medicine
Bio Statistician : Prof. P. Arumugam, Professor of Biostatistics
Facilitators : Nominated Associate/Assistant Professors from Departments
ETHICS COMMITTEE
Any research activity carried out on human subjects need to be ethically correct. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has made it mandatory that all research activities conducted in an institution should have the clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee. The SMIMS Ethics Committee, which shall ensure the implementation of ethical guidelines in research projects, shall have the following structure.
Chair person : Dr. K.N. Laila, Prof. & Head of Pharmacology
Vice Chair person : Dr. S. Girish, Prof. & Head of Forensic Medicine
Members : Heads of the Departments
Legal Counsel : Practicing Local Lawyer
Community Members : Eminent Members from the Community
Convener : Asst. Professor from the Dept. of Pharmacology
INDIVIDUAL ROLES
Chair Persons:
1) To chair the regular periodical meeting of the Research Unit / Ethical Committee.
2) To monitor the activities of the Research unit / Ethical Committee and guide the members towards successful achievement of objectives.
Vice- Chair Persons:
1) The same as the Chair persons.
2) To chair the meetings of the research Unit in the absence of the chair person.
3) To assist the Chair person to carry out his/her responsibilities.
Advisory Board
1. Shall advise the Unit regarding every aspect in the implementation of research projects.
2. Shall use their experience and wisdom to help fine tune research projects in pragmatic manner.
Coordinator:
1. Shall coordinate the activities of the Research Unit.
2. Shall liaise with external agencies to obtain research projects / grants.
3. Shall convene the periodic meetings of the Research Unit.
4. Shall organize Research Conferences and Workshops
Epidemiologists:
1. Shall serve as Consultants in the area of Epidemiology and Research methodology.
2. During the meeting of the Research Unit, they will look into the methodological aspects of the proposed study and make necessary suggestions.
Bio Statistician:
1. Shall act as Statistical Consultant for the projects taken up by the research unit.
Facilitators:
1. Shall actively contribute towards achieving the objectives of the Research Unit.
2. Shall facilitate the activities of the Unit through their respective Departments.
3. Shall serve as Consultants in their areas of expertise.
Convener of Ethics Committee:
1. Shall identify all research projects requiring Ethical clearance.
2. Shall convene the meeting if the Institutional Ethics Committee as and when necessary.
3. Shall compile research proposals and facilitate their presentation in front of the ethics committee.