1. Grants and Research Overview and Institutional Agenda for Educational Research
P. Gunnar Brolinson, DO, FAOASM, FACOFP, FAAFP
Vice Provost for Research
Discipline Chair for Sports Medicine
Team Physician Virginia Tech
Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship

2. Things that make you go hmmm…
“ My momma always said most people don’t look dumb until they start talking.”
Forrest Gump

3. VCOM Grants and Research 2.0

4. To advance scientific knowledge through medical research.
Our Mission…
The MISSION of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is to prepare globally-minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health.
To foster a culture of faculty growth and institutional excellence through annual review and research on new developments in medical education, new delivery models and technology; and support for faculty research, innovation, and scholarly work in the areas of biomedical, clinical, educational, public health and health policy research.
To advance scientific knowledge through medical research.
Priority 1:   Biomedical Research
Priority 2:   Clinical Research
Priority 3:   Educational Research/Osteopathic Principals and Practice 

5. What’s Special About VCOM?
VCOM is uniquely qualified and positioned to introduce innovation and research into Osteopathic Practice and Education
We will soon be the largest osteopathic medical school in the US and have created a novel educational process
We target the rural and underserved Appalachian population for medical student recruitment and residency training as well as the delivery of medical care
Our 3 Campus system is located on the campuses of two national research universities and one is adjacent to a major cancer research institute

6. Grants and Research Department Reorganization
Dr. Gunnar Brolinson named as Vice Provost for Research
Better support for research endeavors across the three VCOM campuses
Ensure a uniform operating model as the College continues to grow
Provide more formal research development programs
provide faculty with additional resources to strengthen research proposals such as faculty development programs on research skills, peer review and statistical support.
Facilitate interdisciplinary and interdepartmental collaborative research

7. Grants and Research Department Goals
Become the top ranked Osteopathic Medical School in research in the next 5 years
Become one of the top 25 ranked Medical schools in research in the next 10 years
141 current US allopathic medical schools
17 Canadian Schools
30 US osteopathic medical schools

8. Research Plan for the Osteopathic Profession
For a comprehensive medical profession, performing research is not an option. Rather, such a profession has an ethical and societal obligation to systematically study medical conditions and treatment outcomes to determine better ways to improve patient health. A principle within the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Strategic Plan is to enable a culture of osteopathic research within the osteopathic family. To be successful, such a culture requires that all facets within the osteopathic medical profession actively support research and a substantial number of academics and clinicians perform clinical and translational research. Furthermore, the AOA mission statement—to advance the distinctive philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine—focuses the profession on a common goal: to emphasize research that investigates and demonstrates its distinctive philosophy and practice.

9. What challenges do we face?
One area of criticism has been the relative lack of research and lesser emphasis on scientific inquiry at D.O. schools in comparison with M.D. schools.
“The inability to institutionalize research, particularly clinical research, at osteopathic institutions has, over the years, weakened the acculturation, socialization, and distinctive beliefs and practices of osteopathic students and graduates”.
Funding for “seed grant” projects to generate pilot data
Funding for “Endowed Chairs”
Funding for “Research Infrastructure”
“Money isn't everything but it does rank right up there next to oxygen!”

10. Strategic Planning
External Reviews: conversations with the experts, going on now
Funding agencies: Federal, Private, all areas, but especially for Osteopathic Research
Innovative research, translational projects, impact
Research partners: CCI Alliance as an example
Innovation is key –create a culture of innovation
Research VPs, Directors of Centers
What does it take to be a great research entity?
Publish in high tier journals, attend meetings, give talks and posters. Be visible.
Faculty must be at the top of their game
Collaboration within and outside institution key
Align research Strategic Plan with College Mission
VCOM is not a “research optional” institution
We need your help!

11. What is Educational Research?
Educational Research refers to a variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of education including: “student learning, teaching methods, teacher training, and classroom dynamics”.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

12. Why should we do educational research?
Every individual has their own beliefs about the best way to teach.
How do they know that their beliefs are correct?
Is it possible to support your beliefs with more valid evidence than just that you believe it to be true, it is true from your personal experiences, or that an expert said that it is true?

13. Ten Characteristics of Educational Research
Educational research attempts to solve a problem.
Research involves gathering new data from primary or first-hand sources or using existing data for a new purpose.
Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence.
Research demands accurate observation and description.
Research generally employs carefully designed procedures and rigorous analysis.
Research emphasizes the development of generalizations, principles or theories that will help in understanding, prediction and/or control.
Research requires expertise—familiarity with the field; competence in methodology; technical skill in collecting and analyzing the data.
Research attempts to find an objective, unbiased solution to the problem and takes great pains to validate the procedures employed.
Research is a deliberate and unhurried activity which is directional but often refines the problem or questions as the research progresses.
Research is carefully recorded and reported to other persons interested in the problem.

14. Purpose of Educational Research
The purpose of educational research is to develop new knowledge about the teaching-learning situation to improve educational practice. Educational research can address the following variables:
Learning: How do students best learn various subjects?
Teaching: What are the best teaching practices to foster student achievement?
Motivation: What are the best practices for teachers to motivate their students to achieve?
Development: How do children and adults change over time, including their cognitive, social, and emotional skills?
Classroom management: What classroom or school practices make the classroom optimal for student learning?

15. What’s the benefit of educational research?
Provide instruction that maximizes students' learning.
Understand and support the developmental needs of students.
Develop an educational environment that supports students' motivation.
Provide solutions to educational problems.
Fosters the development of innovative curriculae

16. Designing your Educational Research Protocol
The Protocol is a “recipe” or “blueprint”
Strict scientific guidelines:
--Purpose of study
--How many people will participate
--Who is eligible to participate
--How the study will be carried out
--What information will be gathered about participants
--Endpoints

17. Critical Thinking….PICO
What are the characteristics of the Participants in the proposed research?
What is the Intervention being studied?
What is it Compared with?
What Outcomes are measured?
Then ask yourself, “Is this an important question to be asked and answered?”

18. What is a “Research Question?
Often begins with a general concern:
Should women take hormones to prevent bone loss?
Can a vegetarian diet reverse cardiovascular disease?
Can a Self Directed Learning experience replace a classroom learning experience for ?
Can diabetic patients be taught to control their blood glucose levels?

19. Refine your “Research Question”
Must be narrowed to something measurable and researchable
Is taking estrogen associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis in women 60+?
Does a plant-based diet reduce serum cholesterol levels in patients with cardiovascular disease?
Can a structured intensive diabetes education program help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood glucose levels?

20. How to generate a “Research Question”
Literature
Your previous research/experience
Mentor
Conferences
Participants/subjects

21. Framing the Research Question…
"Does my child need antibiotics for this ear infection?" might be rephrased…
"In children with acute otitis media, how much difference do antibiotics make in comparison with Tylenol alone, in terms of duration of pain, deafness, recurrent infections and serious complications“.
Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes

22. Literature Review Good scholarship is key!
no need to re-invent the wheel
Review a meta-analysis or systematic review to evaluate the existing literature
Consult our Library staff and other sources for systematic reviews

23. Significance of your project
How does your research question
contribute to the scientific knowledge base?
influence teaching models or student outcomes?
or have some bearing on public health policy?
The significance section provides a rationale for your study, includes relevant previous research, and indicates how your study will take the knowledge base one-step further.

24. Common Problems Question too broad Not enough subjects available
Reduce variables of interest; narrow focus
Not enough subjects available
Expand inclusion criteria; lengthen time frame; modify exclusion criteria
Too expensive
Consider less costly study designs -- fewer subjects; shorter duration; fewer follow-ups

25. Common Problems Methods beyond your skills
Collaborate with experts in those areas
Not interesting, relevant, novel
Consult with mentors; review literature
Unethical
Consult with IRB; revise research question

26. Your Hypothesis
How can you now re-phrase your study question so that it provides the basis for testing the statistical significance of your research findings?

27. Study Subjects
Selection Criteria: How are you defining your study population?
Inclusion criteria: What characteristics must your subjects possess in order to be considered for your study?
Exclusion criteria: What characteristics will preclude subjects from being considered for your study?
Sampling: How are you selecting your study subjects?
What subgroup of your overall study population will be chosen to be your study subjects?
Will they be randomly selected from a large population or will they be a convenience sample from a smaller more specific group?

28. Inferences Internal Validity: External Validity: Causality:
How well do your conclusions correctly describe what actually happened in your study?
External Validity:
How well do your conclusions generalize to the population outside of your study sample?
Causality:
How well does your predictor variable(s) explain a cause and effect relationship with the outcome?

29. Designing Your Study Outline: Protocol: Operations Manual:
1-2 page checklist of the components and sequence of your study
Protocol:
pages of details used for planning your study and (grant) application or IRB submission
Operations Manual:
instructions and procedures that assure quality control and a standardized approach to implementing your study

30. Create Your Budget
Internal budget of actual direct costs and indirect costs
Tool for project management
Justification to sponsor of requested amounts during negotiation
Use for planning and fund allocation throughout project

31. Informed Consent Document
Use lay language and appropriate reading comprehension level
Template usually provided by institution and/or sponsor

32. Study Protocol Outline
Research question
Significance
Design
Subjects
Sample size
Variables
Analysis plan

33. IRB Review PI presents protocol to IRB
IRB approves or issues a modification request letter with pending approval
Or denies…
Modifications are reviewed by PI and research study group
May also need approval by the sponsor
IRB approval letter is issued

34. Project Implementation
Feasibility has been determined
Continue with protocol review and refinement
IRB and regulatory submissions and
Clinical logistics and setup
Confidential information and HIPAA compliance if needed

35. Project Completion Close out/finish data entry
Begin statistical analysis
Return of any supplies, etc.
Inform the IRB of closure of enrollment
Final data completion and write up

36. VCOM Simulation Center & Med Trans Corp
VCOM Simulation Center & Med Trans Corp. Presentation at the National Aeromedical Conference Sept. 22, 2014
Educational Research -“ A Course Model of Recertification for Flight Paramedics and Critical Care Nurses Utilizing  High Fidelity  Simulation, Cadaver Based Procedural Skills and Learning Management System- The Odd Couple: How Partnering with a Medical School Changed our Training”
Collaborative Educational Agreement between Med Trans and VCOM that resulted in integration of simulation into Flight Paramedical and Critical Care Recertification Course. CAMTS approved .This Intellectual property has been accepted for marketing thru Sim Venture a division of the Laerdal Corporation.
Podium presentation by Chris Martin MHS, Tina Fey NREMT-P, Jim Mobley NREMT-P and Fred Rawlins DO FACOEP at The Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) scheduled September at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee

37. So What’s Next…..?
This workshop and retreat is designed to give you the tools to begin or enhance your research career!
Start to think about projects that you and your colleagues can do
Reach out to faculty at your institution as well as our other branch campuses
Have fun!

38. Thank You!