Medical education encompasses much more than simply learning the anatomy and diseases of the body, as well as developing some clinical skills. To be an outstanding doctor after finishing medical school, the student needs to be exposed to the scientific method of research, the latest technologies, and the complexities of medicine, all of which are constantly changing.
The medical student must understand that every treatment protocol the physician will prescribe, every diagnostic test he/she will order, every surgical technique he/she will utilize, etc., resulted from questions posed by researchers, and then additional research, analysis, data collection, and formulation of new knowledge have all contributed to medicine today. Thus, the research aspects should not only be of academic value to the medical student but also should cause a fundamental change in the practice of medicine.
Medical laboratories and conducting/participating in research activities outside of the United States provide students with the opportunity to learn how to ask questions about established practices, critically evaluate evidence, understand the concept of statistical significance, and appreciate the investigative nature of the research process that forms the foundation of medical knowledge.
Research influences how physicians employ evidence-based practice techniques versus just using established protocols without fully understanding the reasoning behind them. The experience of obtaining research during training creates a physician’s ability to think critically and analytically, which will be essential throughout an entire medical career.
In addition to thinking analytically when approaching medical issues, research training teaches students to look at clinical problems in an organized fashion using multiple hypotheses, create an appropriately designed study or research project to test the hypotheses, and objectively analyze the results.
Types of Research Opportunities Available
When students have a broader understanding of the research areas available, it can help them determine which type of research best aligns with their interests and career goals. Many possibilities exist for research opportunities through medical laboratories and research abroad (both are broad categories). In addition to offering various types of learning opportunities, these two types of research provide students with diverse opportunities to develop specific skills.
- Basic Science Research
Basic science research is concerned with the investigation of basic biological mechanisms—the way in which cellular processes work, how diseases arise on a molecular level, the way drugs interact with biological systems, and how variations in an individual’s genes affect their health. Most universities with a strong research focus maintain basic science laboratories dedicated specifically to the areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, pharmacology, and pathology.
Basic science researchers frequently conduct research into the signaling pathways involved in the development of cancer, the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, the genetic mechanisms of drug metabolism, and the molecular mechanisms responsible for the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, as examples. A typical basic science project will utilize laboratory techniques such as cell culture, DNA sequencing, protein analysis, microscopy, and a variety of biochemical assays.
Technical skills developed through basic science research can be applied across medical specialties. Thus, even if you choose to pursue a career in clinical practice rather than research, having a good understanding of laboratory techniques will aid you in interpreting your patients’ diagnostic test results more accurately, and an appreciation of the scientific principles that underpin them will enhance your knowledge in the field of clinical medicine.
- Clinical Research
When working as a student in this area, you may be involved with clinical trials that evaluate new medications, observational studies that assess the effectiveness of an intervention, historical (retrospective) reviews of a patient’s health record, and multicenter studies that follow a large group of patients over time (prospective). As you participate in these activities, you will gain the skills needed to develop clinically significant research questions and answer them with the application of the scientific method.
Although the above-mentioned activities are valuable in developing your ability to research patient care, they are most importantly valuable in bridging the gap between the academic and clinical environments.
- Epidemiological and Public Health Research
Research into public health investigates disease patterns, causes, treatments, and solutions on a large scale or “population level.” For example, a student might explore how infectious diseases spread, determine what factors put individuals at risk for developing such diseases, evaluate how well current efforts to vaccinate individuals against these diseases are working, study obstacles to accessing health services, or look at social and environmental conditions that affect people’s ability to live healthily. Various methods of collecting and using empirical data will be used to conduct this type of research, including statistical techniques, survey methods, and population-based model frameworks.
For any student who is interested in a career in community health, public health, or international health, conducting these types of projects is a very valuable educational opportunity. Today’s healthcare professionals are increasingly seeing that the knowledge they gain from conducting research into larger populations helps to inform their practice of preventive medicine and ultimately benefits all their patients.
- Translational Research
Translational research connects the basic scientific discoveries of the laboratory with the application of that knowledge to the clinical setting; it is often described as the “bench-to-bedside” continuum of research. In other words, translational research applies what we know in the lab to problems we see in our patients every day. An increasing number of medical laboratories and international research partnerships over the last decade have developed opportunities for physician-investigators to engage in this type of research.
Examples of translational research include using animal models to evaluate laboratory-discovered therapies, developing molecular diagnostic tools, constructing ways to deliver medications, and making personalized genomic applications. Like many other areas of medicine and science, conducting translational research involves collaboration among basic scientists, clinical researchers, engineers, and others.
- Developing Essential Skills
Research is not just about having clinical expertise; it also requires specific skills in the area of research. These include the ability to perform statistical analyses, conduct literature searches, write scientifically, present data effectively, carry out laboratory procedures, and think critically.
Most universities teach research methodology, provide training in biostatistics, and offer workshops in scientific writing. You should take full advantage of these resources while you are still in medical school and begin to learn how to use reference management software and understand the principles of research ethics and the methods of literature review so that you can easily become involved in research.
The skill that you will develop through your training will be to ask the right questions. The main element in research is curiosity. Curiosity leads to questions about phenomena that are not completely understood.
Develop a habit of asking questions about everything you see and do, and just because “everyone does it this way,” be sure to find out what evidence supports that method.
Education Orbit Counseling and Link
In addition to assisting with your university selection, EOCL India (Education Orbit Counseling and Link) will help you utilize your research experience as you proceed to advance in your career through preparing for research-intensive residency programs and by creating a profile highlighting your scientific capabilities along with clinical skills. The counselors at EOCL India will assist in matching your research interests to a university where you can pursue your medical education and that meets your need for clinical scientific development. Get in touch with EOCL India.
