importance of research in medical field

• Interesting MedStuff
• International News
• Medical Devices
• Social Media
• Life Experiences
• Student Articles
• Student Tips
• Clinical Medicine
• Clinical Procedures
• Clinical Surgery
• Guidelines & Protocols
• Publisher Square
• Smartphone Apps
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Beauty & Cosmetics
• Elderly Health
• Kid’s Health
• Medical Tips for Daily Life
• Men’s Health
• Mental Health
• Women’s Health
• Subscription Options
• Partners & Supporters
• Publishing Guidelines
• Medicalopedia Citations
• DMCA Notice
• Privacy Policy

Technology Meets Health: 7 Core Benefits of Telehealth

Virginia Beach Chiropractor Offers Free Consultation Coupon on Website

How To Use Synthetic Urine For A Drug Test

Ease Your Pain With Regenerative Medicine

How to Minimize the Risk of an Injury During a Car…

• Medical News

Why Is Medical Research Important?

Medical research has become an important part of the health care industry, and advances in technology have made it possible for much of it to be done on an outpatient basis, meaning that investigators sometimes don’t need to do extensive studies in a research facility. The field of medical research is one of the most interesting fields in all of science because of its focus on science and medicine in conjunction with a great deal of research.

Medical research covers a wide variety of studies, stretching from ‘baseline’ investigation, through systematic reviews and to the cutting-edge of medical science. It involves the study of all human diseases or may have only disease-specific research. For example, AIDS research includes both studying patients who have AIDS and those who do not, as well as studying children with AIDS and children without AIDS. Similarly, researchers may be investigating the causes of Parkinson’s disease in old age and Parkinson’s disease in young adulthood.

4 Phases of Medical Research Studies

The four phases of Medical Research Studies are experimental, comparative/expository, understudy, and last, analysis and validation/regression.

• Comparative/expository medical research compares experimental and comparative samples from which the study population is developed; compare post hoc comparisons with the initial data; evaluates associations among variables measured.  
• Understudy studies consist of data from observational studies and random chance sampling.
• Experimental refers to clinical trials that are done specifically to test a new medical product, device, or technique.  
• Finally, validation/ regression Research studies compare new designs or drugs to earlier designs and evaluate their effect on any association found.

There are many reasons why medical research is so valuable. Whether you aim to start a career in this field or to gain more knowledge about health conditions and their treatments, it’s important to understand the benefits that medical research provides. You can learn about medical research at http://hrmdresearch.com/ .

The Importance Of Medical Research

The breakthroughs that people enjoy today are virtually unimaginable without the knowledge gained through medical research. Here are some of the most important reasons medical research is important:

• Generate Valuable Insights

Medical research helps people learn more about themselves and their health. The knowledge gained by medical research is constantly improving.

• With new scientific information coming from medical studies, people will be able to take care of their health and well-being more effectively.
• It also seeks to understand the reasons for diseases, to discover new methods of preventing or controlling diseases, and to develop treatments for these diseases and their effects.

2. Development Of New Drugs

Medical research must be done to find a cure for diseases and illnesses. Without medical research, medicine and other medical innovations as we know it could not exist. Sometimes called pharmaceutical research, medical research encompasses a broad spectrum of scientific studies. It starts with the research and development of drugs, followed by treatments and procedures used in clinical practice.  

The process of new drug development may involve the following steps:

• It can be done in several different ways, including doing laboratory experiments in bioresources such as blood and cells, or cell culture, to studying the effects of chronic exposure to toxins, drugs, hormones, and other compounds in the environment.  
• Other research is directed toward understanding disease mechanisms, to find better ways of treating or preventing disease, and how disease progression is influenced by environmental factors.  

3. Improve The Quality Of Life

Medical researchers don’t just look for ways to manage the symptoms of diseases, they try their best to find a cure for a specific illness or a group of diseases. There are several ways drug research and testing improve the quality of life:

• Medical studies that aid in the development and administration of vaccines allow people to live without worrying about deadly diseases. An example will be the ongoing development and clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine which may help the world go back to normal.
• Some people can live with their conditions for years by understanding how to manage them properly. As time goes by, everyone is also learning how to prevent certain illnesses from occurring and even eliminate them.

Why is medical research so important? Medical research saves lives every day. Scientists and researchers work day and night to develop new treatments, drugs, and procedures. Without the help of dedicated scientists, doctors, and other medical professionals, the advances made would be slow and limited.  

When a patient participates in a trial, they must undergo several physical tests and provide some information about their lifestyle and diet. The findings and insights derived from these studies and trials are invaluable in coming up with treatments and cures for various health conditions.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Daily Coping Techniques for Managing PTSD: Finding Your Path to Resilience

Liraglutide for Weight Loss: An Overview

The Impact of Consolidation: Healthcare Mergers and Acquisitions Explained

How to regain Energy, Naturally

Marketing Tips for Healthcare Businesses

Three Ways Frivolous Lawsuits Are Harmful to Your Health

The Benefits of Research in Healthcare

• February 1, 2023

Table of Contents

The healthcare industry is always changing and evolving. With new technologies and treatments constantly being developed, it can be hard to keep up. That’s where research comes in.

Research plays a vital role in healthcare, providing the evidence that we need to decide which treatments are effective and how best to use limited resources. It can also help us understand the causes of diseases and identify potential new therapies or preventative measures. In this article, we will show you ten benefits of research in healthcare.

What Is Research in Healthcare?

Research in healthcare is an investigation of human health issues in order to gain more knowledge and understanding. It is usually funded by the government, private organizations, and pharmaceutical companies.

It aims to gain new information that may benefit patients, the community, and other researchers. Healthcare research can take different forms, such as clinical trials, which involve examining and observing people with various conditions, research on blood samples or other tissues, or tests such as scans or X-rays.

Public health research addresses larger health issues that affect society as a whole, such as the impact of giving up smoking, and social care research looks at improving the lives of people who receive care and support from social care services. Health research helps us learn why we become ill and what we can do to stay well. It is an integral part of any healthcare environment and is essential for scientific and academic innovation.

? Learn more: Why is Research Important in Healthcare?

Let’s look at some of the benefits of research in healthcare.

1. Increased knowledge and understanding of diseases and treatments

Research increases knowledge and understanding of diseases and treatments by providing doctors and scientists with a better understanding of the causes and symptoms. This allows them to identify more effective diagnosis, detection, treatment, and prevention methods.

Research leads to the development of more effective medicines and treatments and improved medical procedures, such as MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays. It also provides valuable insights into how certain cohorts of people react to treatments and medications, which can lead to more targeted and effective treatments.

2. Better care and treatment for patients

Healthcare research can improve care and treatment for patients in several ways.

Firstly, research-active hospitals are often better set up to provide more comprehensive treatment options and opportunities to be included in clinical trials, leading to better health outcomes.

Secondly, participating in research can give patients a more in-depth understanding of their condition and more time with clinical team members to identify any potential problems earlier.

Furthermore, research can allow clinicians to develop their skills and knowledge in their field while also creating a culture of learning and development. Research funded by health charities, pharmaceutical companies , and universities can provide financial support for healthcare institutions, which can help improve patient care quality.

3. Advances in medical technology

Research in healthcare has advanced medical technology in many ways. Through the development of new drugs, treatments, and cures, health research has enabled us to live longer and healthier lives. Medical research studies provide new knowledge that leads to the development of new drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and surgeries, which help to improve current treatment methods.

4. Increased safety and efficacy of drugs and treatments

Research in healthcare has increased the safety and effectiveness of drugs and medicines by providing important information about disease trends and risk factors, treatment outcomes or public health interventions, functional abilities, patterns of care, and healthcare costs and use.

Through clinical trials, researchers can control the variables that could impact the study results and provide important information about medical interventions’ efficacy and adverse effects. After approval, tracking clinical experience with the drugs is important for identifying relatively rare adverse effects and determining effectiveness in different populations or in various circumstances.

Lastly, and according to F. Barigozzi, I. Jelovac, public integration of basic research can result in lowest prices and highest efficiency .

5. Improved quality of care

Research can improve the quality of care in healthcare by providing relevant, high-quality, and safe real-world data. Quality of care can be enhanced by utilizing research to develop and implement evidence-based solutions tailored to individual patients’ needs, which can also be related to the use of AI and the digitalization of the industry.

6. Greater awareness of public health issues

Healthcare research can help increase general health awareness by providing valuable data and evidence on the efficacy of different treatment options and interventions. For example, studies such as those conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided valuable information on the safety of various drugs, treatments, and procedures, as well as the associated risks.

Research can also help to identify areas of public health that need to be addressed, such as disparities in access to care and unequal outcomes for minority populations, allowing healthcare providers to better target resources and interventions that can improve public health.

7. Greater understanding of patient perspectives

Research helps to better understand patient perspectives by providing firsthand documentation of their experiences, offering an overview of suggestions for improvement, detecting common concerns and desires associated with the quality of care, and identifying obstacles to growth and change.

Qualitative research can provide a detailed and personal account of individual experiences, allowing for a comprehensive description of the research method and participant demographics. Ethicists have long suggested greater community involvement in health research studies, including more communication about research results, to build public trust in the research community and ensure the protection process is open and accessible to all interested parties.

? Learn more : Professional ethics: An overview from health research ethics point of view by Aceme Nyika

8. Creation of new knowledge through research partnerships

Research partnerships, such as those between universities, medical schools, and funding bodies, have the potential to create new knowledge in healthcare by allowing for innovative ideas, evidence-based care, and practice to be tested and developed.

Through such collaborations, researchers can explore the causes of diseases, evaluate the effectiveness of prevention techniques, diagnose medical conditions, and create new treatments and screening programs. By harnessing the power of new genomic research and the vast amount of health-related data and stored tissue specimens, research partnerships can lead to groundbreaking discoveries that can improve the quality of life and develop safer, more effective medical care tailored to individual needs.

9. Increased funding for research

Research into causes of disease, methods of prevention, techniques for diagnosis, and new treatment approaches has led to an increase in life expectancy, reduction of infant mortality, and improved outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. This has increased funding for healthcare as more resources are put towards researching and developing new treatments and methods of care.

10. Improvements in scientific rigor and quality of research

Healthcare research can potentially improve the scientific rigor and quality of research significantly. Through increased participation in research and data sharing, health research can generate new knowledge and accelerate the pace of discovery, ultimately improving the scientific rigor and quality of research in healthcare.

Healthcare Research Benefits

Research is critical to the advancement of healthcare. By understanding the benefits of research, we can see why it is so important to invest in research initiatives and understand the industry’s digitalization . By doing so, we can improve the quality of care for all patients, advance medical technology, and create new knowledge that can be used to improve healthcare systems around the world.

Health Analytics bridges the gap between sound scientific data and market access. Phone: (410) 997-3314 Email: [email protected]

• Health Care
• Evidence Generation Planning
• Evidence Generation
• Translating to Market Access

Why Medical Research is Important

Home » About Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute » Why Medical Research is Important

The high quality of medical care we enjoy today is built upon years of effort by physicians, physician-scientists, PhDs, and other medical professionals investigating the causes of and potential treatments for disease. The tireless effort of these professionals has made many once life-threatening diseases and conditions just a memory.

However, there is still much work to be done. Insights provided by medical research today promise to lessen the impact of our greatest health problems, including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. As science continues to unravel the molecular workings that underpin disease, we will see profound changes in the approach to treatments.

HHRI researchers are at the forefront in this revolution in medical knowledge. To capitalize on the advances that have been made in our understanding of disease, a majority of our research projects are translational in nature. Translational medical research seeks to take the medical discoveries that have been made in a laboratory setting and move them into medical practices that can be used by physicians to improve the lives of their patients.

When you support medical research, you are helping to build the future of medicine. With the partnership of individual and corporate donors, we are able to make significant headway in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.

Our philanthropic partner, the Hennepin Healthcare Foundation (HHF), offers many ways you can support medical research. HHF supports the mission and goals of HHRI and HCMC (the flagship acute care and teaching hospital of the Hennepin Healthcare System) and provides an avenue for individuals and organizations to support our programs and services.

While the predominant source of our research dollars come from federal grants and industry contracts, individual contributions play an important role in allowing HHRI to continue the important work it does to improve patient care.  If you would like to support our research programs, contact:

Chad Boysen Director of Development Hennepin Healthcare Foundation

[email protected] 612-873-2217

• Fact sheets
• Facts in pictures

Publications

• Questions and answers
• Tools and toolkits
• Endometriosis
• Excessive heat
• Mental disorders
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• All countries
• Eastern Mediterranean
• South-East Asia
• Western Pacific
• Data by country
• Country presence 
• Country strengthening 
• Country cooperation strategies 
• News releases
• Feature stories
• Press conferences
• Commentaries
• Photo library
• Afghanistan
• Cholera 
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
• Greater Horn of Africa
• Israel and occupied Palestinian territory
• Disease Outbreak News
• Situation reports
• Weekly Epidemiological Record
• Surveillance
• Health emergency appeal
• International Health Regulations
• Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee
• Classifications
• Data collections
• Global Health Observatory
• Global Health Estimates
• Mortality Database
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Health Inequality Monitor
• Global Progress
• World Health Statistics
• Partnerships
• Committees and advisory groups
• Collaborating centres
• Technical teams
• Organizational structure
• Initiatives
• General Programme of Work
• WHO Academy
• Investment in WHO
• WHO Foundation
• External audit
• Financial statements
• Internal audit and investigations 
• Programme Budget
• Results reports
• Governing bodies
• World Health Assembly
• Executive Board
• Member States Portal
• Health topics /

Research is indispensable for resolving public health challenges – whether it be tackling diseases of poverty, responding to rise of chronic diseases,  or ensuring that mothers have access to safe delivery practices.

Likewise, shared vulnerability to global threats, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, Ebola virus disease, Zika virus and avian influenza has mobilized global research efforts in support of enhancing capacity for preparedness and response. Research is strengthening surveillance, rapid diagnostics and development of vaccines and medicines.

Public-private partnerships and other innovative mechanisms for research are concentrating on neglected diseases in order to stimulate the development of vaccines, drugs and diagnostics where market forces alone are insufficient.

Research for health spans 5 generic areas of activity:

• measuring the magnitude and distribution of the health problem;
• understanding the diverse causes or the determinants of the problem, whether they are due to biological, behavioural, social or environmental factors;
• developing solutions or interventions that will help to prevent or mitigate the problem;
• implementing or delivering solutions through policies and programmes; and
• evaluating the impact of these solutions on the level and distribution of the problem.

High-quality research is essential to fulfilling WHO’s mandate for the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. One of the Organization’s core functions is to set international norms, standards and guidelines, including setting international standards for research.

Under the “WHO strategy on research for health”, the Organization works to identify research priorities, and promote and conduct research with the following 4 goals:

• Capacity - build capacity to strengthen health research systems within Member States.
• Priorities - support the setting of research priorities that meet health needs particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• Standards - develop an enabling environment for research through the creation of norms and standards for good research practice.
• Translation - ensure quality evidence is turned into affordable health technologies and evidence-informed policy.
• Prequalification of medicines by WHO
• Global Observatory on Health R&D
• Global Observatory on Health Research and Development
• Implementation research toolkit
• Ethics in implementation research: participant's guide
• Ethics in implementation research: facilitator's guide
• Ethics in epidemics, emergencies and disasters: Research, surveillance and patient care: WHO training manual
• WHA58.34 Ministerial Summit on Health Research
• WHA60.15 WHO's role and responsibilities in health research
• WHA63.21 WHO's role and responsibilities in health research
• EB115/30 Ministerial Summit on Health Research: report by the Secretariat
• Science division

WHO consults on action plan for sustainable clinical research infrastructure

WHO advisory group convenes its first meeting on responsible use of the life sciences in Geneva

Challenging harmful masculinities and engaging men and boys in sexual and reproductive health

Stakeholders convene in Uganda on responsible use of the life sciences

Target product profile for a diagnostic test to confirm visceral leishmaniasis

In 2007, the Sixtieth World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA60.13 on control of leishmaniasis, urging Member States, among other actions: to strengthen...

Ebola and Marburg disease outbreaks: infection prevention and control research priorities in health care...

Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) are associated with severe, potentially fatal, systemic diseases. During the development of the Infection Prevention...

WHO global research priorities for sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are widespread globally and negatively affect sexual and reproductive health. Gaps in evidence and in available...

Report of the sixth meeting of the WHO Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases:...

The World Health Organization’s Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme (WHO/NTD) manages a diverse portfolio of 21 diseases and disease groups,1 ...

Coordinating R&D on antimicrobial resistance

Ensuring responsible use of life sciences research

Prioritizing diseases for research and development in emergency contexts

Promoting research on Buruli ulcer

Research in maternal, perinatal, and adolescent health

Undertaking health law research

Feature story

One year on, Global Observatory on Health R&D identifies striking gaps and inequalities

Video: Open access to health: WHO joins cOAlition S

Video: Multisectional research on sleeping sickness in Tanzania in the context of climate change

Related health topics

Clinical trials

Global health ethics

Health Laws

Intellectual property and trade

Related links

Research and Development Blueprint

WHO Collaborating Centres

R&D Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics

International Clinical Trials Registry Platform

• Open access
• Published: 03 March 2015

Health research improves healthcare: now we have the evidence and the chance to help the WHO spread such benefits globally

• Stephen R Hanney 1 &
• Miguel A González-Block 2  

Health Research Policy and Systems volume  13 , Article number:  12 ( 2015 ) Cite this article

12k Accesses

22 Citations

16 Altmetric

Metrics details

There has been a dramatic increase in the body of evidence demonstrating the benefits that come from health research. In 2014, the funding bodies for higher education in the UK conducted an assessment of research using an approach termed the Research Excellence Framework (REF). As one element of the REF, universities and medical schools in the UK submitted 1,621 case studies claiming to show the impact of their health and other life sciences research conducted over the last 20 years. The recently published results show many case studies were judged positively as providing examples of the wide range and extensive nature of the benefits from such research, including the development of new treatments and screening programmes that resulted in considerable reductions in mortality and morbidity.

Analysis of specific case studies yet again illustrates the international dimension of progress in health research; however, as has also long been argued, not all populations fully share the benefits. In recognition of this, in May 2013 the World Health Assembly requested the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish a Global Observatory on Health Research and Development (R&D) as part of a strategic work-plan to promote innovation, build capacity, improve access, and mobilise resources to address diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest countries.

As editors of Health Research Policy and Systems ( HARPS ), we are delighted that our journal has been invited to help inform the establishment of the WHO Global Observatory through a Call for Papers covering a range of topics relevant to the Observatory, including topics on which HARPS has published articles over the last few months, such as approaches to assessing research results, measuring expenditure data with a focus on R&D, and landscape analyses of platforms for implementing R&D. Topics related to research capacity building may also be considered. The task of establishing a Global Observatory on Health R&D to achieve the specified objectives will not be easy; nevertheless, this Call for Papers is well timed – it comes just at the point where the evidence of the benefits from health research has been considerably strengthened.

The start of 2015 sees a dramatic increase in the body of evidence demonstrating the benefits arising from health research. Throughout 2014, the higher education funding bodies in the UK conducted an assessment of research, termed the Research Excellence Framework (REF), in which, for the first time, account was taken of the impact on society of the research undertaken. As part of this, UK universities and medical schools produced 1,621 case studies that aimed to show the benefits, such as improved healthcare, arising from examples of their health and other life sciences research conducted over the last 20 years. Panels of experts, including leading academics from many countries, published their assessments of these case studies in December 2014 [ 1 ], with the full case studies and an analysis of the results being made public in January 2015 [ 2 , 3 ].

As we recently anticipated [ 4 ], the expert panels concluded that the case studies did indeed overwhelmingly illustrate the wide range and extensive nature of the benefits from health research. Main Panel A covered the range of life sciences and its overview report states: “ MPA [Main Panel A] believes that the collection of impact case studies provide a unique and powerful illustration of the outstanding contribution that research in the fields covered by this panel is making to health, wellbeing, wealth creation and society within and beyond the UK ” [ 3 ], p. 1. The section of the report covering public health and health services research also notes that: “ Outstanding examples included cases focused on national screening programmes for the selection and early diagnosis of conditions ” [ 3 ], p. 30. In their section of the report, the international experts say of the REF2014: “ It is the boldest, largest, and most comprehensive exercise of its kind of any country’s assessment of its science ” [ 3 ], p. 20.

The REF2014 is therefore attracting wide international attention. Indeed, some of the methods used are already informing studies in other countries, including, for example, an innovative assessment recently published in Health Research Policy and Systems ( HARPS ) identifying the beneficial effects made on healthcare policies and practice in Australia by intervention studies funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council [ 5 ].

The REF also illustrates that, even when focusing on the research from one country, there are examples of studies in which there has been international collaboration and which have built on research conducted elsewhere. For example, one REF case study on screening describes how a major UK randomised controlled trial of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) involving 67,800 men [ 6 , 7 ] was the most significant trial globally. The trial provided the main evidence for the policy to introduce national screening programmes for AAA for men reaching 65 throughout the UK [ 2 ]. The importance of this trial lay partly in its size, given that it accounted for over 50% of the men included in the meta-analyses performed in the 2007 Cochrane review [ 8 ] and the 2009 practice guideline from the US Society for Vascular Surgery [ 9 ]. Nevertheless, two of the three smaller studies that were also included in these two meta-analyses came from outside the UK, specifically from Denmark [ 10 ] and Australia [ 11 ].

Moreover, a recent paper published in HARPS also included descriptions of how the research contributing to new interventions often comes from more than one country. These accounts are included in a separate set of seven extensive case studies constructed to illustrate innovative ways to measure the time that can elapse between research being conducted and its translation into improved health [ 12 ]. While being a separate set of case studies, one of them does, nevertheless, explore the international timelines involved in research on screening for AAA, and, in addition to highlighting the key role of the UK research, it also highlights that the pioneering first screening study using ultrasound had been conducted in 1983 on 73 patients in a US Army medical base [ 13 ].

These case studies therefore further reinforce the well-established argument that health research progress often involves contributions from various countries. However, as has long been argued, not all populations fully share the benefits. In recognition of this, in May 2013, the World Health Assembly requested the World Health Organization (WHO), in its resolution 66.22, to establish a Global Observatory on Health Research and Development as part of a strategic work-plan to promote innovation, build capacity, improve access, and mobilise resources to address diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest countries [ 14 ].

As editors of HARPS , we are delighted that our journal has been invited to help inform the establishment of the WHO Global Observatory by publishing a series of papers whose publication costs will be funded by the WHO. In support of this WHO initiative, Taghreed Adam, John-Arne Røttingen, and Marie-Paule Kieny recently published a Call for Papers for this series [ 15 ], which can be accessed through the HARPS webpage.

The aim of the series is “ to contribute state-of-the-art knowledge and innovative approaches to analyse, interpret, and report on health R&D information… [and] to serve as a key resource to inform the future WHO-convened coordination mechanism, which will be utilized to generate evidence-informed priorities for new R&D investments to be financed through a proposed new global financing and coordination mechanism for health R&D ” [ 15 ], p. 1. The Call for Papers covers a range of topics relevant to the aims of the Global Observatory. These include ones on which HARPS has published articles in the last few months, such as approaches to assessing research results, as seen in the Australian article described above [ 5 ]; papers measuring expenditure data with a focus on R&D, as described in a recent Commentary by Young et al. [ 16 ]; and landscape analyses of platforms for implementing R&D, as described in the article by Ongolo-Zogo et al. [ 17 ], analysing knowledge translation platforms in Cameroon and Uganda, and partially in the article by Yazdizadeh et al. [ 18 ], relaying lessons learnt from knowledge networks in Iran.

Adam et al. also make clear that the topics listed in the Call for Papers are examples and that the series editors are also willing to consider other areas [ 15 ]. Indeed, in the Introduction to the Call for Papers, the importance of capacity building is highlighted. This, too, is a topic described in recent papers in HARPS , such as those by Ager and Zarowsky [ 19 ], analysing the experiences of the Health Research Capacity Strengthening initiative’s Global Learning program of work across sub-Saharan Africa, and by Hunter et al. [ 20 ], describing needs assessment to strengthen capacity in water and sanitation research in Africa.

Finally, as we noted in our earlier editorial [ 4 ], the World Health Report 2013: Health Research for Universal Coverage showed how the demonstration of the benefits from health research could be a strong motivation for further funding of such research. As the Report states, “ adding impetus to do more research is a growing body of evidence on the returns on investments … there is mounting quantitative proof of the benefits of research to health, society and the economy ” [ 21 ]. We noted, too, that since the Report’s publication in 2013, there had been further examples from many countries of the benefits from medical research. The REF2014 in the UK signifies an additional major boost to the evidence that a wide range of health research does contribute to improved health and other social benefits. The results of such evaluations highlight the appropriateness of the WHO’s actions in attempting to ensure all populations share the benefits of health research endeavours by creating the Global Observatory on Health Research and Development. This will not be an easy task, but we welcome the opportunity afforded by the current Call for Papers for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with this process and influence it [ 15 ].

Abbreviations

Abdominal aortic aneurysms

Health Research Policy and Systems

Main Panel A

Research and development

Research Excellence Framework

• World Health Organization

Higher Education Funding Council for England. Research Excellence Framework 2014: The results. 2014. http://www.ref.ac.uk/pubs/201401/ . Accessed 20 Feb 2015.

Higher Education Funding Council for England. Research Excellence Framework 2014: Results and submissions. 2015. http://results.ref.ac.uk/ . Accessed 20 Feb 2015.

Higher Education Funding Council for England. REF 2014 Panel overview reports: Main Panel A and sub-panels 1–6. 2015. http://www.ref.ac.uk/media/ref/content/expanel/member/Main%20Panel%20A%20overview%20report.pdf . Accessed 20 Feb 2015.

Hanney SR, González-Block MA. Four centuries on from Bacon: progress in building health research systems to improve health systems? Health Res Policy Syst. 2014;12:56.

Article   PubMed   PubMed Central   Google Scholar  

Cohen G, Schroeder J, Newson R, King L, Rychetnik L, Milat AJ, et al. Does health intervention research have real world policy and practice impacts: testing a new impact assessment tool. Health Res Policy Syst. 2015;13:3.

Scott RAP, Ashton HA, Buxton M, Day NE, Kim LG, Marteau TM, et al. The Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study (MASS) into the effect of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening on mortality in men: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2002;360:1531–9.

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Buxton M, Ashton H, Campbell H, Day NE, Kim LG, Marteau TM, et al. Multicentre aneurysm screening study (MASS): cost effectiveness analysis of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms based on four year results from randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2002;325:1135–8.

Article   Google Scholar  

Cosford PA, Leng GC, Thomas J: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007; (2)CD002945.

Chaikof EL, Brewster DC, Dalman RL, Makaroun MS, Illig KA, Sicard GA, et al. The care of patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm: the Society for Vascular Surgery practice guidelines. J Vasc Surg. 2009;50(4 Suppl):S2–49.

Lindholt JS, Juul S, Fasting H, Henneberg EW. Hospital costs and benefits of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Results from a randomised population screening trial. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2002;23:55–60.

Article   CAS   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Norman PE, Jamrozik K, Lawrence-Brown MM, Le MT, Spencer CA, Tuohy RJ, et al. Population based randomised controlled trial on impact of screening on mortality from abdominal aortic aneurysm. BMJ. 2004;329(7477):1259–64.

Hanney SR, Castle-Clarke S, Grant J, Guthrie S, Henshall C, Mestre-Ferrandiz J, et al. How long does biomedical research take? Studying the time taken between biomedical and health research and its translation into products, policy, and practice. Health Res Policy Syst. 2015;13:1.

Cabellon S, Moncrief CL, Pierre DR, Cavenaugh DG. Incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with artheromatous arterial disease. Am J Surg. 1983;146:575–6.

World Health Organization. WHA resolution 66.22: Follow up of the report of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: financing and coordination. Geneva: WHO; 2013. http://www.who.int/phi/resolution_WHA-66.22.pdf . Accessed 20 Feb 2015.

Google Scholar  

Adam T, Røttingen JA, Kieny MP. Informing the establishment of the WHO Global Observatory on Health Research and Development: a call for papers. Health Res Policy Syst. 2015;13:9.

Young AJ, Terry RF, Røttingen JA, Viergever RF. Global trends in health research and development expenditures – the challenge of making reliable estimates for international comparison. Health Res Policy Syst. 2015;13:7.

Ongolo-Zogo P, Lavis JN, Tomson G, Sewankambo NK. Climate for evidence informed health system policymaking in Cameroon and Uganda before and after the introduction of knowledge translation platforms: a structured review of governmental policy documents. Health Res Policy Syst. 2015;13:2.

Yazdizadeh B, Majdzadeh R, Alami A, Amrolalaei S. How can we establish more successful knowledge networks in developing countries? Lessons learnt from knowledge networks in Iran. Health Res Policy Syst. 2014;12:63.

Ager A, Zarowsky C. Balancing the personal, local, institutional, and global: multiple case study and multidimensional scaling analysis of African experiences in addressing complexity and political economy in health research capacity strengthening. Health Res Policy Syst. 2015;13:5.

Hunter PR, Abdelrahman SH, Antwi-Agyei P, Awuah E, Cairncross S, Chappell E, et al. Needs assessment to strengthen capacity in water and sanitation research in Africa: experiences of the African SNOWS consortium. Health Res Policy Syst. 2014;12:68.

The World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2013: Research for Universal Health Coverage. Geneva: WHO; 2013.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Bryony Soper for most helpful comments on an earlier draft.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Health Economics Research Group, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK

Stephen R Hanney

Universidad Anáhuac, Av. Universidad Anáhuac 46, Lomas Anáhuac, 52786 Huixquilucan, Mexico City, Mexico

Miguel A González-Block

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen R Hanney .

Additional information

Competing interests.

The authors are co-Chief Editors of Health Research Policy and Systems.

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Hanney, S.R., González-Block, M.A. Health research improves healthcare: now we have the evidence and the chance to help the WHO spread such benefits globally. Health Res Policy Sys 13 , 12 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-015-0006-y

Download citation

Received : 20 February 2015

Accepted : 20 February 2015

Published : 03 March 2015

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-015-0006-y

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Assessing research benefits
• Capacity building
• Diseases of poorest countries
• Global health
• Global Observatory
• Platforms for research implementation
• Research expenditure
• Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms
• World Health Report 2013

ISSN: 1478-4505

• Submission enquiries: Access here and click Contact Us
• General enquiries: [email protected]

• - Google Chrome

Intended for healthcare professionals

• My email alerts
• BMA member login
• Username * Password * Forgot your log in details? Need to activate BMA Member Log In Log in via OpenAthens Log in via your institution

Search form

• Advanced search
• Search responses
• Search blogs
• Why all doctors should...

Why all doctors should be involved in research

• Related content
• Peer review
• Hannah Jacob , academic clinical fellow
• 1 UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH
• hcjacob{at}gmail.com

Neena Modi tells Hannah Jacob about her career in research and why this is a fundamental part of every doctor’s job

Neena Modi is president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and professor of neonatal medicine at Imperial College, London. She is a practising clinician and academic lead of a neonatal research programme focusing on nutritional and other perinatal determinants of lifelong metabolic health. After a period as vice president for science and research at the college, she was elected president in April 2015.

How did you become interested in research?

I realised that what I was being taught during my training was wrong, and my very enlightened consultant challenged me to design a trial to back my contention. There were no training posts in neonatal medicine when I started my paediatric training, but there were lots of opportunities to learn and undertake research because the rate of change was so great. That was really exciting.

Which research projects are you most proud of? Which do you think has had the biggest impact?

We did a series of studies to develop methods for measuring body water compartments in extremely preterm babies and to describe the postnatal alterations in fluid balance. We also tested the hypothesis that immediate sodium supplementation in babies with respiratory distress syndrome was harmful. That was a big achievement.

Most recently we have identified possible biological mechanisms that underpin the epidemiological associations between early onset of features of the metabolic syndrome and being born extremely preterm. That is of real interest as we learn more about the long term effects of extremely preterm birth.

How have you coped with the inevitable setbacks of a career in clinical research?

Real life is about being refused things and carrying on anyway, so I have developed resilience. There was no academic training route when I started out, so I have had to forge my own way. People will always tell you that it cannot be done. You have to pursue the things you are passionate about.

Do you have any advice for junior doctors interested in doing research?

Work out what interests you, and then find the person who is going to help you do it. Being approached by an enthusiastic junior doctor is always well received, and once you have found the right senior person they can support you in achieving your goals. Do not lose heart if you don’t get an academic training post as they are not the only way into research. Some of the best research students I have worked with have not come through the standard path.

What would you say to doctors who have no interest in doing research?

I would argue that they may not be thinking broadly enough about what research actually is. Every clinician is responsible for evaluating their own practice, and to do that in a robust and meaningful way you need to use the tools of research. We all need to be able to critically review research done by others. For example, the guidelines used in everyday clinical practice are based on meta-analyses and systematic reviews. So I think all doctors need to be involved in research in some way, and that may be different for different people.

How can undertaking research help doctors in their careers?

It’s not just a help, it’s essential. There are few absolutes in science, and without inquiring minds medicine will stand still. Participation in research enables doctors to evaluate their practice objectively and to be involved in advancing their discipline. You can learn so many skills that make you a better clinician around appraising the evidence and thinking critically about a situation.

What are the benefits and downsides of doing research—both on a personal and professional level?

The benefits come from knowing you are contributing to the science of medicine as well as the art, and are able to question, evaluate, and test different approaches objectively. Everyone has a role in supporting research—many will contribute, and some will be research leaders.

As for downsides, life has ups and downs, and research is no different. You have to not be too disheartened when a grant application gets rejected. When you want to achieve something, you have to keep speaking to the powers that be until you find someone who can be an advocate.

How do you juggle the research, clinical, and leadership aspects of your working life?

It is a balance that is evolving all the time and that provides me with a huge stimulus. Every time I have been presented with an opportunity I have had to evaluate its potential effect on the other components of my work. I always say yes to the things that interest me and follow my muse. We are very privileged as doctors to have such a range of tremendous opportunities available to us.

Do you have a particular philosophy that has guided you in your career?

When life offers you an opportunity, do not turn it down. I believe you must do what grabs your interest, and if you are still doing it years later you know you made the right decision. When you lose the excitement, it is time for a change. The future lies with junior doctors, and you can be a part of shaping it in the way you think is right.

Is there anything you would do differently if you had your career again?

I would have much greater confidence to fight for something I believed in.

Competing interests: I have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare that I am the academic officer for the Paediatric Educators Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Participating in Health Research Studies

What is health research.

• Is Health Research Safe?
• Is Health Research Right for Me?
• Types of Health Research

The term "health research," sometimes also called "medical research" or "clinical research," refers to research that is done to learn more about human health. Health research also aims to find better ways to prevent and treat disease. Health research is an important way to help improve the care and treatment of people worldwide.

Have you ever wondered how certain drugs can cure or help treat illness? For instance, you might have wondered how aspirin helps reduce pain. Well, health research begins with questions that have not been answered yet such as:

"Does a certain drug improve health?"

To gain more knowledge about illness and how the human body and mind work, volunteers can help researchers answer questions about health in studies of an illness. Studies might involve testing new drugs, vaccines, surgical procedures, or medical devices in clinical trials . For this reason, health research can involve known and unknown risks. To answer questions correctly, safely, and according to the best methods, researchers have detailed plans for the research and procedures that are part of any study. These procedures are called "protocols."

An example of a research protocol includes the process for determining participation in a study. A person might meet certain conditions, called "inclusion criteria," if they have the required characteristics for a study. A study on menopause may require participants to be female. On the other hand, a person might not be able to enroll in a study if they do not meet these criteria based on "exclusion criteria." A male may not be able to enroll in a study on menopause. These criteria are part of all research protocols. Study requirements are listed in the description of the study.

A Brief History

While a few studies of disease were done using a scientific approach as far back as the 14th Century, the era of modern health research started after World War II with early studies of antibiotics. Since then, health research and clinical trials have been essential for the development of more than 1,000 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs. These drugs help treat infections, manage long term or chronic illness, and prolong the life of patients with cancer and HIV.

Sound research demands a clear consent process. Public knowledge of the potential abuses of medical research arose after the severe misconduct of research in Germany during World War II. This resulted in rules to ensure that volunteers freely agree, or give "consent," to any study they are involved in. To give consent, one should have clear knowledge about the study process explained by study staff. Additional safeguards for volunteers were also written in the Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki .

New rules and regulations to protect research volunteers and to eliminate ethical violations have also been put in to place after the Tuskegee trial . In this unfortunate study, African American patients with syphilis were denied known treatment so that researchers could study the history of the illness. With these added protections, health research has brought new drugs and treatments to patients worldwide. Thus, health research has found cures to many diseases and helped manage many others.

Why is Health Research Important?

The development of new medical treatments and cures would not happen without health research and the active role of research volunteers. Behind every discovery of a new medicine and treatment are thousands of people who were involved in health research. Thanks to the advances in medical care and public health, we now live on average 10 years longer than in the 1960's and 20 years longer than in the 1930's. Without research, many diseases that can now be treated would cripple people or result in early death. New drugs, new ways to treat old and new illnesses, and new ways to prevent diseases in people at risk of developing them, can only result from health research.

Before health research was a part of health care, doctors would choose medical treatments based on their best guesses, and they were often wrong. Now, health research takes the guesswork out. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all new medicines are fully tested before doctors can prescribe them. Many things that we now take for granted are the result of medical studies that have been done in the past. For instance, blood pressure pills, vaccines to prevent infectious diseases, transplant surgery, and chemotherapy are all the result of research.

Medical research often seems much like standard medical care, but it has a distinct goal. Medical care is the way that your doctors treat your illness or injury. Its only purpose is to make you feel better and you receive direct benefits. On the other hand, medical research studies are done to learn about and to improve current treatments. We all benefit from the new knowledge that is gained in the form of new drugs, vaccines, medical devices (such as pacemakers) and surgeries. However, it is crucial to know that volunteers do not always receive any direct benefits from being in a study. It is not known if the treatment or drug being studied is better, the same, or even worse than what is now used. If this was known, there would be no need for any medical studies.

• Next: Is Health Research Safe? >>
• Last Updated: May 27, 2020 3:05 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/healthresearch

The university of tulsa Online Blog

Trending topics in the tu online community

Nursing Research: What It Is and Why It Matters

When people think about medical research, they often think about cutting-edge surgical procedures and revolutionary new medications. As important as those advancements are, another type of research is just as vital: nursing research.

This type of research informs and improves nursing practice. In many cases, it’s focused on improving patient care. Experienced nurses who have advanced nursing degrees and training in research design typically conduct this research.

Nurse research can explore any number of topics, from symptomology to patient diet. However, no matter the focus of a research project, nurse research can improve health care in an impressive number of ways. As experts in their field, nurse researchers can pursue a wide range of unique career advancement opportunities .

Why Nursing Research Matters: Examples of Research in Action

Research drives innovation in every industry. Given that nurses are on the front line of the health care industry, the research they do can be particularly impactful for patient outcomes. 

It Can Improve Patients’ Quality of Life

Patients diagnosed with life-threatening chronic diseases often undergo intense treatments with sometimes debilitating side effects. Nursing research is vital to helping such patients maintain a high quality of life.

For example, a 2018 study led by a nurse scientist explored why cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy frequently experience severe nausea. While the physical toll of chemotherapy contributes to nausea, the study found that patients who have factors such as children to take care of, high psychological stress, and trouble performing day-to-day tasks are often much more likely to experience nausea.

By identifying the root causes of nausea and which patients are more likely to experience it, this research allows health care professionals to develop evidence-based care practices . This can include prescribing anti-nausea medications and connecting patients to mental health professionals.

It’s Central to Making Health Care More Equitabl

A Gallup survey reports that about 38% of Americans put off seeking medical treatment due to costs. Unfortunately, cost is only one factor that prevents people from seeking treatment. Many Americans don’t live close to medical providers that can meet their needs, aren’t educated about health, or encounter discrimination.

As complex as this issue is, the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) asserts that the country’s nurse researchers can lead the charge in tackling it. In its strategic plan for 2022 to 2026, the institute highlights the following:

• Nursing has long been one of the most trusted professions in the country.
• Nurses often interact with patients, patients’ families, and communities more frequently than other health care professionals.
• The care that nurses provide must often take environmental and social factors into account.

These traits put nurses in the position to not only research health inequity but also put their research to work in their organizations. To help make that happen, NINR often funds nurse-led research projects focused on equity and social determinants of health. With that kind of backing, the field may become more transformative than ever.

It Can Strengthen the Health Care Workforce

While nursing research can be used to improve patient care, it can also be leveraged to solve issues health care professionals face daily. Research about the state of the health care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect illustration.

In 2022, a team of nurse researchers published a report called Nursing Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities for Our Profession After COVID-19 in the International Journal of Nursing Practice . In it, the authors provided concrete statistics about the following:

• Mental and physical health issues many nurses encountered
• Effects of increased workloads and decreased nurse-to-patient ratios
• How many nurses were planning to leave the profession altogether

As nurses themselves, the authors also offer actionable, evidence-based solutions to these issues, such as streamlining patient documentation systems and implementing employee wellness programs.

However, this type of research isn’t just important to solving workforce issues stemming from specific emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. By publishing quantifiable data about the challenges they face, nurse researchers empower other nurses and professional nursing organizations to advocate for themselves. This can help employers enact effective policies, support their nursing staff, and draw more talented people into the profession.

Career Opportunities in Nursing Research

Nurse researchers can work in any number of administrative, direct care, and academic roles. However, because nurse research often requires clinical care and data analysis skills, jobs in this field typically require an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

While many more nurse research career opportunities exist, here are four career paths nurses with research experience and advanced degrees can explore.

Nurse Researcher

Nurse researchers identify issues related to nursing practice, collect data about them, and conduct research projects designed to inform practice and policy. While they often work in academic medical centers and universities, they can work for any type of health care provider as well as health care advocacy agencies.

In addition to conducting research, these professionals typically provide direct patient care. Many also write papers for peer-reviewed journals and make presentations about their work at conferences.

Clinical Research Nurse

Despite having a similar title to nurse researchers, clinical research nurses have slightly different responsibilities. These professionals are usually in charge of providing care to patients participating in medical research projects, including clinical trials and nursing research initiatives. They also typically collect data about patient progress, coordinate care between different team members, and contribute to academic papers.

Occupational Health Nurse

Also referred to as environmental health nurses, occupational health nurses serve specific communities, such as professionals in a particular industry or people who live in a particular area. They often educate their communities about relevant health risks, advocate for stronger health and safety regulations, and run wellness programs.

To carry out their duties, occupational and environmental health nurses must typically research health trends about the people they serve, including living and working conditions that put them at risk for illness or injury. They can work for private companies and government agencies.

Nurse Educator

Nurse educators prepare new nurses to enter the workforce or train experienced nurses in more advanced techniques. This can include teaching classes and providing on-the-job training. They often work for colleges, universities, and large health care providers.

While their duties don’t always include research, nurse educators must keep up with the health care industry’s needs and new patient care practices. This is so they can provide relevant education themselves and help their organizations design up-to-date curricula.

Make Nursing Research a Part of Your Journey

Conducting and implementing nurse research is a collaborative effort. It takes a team of informed leaders, skilled analysts, and creative educators to create effective, evidence-based policies. Those interested in pursuing nurse research should consider The University of Tulsa’s online MSN program , which can prepare you to fill any one of those roles and more.

All of TU’s MSN students take classes on research and evidence-based practices. However, the program’s specialty tracks allow students to take their studies in multiple research-oriented directions. For instance, if you’re interested in collecting and interpreting clinical data, you can choose the Informatics and Analysis track. If you have a passion for public health policy, the Public Health and Global Vision track includes classes on population health and epidemiology.

Delivered in a flexible online format, this program can be a great option for working nurses and nontraditional students alike. To find out more, read about TU’s admission policies and request more information today.

Recommended Readings

A Nurse Educator’s Role in the Future of Nursing

How Global Health Nursing Supports Population Health

What Can You Do With an MSN?

Gallup, “Record High in U.S. Put Off Medical Care Due to Cost in 2022”

International Journal of Nursing Practice, “Nursing Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities for Our Profession After COVID‐19”

Journal of Pain Symptom Management , “Risk Factors Associated With Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea in the Week Prior to the Next Cycle and Impact of Nausea on Quality of Life Outcomes”

Mayo Clinic, Nursing

National Institute of Nursing Research, Scientific Strategy: NINR’s Research Framework

National Institute of Nursing Research, The National Institute of Nursing Research 2022-2026 Strategic Plan

Recent Articles

How Leaders Drive Quality Improvement in Nursing

University of Tulsa

Aug 23, 2024

Wellness Nurse: Career Definition and More

Types of Nursing Degrees

Aug 21, 2024

Learn more about the benefits of receiving your degree from The University of Tulsa

• Online Program Tuition
• AGACNP Certificate Online
• Online MSN Program
• Accelerated Online BSN
• RN to BSN Program
• RN to MSN Program
• MS in Cyber Security
• Meet the Team
• Nursing Student Practicum Requirements
• Disclosures for Professional Nursing Licensure
• On Campus Programs

The Importance of Medical Research

Dr. Peace Chikezie

Published 01 Jun 2022 - Updated 17 Mar 2023

Introduction

Every treatment, intervention, medication, way of care, and aftercare in the medical field or health care system came from discoveries. This high quality of care we can experience today was not discovered overnight, but rather through years of effort by medical professionals who investigated the risk factors, causes, preventions, and treatments of diseases. This type of investigation is known as medical/health research. 

The general definition of research is, 'an investigation that is intentionally designed to help develop or contribute to knowledge'. When you add a medical purpose to 'research', the general definition stays the same, but the goal becomes more specific. Ultimately, the goal shifts to a focus on increasing medical knowledge, improving patient care, developing new medicines or procedures, and enhancing the already existing medicines and procedures.

Forms of Medical Research

There are several forms of medical research being conducted today. Here are 3 common forms:

• Basic or Laboratory-based research: This is usually conducted in a laboratory where chemical interactions of biological materials are observed in a controlled environment. For most researchers, this is the first step toward developing methods or products that can be used in other forms of research studies.
• Clinical Trials: This is perhaps the most familiar form of healthcare research. Often, patients volunteer to participate in these studies to test the efficacy and safety of new medical interventions. Alternatively, medical interventions on participants may not be used, but only observation instead.
• Epidemiological Research: An increasingly large portion of health research is now information based. A great deal of research entails the analysis of data and biological samples that were initially collected for diagnostic, treatment, or billing purposes, or that were collected as part of other research projects, and are now being used for new research purposes. This secondary use of data is a common research approach in fields such as epidemiology, health services research, and public health research, and includes analysis of patterns of occurrences, determinants, and natural history of the disease; evaluation of health care interventions and services; drug safety surveillance; and some genetic and social studies

The Importance of Research in Medicine

Why is research important in medicine? The simple answer is that medical research has led to many medical breakthroughs and developments. It would also strongly contribute to shaping the future of medicine.

Here's how:

A. Medical research importance in disease diagnosis:

Medical research has led to the development of diagnostic tools and technologies that allow for earlier and more accurate diagnoses of diseases. 

For instance, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Medical research led to the development of an effective screening method known as mammography which has resulted in earlier detection and a 20% fall in mortality rates. 

Another example is the development of pap smears for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. This as well as caused a significant decrease in late presentation and mortality rates due to cervical cancer.

A host of other effective screening methods have been developed as a result of medical research such as genetic testing, imaging techniques, and so on. 

B. The importance of medical research in innovative treatments

Medical research has led to the development of new treatments for a wide range of diseases, such as cancer, allergies, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and so on.

Research is essential to find out what treatments work best, and more specifically what treatments work best for what patient. It can provide important information about how effective a medical intervention is and its possible adverse effects. These interventions include drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and others. 

By being specific with participant requirements, medical professionals can study how certain groups of people react to certain treatments . An example of this can be seen here at Infiuss Health. As a CRO in Africa, we at Infiuss Health focus on the demographics of the continent to ensure people of African ancestry receive effective care.

Medical research would lead to newer developments in medicine such as personalized medicine and targeted therapies, that would ensure that each individual would have treatment options unique to them. Increasing research in this area is the only way to make this a reality in the future of medicine.

C. The role of medical research in disease prevention

Medical research has contributed to the prevention of diseases such as polio, smallpox, and measles which caused the deaths of millions of people in the past.

Recently, following the Covid-19 pandemic, medical research led to the development of vaccines that gradually slowed down the progress of the disease. 

D. The importance of medical research in public health

Medical research has contributed to our understanding of public health issues and how to address them.

A typical example was in 1854 when there was an outbreak of cholera in the Golden Square Area in London. An Anaesthesiologist known as John Snow conducted an epidemiological study and found that the source of contamination was a public pump. When the contaminated pump was closed from public access, the outbreak of cholera ended. 

Research provides important information about disease trends and risk factors, outcomes of treatment or public health interventions, functional abilities, patterns of care, and health care costs and use. 

E. Medical research's importance in improving the economy:

Economists have found that medical research can have an enormous impact on the quality of healthcare which in turn affects human health and longevity.

Healthy individuals tend to be more productive and that contributes greatly to the national economy. If the research enterprise is impeded, or if it is less robust, important societal interests are affected.

Covid-19 vaccine development, for example, contributed to the lifting of the lockdown in many countries and allowed individuals to resume work.

Compared to treatment, current research on disease prevention shows that preventive services are able to significantly reduce deaths and illnesses at reasonable costs. All of these findings have informed and influenced national budget planning and policy decisions.

The simple fact is that clinical research improves our lives. It leads to significant discoveries, improves health care, and ensures that patients receive the best care possible. It is what makes the development of new medicines and treatments possible, without it we would not be able to move forward in the development of medicine.

Infiuss Health, as a CRO in Africa, aims to make it easier to do more clinical trials/ medical research in Africa by use of technology and other means.

When you support, participate in, or conduct medical research, you are helping to continue to build the future of medicine.

Find new health insights

Infiuss Health insights contains inspiring thought leadership on health issues and the future of health data management and new research.

480-306-5000

• [email protected]

Importance of Medical Research

Medical research is essential for the advancement of healthcare and the development of new treatments for diseases. It plays a crucial role in improving the lives of people around the world and saving countless lives.

One of the main benefits of medical research is the discovery of new treatments for diseases. Through research, scientists and medical professionals are able to identify new drugs, therapies, and procedures that can effectively treat or even cure diseases. For example, research has led to the development of new cancer treatments, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which have greatly improved the survival rate of cancer patients.

Medical research also helps to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Through research, scientists have been able to develop new techniques and technologies that help to manage these conditions, such as insulin pumps and pacemakers.

Medical research also plays a crucial role in the prevention of diseases. By understanding the causes of diseases, researchers can develop ways to prevent them from occurring in the first place. For example, research on the link between smoking and lung cancer has helped to reduce the number of people who smoke and has greatly reduced the number of deaths from lung cancer.

Another important aspect of medical research is the development of new diagnostic tools and techniques. With the help of research, scientists have been able to create new diagnostic tests and imaging techniques that help to detect diseases earlier and more accurately. This, in turn, allows for earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients.

Medical research also helps to reduce healthcare costs. By developing new treatments and therapies, research can help to reduce the need for expensive hospital stays and surgeries. It can also help to reduce the need for long-term care, which can be costly for both patients and their families.

In conclusion, medical research is essential for the advancement of healthcare and the development of new treatments for diseases. It plays a crucial role in improving the lives of people around the world and saving countless lives. The importance of medical research cannot be overstated and it should be continued to be supported and funded, so that we can continue to make progress in the fight against diseases.

Voyage Medical takes pride in advancing research. We are conducting a wide range of clinical studies. Make a difference and join us on our quest for better research. Clinical Research Tempe, Clinical Research Ahwatukee, Clinical Research Cave Creek, Clinical Research Chandler, Clinical Research Fountain Hills, Clinical Research Gilbert, Clinical Research Glendale, Clinical Research Maricopa, Clinical Research Mesa, Clinical Research Paradise Valley, Clinical Research Peoria, Clinical Research Phoenix, Clinical Research Queen Creek, Clinical Research San Tan Valley, Clinical Research Scottsdale, Clinical Research Sun City, Clinical Research Surprise, Clinical Research Tucson, Clinical Research Yuma, Clinical Research Near Me, Medical Research Tempe, Medical Research Ahwatukee, Medical Research Cave Creek, Medical Research Chandler, Medical Research Fountain Hills, Medical Research Gilbert, Medical Research Glendale, Medical Research Maricopa, Medical Research Mesa, Medical Research Paradise Valley, Medical Research Peoria, Medical Research Phoenix, Medical Research Queen Creek, Medical Research San Tan Valley, Medical Research Scottsdale, Medical Research Sun City, Medical Research Surprise, Medical Research Tucson, Medical Research Yuma, Medical Research Near Me. Call us at 480-306-5000 and join our research trials.

• Clinical Research (13)
• Diseases (11)
• Infection (1)
• Medical Advancement (1)
• Medical Research (1)
• Medicine Advancement (1)
• Saiaf Abdallah, CEO (7)
• Services (14)
• Vaccine (21)

Facebook Page

Get in touch with us today and set up an appointment.

We are dedicated to providing the best healthcare services possible, ensuring that every patient, regardless of background, receives the highest standard of care, is full of hope, has unreasonable hospitality, and fosters a healthier community.

1000+ Happy Patients

• Virtual Tour
• Staff Directory
• En Español

You are here

Nih research matters.

December 22, 2021

2021 Research Highlights — Promising Medical Findings

Results with potential for enhancing human health.

With NIH support, scientists across the United States and around the world conduct wide-ranging research to discover ways to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. Groundbreaking NIH-funded research often receives top scientific honors. In 2021, these honors included Nobel Prizes to five NIH-supported scientists . Here’s just a small sample of the NIH-supported research accomplishments in 2021.

Printer-friendly version of full 2021 NIH Research Highlights

20210615-covid.jpg

Advancing COVID-19 treatment and prevention

Amid the sustained pandemic, researchers continued to develop new drugs and vaccines for COVID-19. They found oral drugs that could  inhibit virus replication in hamsters and shut down a key enzyme that the virus needs to replicate. Both drugs are currently in clinical trials. Another drug effectively treated both SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, another serious respiratory virus, in animals. Other researchers used an airway-on-a-chip to screen approved drugs for use against COVID-19. These studies identified oral drugs that could be administered outside of clinical settings. Such drugs could become powerful tools for fighting the ongoing pandemic. Also in development are an intranasal vaccine , which could help prevent virus transmission, and vaccines that can protect against a range of coronaviruses .

202211214-alz.jpg

Developments in Alzheimer’s disease research

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s is an abnormal buildup of amyloid-beta protein. A study in mice suggests that antibody therapies targeting amyloid-beta protein could be more effective after enhancing the brain’s waste drainage system . In another study, irisin, an exercise-induced hormone, was found to improve cognitive performance in mice . New approaches also found two approved drugs (described below) with promise for treating AD. These findings point to potential strategies for treating Alzheimer’s. Meanwhile, researchers found that people who slept six hours or less per night in their 50s and 60s were more likely to develop dementia later in life, suggesting that inadequate sleep duration could increase dementia risk.

20211109-retinal.jpg

New uses for old drugs

Developing new drugs can be costly, and the odds of success can be slim. So, some researchers have turned to repurposing drugs that are already approved for other conditions. Scientists found that two FDA-approved drugs were associated with lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease. One is used for high blood pressure and swelling. The other is FDA-approved to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Meanwhile, the antidepressant fluoxetine was associated with reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration. Clinical trials will be needed to confirm these drugs’ effects.

20210713-heart.jpg

Making a wireless, biodegradable pacemaker

Pacemakers are a vital part of medical care for many people with heart rhythm disorders. Temporary pacemakers currently use wires connected to a power source outside the body. Researchers developed a temporary pacemaker that is powered wirelessly. It also breaks down harmlessly in the body after use. Studies showed that the device can generate enough power to pace a human heart without causing damage or inflammation.

20210330-crohns.jpg

Fungi may impair wound healing in Crohn’s disease

Inflammatory bowel disease develops when immune cells in the gut overreact to a perceived threat to the body. It’s thought that the microbiome plays a role in this process. Researchers found that a fungus called  Debaryomyces hansenii  impaired gut wound healing in mice and was also found in damaged gut tissue in people with Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Blocking this microbe might encourage tissue repair in Crohn’s disease.

20210406-flu.jpg

Nanoparticle-based flu vaccine

Influenza, or flu, kills an estimated 290,000-650,000 people each year worldwide. The flu virus changes, or mutates, quickly. A single vaccine that conferred protection against a wide variety of strains would provide a major boost to global health. Researchers developed a nanoparticle-based vaccine that protected against a broad range of flu virus strains in animals. The vaccine may prevent flu more effectively than current seasonal vaccines. Researchers are planning a Phase 1 clinical trial to test the vaccine in people.

20211002-lyme.jpg

A targeted antibiotic for treating Lyme disease

Lyme disease cases are becoming more frequent and widespread. Current treatment entails the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. But these drugs can damage the patient’s gut microbiome and select for resistance in non-target bacteria. Researchers found that a neglected antibiotic called hygromycin A selectively kills the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The antibiotic was able to treat Lyme disease in mice without disrupting the microbiome and could make an attractive therapeutic candidate.

20211102-back.jpg

Retraining the brain to treat chronic pain

More than 25 million people in the U.S. live with chronic pain. After a treatment called pain reprocessing therapy, two-thirds of people with mild or moderate chronic back pain for which no physical cause could be found were mostly or completely pain-free. The findings suggest that people can learn to reduce the brain activity causing some types of chronic pain that occur in the absence of injury or persist after healing.

2021 Research Highlights — Basic Research Insights >>

Connect with Us

• More Social Media from NIH

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings
• My Bibliography
• Collections
• Citation manager

Save citation to file

Email citation, add to collections.

• Create a new collection
• Add to an existing collection

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search, create a file for external citation management software, your rss feed.

• Search in PubMed
• Search in NLM Catalog
• Add to Search

What Are We Made For? Mobilizing Medical Education Research for Impact

Affiliations.

• 1 J. Sukhera is chair/chief of psychiatry, Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital, and associate clinical professor of psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Hartford, Connecticut; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8146-4947.
• 2 C.-C. Fung is professor of clinical medical education (educational scholar), vice chair of medical education, and assistant dean for assessment and scholarship, Department of Medical Education, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California.
• 3 A. Teherani is professor of medicine, director of program evaluation and education continuous quality improvement, and founding codirector, University of California Center for Climate, Health and Equity, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2936-9832.
• 4 T.R. Wyatt is associate professor and vice chair for research, Department of Health Professions Education, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
• 5 D.J. Schumacher is professor of pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
• 6 A.N. Leep Hunderfund is associate professor of neurology and medical director, Office of Applied Scholarship and Education Science, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7784-504X.
• PMID: 39240893
• DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005850

During the past several decades, medical education research has advanced in many ways. However, the field has struggled somewhat with translating knowledge into practice. The field has tremendous potential to generate insights that may improve educational outcomes, enhance teaching experiences, reduce costs, promote equity, and inform policy. However, the gap between research and practice requires attention and reflection. In this commentary, the authors reflect on ways that medical education researchers can balance relevance and rigor, while discussing a potential path forward. First, medical education research can learn from implementation science, which focuses on adopting and sustaining best practices in real-world settings. Second, gaining a deeper understanding of the complex and dynamic ways that medical education contexts may influence the uptake of research findings into practice would facilitate the translation and mobilization of knowledge into practical settings. Third, moving from unilateral knowledge translation to participatory knowledge mobilization and engaging diverse stakeholders as active participants in the research process can also enhance impact and influence research findings. Overall, for medical education research to effect meaningful change, it must transition from producing generalizable findings to generating context-specific insights and embracing participatory knowledge mobilization. This shift will involve rethinking traditional research approaches and fostering collaboration with knowledge users to cocreate and implement innovative solutions tailored to their unique settings.

Copyright © 2024 Written work prepared by employees of the Federal Government as part of their official duties is, under the U.S. Copyright Act, a “work of the United States Government” for which copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As such, copyright does not extend to the contributions of employees of the Federal Government.

PubMed Disclaimer

• Citation Manager

NCBI Literature Resources

MeSH PMC Bookshelf Disclaimer

The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited.

MS in Biomedical Research

Choose your discipline and prepare for a career in biotech or phd training.

MBR Program Guide

The MS in Biomedical Research (MBR) is a two-year, research-intensive program leading to completion of a Master's thesis. The program provides students with significant research experience and fundamental biomedical science knowledge that will prepare them for a career in academia or the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry or for further study at the PhD level. Students can choose to pursue their MS degree in one of four disciplines: Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology; Immunology; Molecular Microbiology; or Neuroscience.

Key Program Features

• Rigorous graduate coursework that prepares students to enter competitive PhD programs or the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry
• Independent research experience while working on a Master's thesis 
• Individualized academic advising and mentoring including advice on applying to PhD programs
• Career guidance tailored to each student's interests and career goals 
• Ability to train in one of four broad biomedical disciplines

Explore our Disciplines

Training Opportunities

Students in the MS in Biomedical Research program will train alongside PhD students enrolled one of the four GSBS PhD programs. In this way, our MS students have access to the wide array of research laboratories available across GSBS. Students can explore molecular and cellular immunology, host defense to microbial disease, fundamental and applied genetics, cell and molecular biology and neuroscience as well as mechanisms of microbial disease.

Over 100 highly experienced faculty with dynamic research programs are available to our students. Laboratories are located on the Boston Health Science campus that is home to GSBS, Tufts School of Medicine, the USDA Human Nutrition Research Institute on Aging, The Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts Medical Center, and Tufts School of Dental Medicine. Some laboratories are located on the Tufts Medford campus, which is home to the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering.   

The MBR program provides students with a strong grounding in biomedical science through coursework and a journal club specifically designed for MBR students. 

Students take classes with PhD students and have the opportunity to select advanced discipline-focused classes that deepen their understanding of key questions in their chosen discipline within the MBR.

Classes, journal club and seminars are supplemented with research laboratory rotations during the first two semesters of the program. Students then select a laboratory and work on their MS thesis project.

Our program is designed to be completed in May of the second year. 

Explore the Curriculum

Our program welcomes applications from US citizens, permanent residents, and international students.  

Learn more about the admissions process .

Tuition & Financing

Learn more about financing your education in the MS in Biomedical Research.

Visit the Basic Science MS Programs Finances Page .

Meet our Students

GSBS welcomed the inaugural class of MBR students this fall.

MBR Students

Contact Information

Peter Juo Program Director

Jaharis 701D [email protected]

Examining the Effect of Research Engagement on the Interest in Integrating Research into Future Career Paths Among Medical Graduates in China: An Instrumental Variable Analysis

• Original Research
• Published: 29 August 2024

Cite this article

• Guoyang Zhang   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2335-1984 1 ,
• Xuanxuan Ma 3 , 5 &
• Hongbin Wu   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4425-9845 4 , 5 , 6  

While the importance of physician research has been underscored, a shortage of qualified physicians engaged in research persists. Early exposure to research could potentially ignite medical students’ interest in research, thereby motivating them to pursue research-related careers.

The study aims to examine early research engagement and medical graduates’ interest in incorporating research into their future career paths.

This was a national cross-sectional survey administered in 2020, with 152,624 medical students from 119 medical schools in China completing it. We selected and resampled the graduates’ data, and the final sample included 17,451 respondents graduating from 101 medical schools.

For graduates engaged in research, 63.4% (3054) had the interest in integrating research into their future careers. Such interest in research did differ between medical graduates with and without research engagement by linear probability regression ( β , 0.50; 95%CI, 0.48 to 0.52), but did not differ in instrumental variable regression analysis ( β , 0.31; 95%CI, − 0.18 to 0.80). Furthermore, engaging in research significantly increased the top 50% of academically ranked graduates’ research interest in instrumental variable regression analysis ( β , 0.44; 95%CI, 0.01 to 0.86).

Conclusions

Contrary to expectations, research engagement does not necessarily enhance medical graduates’ interest in integrating research into their future careers. However, graduates with strong academic performance are more inclined to develop this research interest. In light of these findings, we propose recommendations for nurturing research interest within medical education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save.

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

The experiences, attitudes and understanding of research amongst medical students at an Australian medical school

The impact of a curriculum-based research training program on medical students’ research productivity and future research interests: a longitudinal study

Medical students’ research productivity and career preferences; a 2-year prospective follow-up study

Data availability.

Data will be made available on request.

Cianciolo AT, et al. Physician-scientist or basic scientist? Exploring the nature of clinicians’ research engagement. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2021;26(2):353–67.

Article   Google Scholar  

Mokresh ME, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and barriers toward research among medical students: a cross-sectional study in Turkey. Med Sci Educ. 2024;34(2):387–95.

Association of American Medical Colleges. Physician-scientists. 2023; https://www.aamc.org/what-we-do/mission-areas/medical-research/physician-scientist .

Schafer AI. The vanishing physician-scientist? Transl Res. 2010;155(1):1.

Paracha M, et al. Scholarly impact of student participation in radiation oncology research. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2018;101(4):779–83.

Amgad M, et al. Medical student research: an integrated mixed-methods systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015;10(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127470

Anderson DJ. Population and the environment: time for another contraception revolution. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(5):397–9.

Milewicz DM, et al. Rescuing the physician-scientist workforce: the time for action is now. J Clin Invest. 2015;125(10):3742–7.

Schroeder AR, et al. Outcomes of follow-up visits after bronchiolitis hospitalizations. JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(3):296–7.

Ommering BWC, et al. Future physician-scientists: could we catch them young? Factors influencing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for research among first-year medical students. Perspect Med Educ. 2018;7(4):248–55.

Goldacre M, et al. Junior doctors’ views about careers in academic medicine. Med Educ. 1999;33(5):318–26.

Rosenzweig EQ, et al Inside the STEM pipeline: changes in students’ biomedical career plans across the college years. Sci Adv 2021:7(18). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe0985

Burgoyne LN, O’Flynn S, Boylan GB. Undergraduate medical research: the student perspective. Med Educ Online. 2010;15. https://doi.org/10.3402/meo.v15i0.5212

DiBiase RM, et al. A medical student scholarly concentrations program: scholarly self-efficacy and impact on future research activities. Med Educ Online. 2020;25(1):1786210.

Funston G, et al. Medical student perceptions of research and research-orientated careers: an international questionnaire study. Med Teach. 2016;38(10):1041–8.

Greenberg RB, et al. Medical student interest in academic medical careers: a multi-institutional study. Perspect Med Educ. 2013;2(5–6):298–316.

Ommering BWC, et al. Promoting positive perceptions of and motivation for research among undergraduate medical students to stimulate future research involvement: a grounded theory study. BMC Med Educ. 2020;20(1):204.

Adeboye W, et al. Predictors of self-reported research engagement and academic-career interest amongst medical students in the United Kingdom: a national cross-sectional survey. Postgrad Med J. 2023;99(1177):1189–96.

Colmenares C, Bierer SB, Graham LM. Impact of a 5-year research-oriented medical school curriculum on medical student research interest, scholarly output, and career intentions. Med Sci Educ. 2013;23(1):88–91.

Laskowitz DT, et al. Engaging students in dedicated research and scholarship during medical school: the long-term experiences at Duke and Stanford. Acad Med. 2010;85(3):419–28.

Stevenson MD, et al. Increasing scholarly activity productivity during residency: a systematic review. Acad Med. 2017;92(2):250–66.

Yuan HF, Xu WD, Hu HY. Young Chinese doctors and the pressure of publication. Lancet. 2013;381(9864). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60174-9

Philibert I, et al. Scholarly activity in the next accreditation system: moving from structure and process to outcomes. J Grad Med Educ. 2013;5(4):714–7.

Stone C, et al. Contemporary global perspectives of medical students on research during undergraduate medical education: a systematic literature review. Med Educ Online. 2018;23(1):1537430.

Hidi S, Renninger KA. The four-phase model of interest development. Educ Psychol. 2006;41(2):111–27.

Krapp A. An educational-psychological theory of interest and its relation to SDT. In: Deci EL, Ryan RM, editors. Handbook of self-determination research. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Press; 2002. p. 405–27.

Google Scholar  

Schiefele U, Krapp A, Winteler A. Interest as a predictor of academic achievement: a meta-analysis of research. In: Renninger KA, Hidi S, Krapp A, editors. The role of interest in learning and development. Hillsdale (NJ): Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1992. p. 183–212.

Houlden RL, et al. Medical students’ perceptions of an undergraduate research elective. Med Teach. 2004;26(7):659–61.

Burge SK, Hill JH. The medical student summer research program in family medicine. Fam Med. 2014;46(1):45–8.

Cain L, Kramer G, Ferguson M. The Medical Student Summer Research Program at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston: building research foundations. Med Educ Online. 2019;24(1):1581523.

Association of American Medical Colleges. Medical School Graduation Questionnaire: 2020 All Schools Summary Report. 2021. Available from: https://www.aamc.org/media/46851/download .

Center for Postsecondary Research in the Indiana University School of Education. NSSE Survey instruments. 2013. Available from: https://nsse.indiana.edu/nsse/survey-instruments/index.html .

Zhang G, et al. The association between medical student research engagement with learning outcomes. Med Educ Online. 2022;27(1):2100039.

National Centre for Health Professions Education Development. China Medical Students Survey 2020 All Schools Summary Report. 2020. Available from: https://medu.bjmu.edu.cn/cms/show.action?code=publish_4028801e6bb6cf11016be526c0dc0014&siteid=100000&newsid=50947b6c789248b39fca817dfb9ba3ee&channelid=0000000008 .

Schwarz MR, Wojtczak A, Zhou T. Medical education in China’s leading medical schools. Med Teach. 2004;26(3):215–22.

Zhu J, Li W, Chen L. Doctors in China: improving quality through modernisation of residency education. Lancet. 2016;388(10054):1922–9.

Horrace WC, Oaxaca RL. Results on the bias and inconsistency of ordinary least squares for the linear probability model. Econ Lett. 2006;90(3):321–7.

Ministry of Education. Accreditation Standards for Basic Medical Education in China. 2016. Available from: http://ime.bjmu.edu.cn/cgzs/197708.htm .

de Oliveira NA, et al. Student views of research training programmes in medical schools. Med Educ. 2011;45(7):748–55.

Wolfson RK, et al. The impact of a scholarly concentration program on student interest in career-long research: a longitudinal study. Acad Med. 2017;92(8):1196–203.

O’Sullivan PS, et al. Becoming an academic doctor: perceptions of scholarly careers. Med Educ. 2009;43(4):335–41.

Baig SA, et al. Reasons behind the increase in research activities among medical students of Karachi, Pakistan, a low-income country. Educ Health (Abingdon). 2013;26(2):117.

Siemens DR, et al. A survey on the attitudes towards research in medical school. BMC Med Educ. 2010;10(1):1–7.

Mina S, et al. Perceived influential factors toward participation in undergraduate research activities among medical students at Alfaisal University—College of Medicine: a Saudi Arabian perspective. Med Teach. 2016;38(sup1). https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2016.1142508

Ommering BWC, Dekker FW. Medical students’ intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation to engage in research as preparation for residency. Perspect Med Educ. 2017;6(6):366–8.

Download references

The research project was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 72174013) and the China Scholarship Council (File No. 202208310033). The funders had no role in the design and development of the study protocol or the decision to publish.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

Guoyang Zhang

Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Xuanxuan Ma

Institute of Medical Education, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

National Centre for Health Professions Education Development, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Xuanxuan Ma & Hongbin Wu

School of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Contributions

HBW made substantial contributions to the study conception and design. HBW and GYZ conducted the data analyses and drafted the manuscript. HBW interpreted the results with the support from GYZ, LL, and XXM. XXM made editing contributions. All authors reviewed the final manuscript and have approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongbin Wu .

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest.

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Publisher's note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 15 KB)

Rights and permissions.

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Zhang, G., Li, L., Ma, X. et al. Examining the Effect of Research Engagement on the Interest in Integrating Research into Future Career Paths Among Medical Graduates in China: An Instrumental Variable Analysis. Med.Sci.Educ. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-024-02152-3

Download citation

Accepted : 21 August 2024

Published : 29 August 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-024-02152-3

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Research engagement
• Research interest
• Medical graduates
• Instrumental variable analysis
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• HHS Author Manuscripts

The Importance of Nursing Research

Nursing research has a tremendous influence on current and future professional nursing practice, thus rendering it an essential component of the educational process. This article chronicles the learning experiences of two undergraduate nursing students who were provided with the opportunity to become team members in a study funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research. The application process, the various learning opportunities and responsibilities performed by the students, and the benefits and outcomes of the experience are described. The authors hope that by sharing their learning experiences, more students will be given similar opportunities using the strategies presented in this article. Nursing research is critical to the nursing profession and is necessary for continuing advancements that promote optimal nursing care.

Throughout the 21st century, the role of nurse has evolved significantly. Nurses work in a variety of settings, including the hospital, the classroom, the community health department, the business sector, home health care, and the laboratory. Although each role carries different responsibilities, the primary goal of a professional nurse remains the same: to be the client's advocate and provide optimal care on the basis of evidence obtained through research.

Baccalaureate programs in the United States prepare students for entry-level nursing positions. The focus is to care for individuals throughout the human life span. Knowledge is acquired from textbooks, classroom and Web-based instruction, simulation, and clinical experiences. The goal of all programs is for students to graduate as safe, entry-level professionals, having received a well-rounded exposure to the nursing field. Students are exposed to evidence-based nursing practice throughout their curriculum; however, the allocated time for nursing research is often limited. Many programs require only one 3-credit hour course for nursing research. This amount of time is limited, despite the broad spectrum of nursing research and its influence on current and future nursing care.

Research is typically not among the traditional responsibilities of an entry-level nurse. Many nurses are involved in either direct patient care or administrative aspects of health care. Nursing research is a growing field in which individuals within the profession can contribute a variety of skills and experiences to the science of nursing care. There are frequent misconceptions as to what nursing research is. Some individuals do not even know how to begin to define nursing research. According to Polit and Beck (2006) , nursing research is:

systematic inquiry designed to develop knowledge about issues of importance to nurses, including nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing administration. (p. 4)

Nursing research is vital to the practice of professional nursing, and the importance of its inclusion during undergraduate instruction cannot be overemphasized. Only with exposure and experience can students begin to understand the concept and importance of nursing research.

The purpose of this article is to describe undergraduate students’ experiences of becoming aware of and participating in a federally funded research study from the National Institute of Nursing Research. As a part of funding for the study, which was an AREA award ( A cademic R esearch E nhancement A ward, R15 mechanism), there were designated opportunities for student involvement. The primary aim of the research study was to investigate the effects of gene-environment interactions on risk factors of preclinical cardiovascular disease in a cohort of 585 young adults who all had a positive family history of cardiovascular disease (i.e., essential hypertension or premature myocardial infarction at age 55 or younger in one or both biological parents or in one or more grandparents), verified in the medical record. Specific genes examined included cytochrome P-450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1; cytochrome P-450 2A; glutathione S-transferase mu 1; and glutathione S-transferase theta 1. Cardiovascular-dependent measures were diastolic blood pressure, endothelium-dependent arterial vasodilation, left ventricular mass indexed for body size, systolic blood pressure, and total peripheral resistance. The effects of ethnicity and gender were also explored.

Learning Opportunity

The learning process began with the principal investigator (M.S.T.) of the study visiting the junior class (class of 2007) of baccalaureate students at the Medical College of Georgia. This particular student group was chosen due to their academic standing because they would have the chance to take full advantage of learning directly from a nurse researcher for one full year before graduation. The principal investigator briefly presented and discussed the growing field of nursing research, the advancements made by nursing research, and the critical role of nursing research to nursing practice. The principal investigator also presented an overview of the funded research study and extended an invitation to students to apply for two part-time positions on the grant that were designed specifically for nursing student involvement. Students recognized the excellent opportunity and were intrigued with the future possibilities. They understood this option was unique and appeared to be a great pathway for becoming an active participant in learning the nursing research process through involvement in an official nursing research study.

The principal investigator established objective criteria for the application process. The criteria included writing a maximum 1-page essay sharing the reasons why the students wanted to join the research project as a team member and also sharing their personal and professional goals for involvement in the study. Many students were interested; thus, it was a very competitive process. The principal investigator reviewed the essays and selected approximately 10 prospective individuals for an interview. The interview was an extension of the essay. At the interview, the principal investigator further described the positions, provided a detailed overview of the grant, and had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the student candidates. The students were encouraged to ask questions to further understand the expectations of the prospective opportunity. The interview also provided the students with increased exposure to the study's goal and more familiarization with the expectations of the funded positions.

After the interview process was completed, two individuals were selected, per the grant specifications. The selected individuals described the interview process as a positive experience that helped solidify their desire to become involved in the research study. The principal investigator emphasized that this job opportunity was designed to be a learning experience in which the students would be guided through the entire research study process and become members of a multidisciplinary team. Time responsibilities for each student included approximately 6 hours per week. The principal investigator communicated clearly that the nursing baccalaureate program was the first priority for the students, and thus provided a flexible work schedule.

Research Study Experience

The students began working in early april 2006. The first step in the work experience included 6 weeks of funded orientation. This was their first exposure to the research process; thus, it was important for the students to be provided with a strong foundation. Orientation included attending a team meeting and being introduced to the members of the multidisciplinary team (i.e., biostatistician, cardiologist, geneticists, nurse researcher, and psychologist, all of whom served as co-investigators, and the genetic laboratory personnel); reviewing the grant application; completing the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) (2000) ; completing the Roche educational program on genetics; and touring the worksite facilities. Reviewing the grant gave the students a better understanding of the specific aims and objectives of the study and the intended procedures of the genetic laboratory work in which the students would be involved. The complexity of the grant required the principal investigator to further explain and clarify specific details. The CITI training, which is required by the institution's Office of Human Research Protection, was completed online and took approximately 5.5 hours. The CITI program was presented in a tutorial format, and satisfactory completion of numerous quizzes was required. The task was tedious and time consuming, but valuable and essential, as it increased the awareness of the established codes of conduct for research. At the conclusion of the CITI training, the students understood the necessary policies and procedures for maintaining security and confidentiality of human subjects, the legal and ethical issues regarding the research process, and the essential procedures for research conduct.

Although the students had a basic understanding of genetics, they completed the Roche Genetics Education Program (2004) to gain a deeper understanding. The program was direct and easy to navigate and was excellent for all learning styles, as it contained both visual and auditory explanations. The explanations covered both basic and complex genetic concepts. Through the use of the genetics program, the students were able to comprehend abstract genetic details and to further understand the importance and influence of genetics on personal health. To conclude the orientation process, students were taught basic laboratory procedures, such as polymerase chain reaction and restrictive enzyme digestion, which were used to perform genotyping for the study. After these procedures had been observed several times, the students were given the opportunity to acquire hands-on experience with these laboratory techniques. Each of these components of the orientation process provided the students with the needed foundation for becoming involved in the research study.

After approximately 2 months of orientation, the students were ready to begin working in the genetics laboratory. One of the primary responsibilities of the students would be to further learn and become confident with genotyping techniques. The laboratory was shared among research personnel of several funded studies, with various research experiments being conducted concurrently. The students, under the supervision of the principal investigator and geneticist (H.Z.), also worked with experienced research assistants to perform the genotyping. The students maintained a daily log describing the laboratory genotyping procedures and experiments, and these logs were reviewed at team meetings. Although the actual procedure for polymerase chain reaction seemed straightforward, the students quickly learned that quality control must be used. Sometimes during genotyping, the DNA samples did not produce results. The students discovered that there are numerous contributing factors to successful polymerase chain reaction, such as quality of DNA templates, primer specifications, temperature settings, gel conditions, pipette measuring accuracy, and general laboratory techniques. Even the slightest error could result in permanent DNA sample loss, major experiment failure, or DNA sample contamination.

The students met with the research team members frequently to discuss and troubleshoot potential solutions and problem solve techniques that would foster improving the success rate and productivity of the genotyping. From the laboratory experience, the students learned that every detail must be considered and addressed precisely and meticulously when conducting experiments. Sometimes the process became frustrating, but the students soon discovered that patience and persistence were the most important attributes for a laboratory researcher to possess. The laboratory experience was an excellent hands-on learning opportunity. The students no longer viewed research as strictly information gathered from a journal or textbook, but rather as a physical act that required extreme concentration, dedication, and determination.

After spending numerous months in the laboratory performing the required genotyping, the students had the opportunity to be exposed to another role of a nurse researcher. They performed literature reviews regarding the study. Although the students had written papers in their nursing school program that required literature citations, they were not familiar with all of the library resources available to them. In no time, the students learned which library and online resources had the most validity and what would be the most relevant to their study. The literature search results provided the students and principal investigator with information on new studies that had been conducted on gene-environment interactions regarding tobacco smoke exposure and cardiovascular disease. From the literature review experience, the students learned the importance of being selective and time efficient. Often when a search was first begun, thousands of articles were listed, but the students learned the importance of narrowing the searches to the specific areas of focus. After the students completed their searches, they met with the principal investigator, who provided direction on the articles identified as the most relevant to the study.

The students continued working with the principal investigator during data review, analysis, and preparation of dissemination of the results (i.e., the publishing process). They helped to prepare an abstract submission of the study presented at an international meeting ( Tingen et al., 2007 ). They also helped with the preparation of manuscripts of the study results. By the conclusion of their work experience, the students will have been exposed to and participated in the entire research process.

Benefits and Outcomes

From the students’ perspectives, this opportunity was extremely beneficial. Prior to this experience, the students were not familiar with nursing research. Their original perception of research was that it was conducted by people with chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and genetic degrees in laboratories at major universities. They now realize that nursing and research can be combined and that optimal nursing care is dependent on the latest research findings. In addition, the students believe this opportunity has been beneficial in learning that nurse researchers are valuable to nurses in other settings. For example, one of the long-term goals of this research study is to develop appropriate interventions for children who are more susceptible to and at risk for the harmful effects of tobacco smoke due to their genetic heritage. The information obtained by a nurse researcher can be disseminated to nurses who work directly with the individuals to whom the research applies. Practice that has shown to be effective through research allows nurses to better advocate for patients and provide the best possible care. Although the majority of nurses who provide patient care will be consumers of nursing research, implementing evidence-based nursing practice is crucial to provide optimal nursing care. Information from nursing research has the potential to directly impact the care provided to patients in all health care settings.

Now that the students have had the opportunity to become more familiar with nursing research through involvement as team members, they recognize that their future professional possibilities are endless. Nursing research is an emerging and growing field in which individuals can apply their nursing education to discover new advancements that promote evidence-based care. They learned the research process and the important roles that each team member plays during the study phases of conception, design, implementation, analysis, and dissemination. Each aspect of the research process is important and contributes to the overall success of the study.

The students also discovered the benefit of trying new things. Prior to this experience, they had little exposure to the research process and nursing research. Consequently, they had to be receptive to learning and recognize that acquiring new knowledge was a gradual process. At times, the students felt anxious because all aspects were new, but they realized that without trying, they would never advance and feel comfortable with the research process. As the students reflected, they thought this was an excellent growing experience professionally, scholastically, and personally. In addition, this opportunity benefited the students’ peers through discussions and their sharing of work responsibilities, the research process, and the importance of evidence-based practice. As future nurses, the students are strong proponents of nursing research, and this experience has also broadened their horizons regarding future professional growth and opportunities. In addition, they have a better understanding of the importance of scientific evidence to support their clinical practice. As a result, the students thought that a stronger emphasis should be placed on nursing research in undergraduate baccalaureate education and that more students should have the opportunity to participate as team members in nursing research studies.

The students were almost one full year into nursing school and thought they had learned about all of the possibilities for their futures when they were first presented with this learning opportunity. They knew their future options were numerous and included working in acute care and community settings. They also realized they could further their education and pursue graduate degrees to include a master's degree and become an administrator, educator, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, or nurse practitioner, or potentially pursue a doctorate. They did not know there was an emerging and growing field in which their nursing education could be applied and furthered—the area of research and the role of becoming a nurse researcher. Prior to this experience, students perceived their possibilities for a professional career in nursing were tremendous. Now by being involved in the entire process of conducting a federally funded research study, they realized their future professional possibilities are limitless.

The authors of this paper hope that by sharing their experience, they will encourage both nursing faculty and nursing students to not only introduce the research process into the nursing curriculum, but also to consider making nursing research a tangible and more integrated process. They think that a more beneficial approach to the introduction of research may be achieved through incorporating research-related content into each nursing course throughout the educational process. This could be conducted in addition to the current curriculum plan of many schools of nursing that require a single and concentrated 3-hour research course with a goal of research becoming a positive experience for students that is enthusiastically received as a new learning opportunity. In addition, students who are involved as team members in a funded research study may be provided with scheduled classroom opportunities for making progress reports to their peers. Also, the students could field questions regarding the research project and their experiences. These activities may foster increased learning and interest about research among the students’ classmates.

As nursing students are the future members of the nursing profession, and for the profession to continue to advance, nursing research must be the foundation of comprehensive, evidence-based clinical practice. This may only occur with increased exposure to nursing research. Therefore, it is critical that the future members of the nursing profession be exposed to, develop an appreciation for, and become more involved in nursing research, and thus incorporate its outcomes into the delivery of optimal professional nursing practice.

Acknowledgments

The lead author was awarded a grant (NR008871) from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research.

• Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative [April 14, 2006]; Office of Human Research Protection. The Medical College of Georgia. 2000 from http://www.mcg.edu/Research/ohrp/training/citi.html .
• Polit DF, Beck CT. Essentials of nursing research: Methods, appraisal, and utilization. 6th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Philadelphia: 2006. [ Google Scholar ]
• Roche Genetics Education Program [May 10, 2006]; Education. 2004 from http://www.roche.com/research_and_development_r_d_overview/education.htm .
• Tingen MS, Ludwig DA, Dong Y, Zhu H, Andrews JO, Burnett AH, et al. Tobacco smoke exposure and genetics: Youth at risk for cardiovascular disease.. Proceedings of the 13th Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2007. p. 39. [ Google Scholar ]