Promoting a culture of research results can provide vital information to inform health policy and lead to evidence-based medicine, ultimately protecting the reproductive health of women and adolescents.
Inculcating and building research capacity at CIRHT-UM began with assessing the status of research practices and the factors that affect them. Based on the findings, a comprehensive strategy was designed and implemented.
Research Strategies include the following:
- Invite seasoned clinician-investigators to share their journeys of balancing research activity with busy clinical schedules. These inspirational talks excite new investigators and demystify the research endeavor.
- Call for concept notes and areas for research support focused on family planning and comprehensive abortion care.
- Guidance on framing a research question and selection of specific topics based on set criteria.
- Award competitive research grants following selection by expert research reviewers
- Post-selection hands-on workshops (on-site where feasible):
- Framing research questions
- Developing research protocols and encouraging team science
- Research management and data collection
- Data analysis
- Manuscript and scientific writing and journal selection
- Mentorship through pairing with relevant faculty at the University of Michigan.
- Review of manuscripts by the Pre-Publication Support Service (PREPSS) at the University of Michigan.
- Support researchers to present at national and international conferences.
To date, more than 60 faculty Principal Investigators in partner institutions have been awarded grants and are at various stages of the research process.
