SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

The Department of Medicine (DOM) is committed to the generation of new knowledge. Scholarly activity is a core tenet and ensures that our faculty, staff, and learners provide state-of-the-art patient care, are trained in the most current clinical practices and research methods, and produce rigorous and reproducible science. The department maintains a long-standing expectation that all members will engage in scholarly activity, and provides structured activities led by the Scholarly Activities Council (SAC). The SAC provides services and trainings to strengthen the department’s academic enterprise.

Research Funding

In the past year, the DOM’s funding came from multiple sources resulting in a 13% increase in awards during FY22 from FY20. The DOM’s NIH and non-NIH funding increased to $57.8 million from $45.4 million.

Research Capacity Development

Grant Peer Review: The DOM provides internal reviews for all sections of grant applications. Documents are reviewed by at least one senior faculty with grant review experience and membership on an NIH study sections. Reviewers offer advice and guidance concerning the science and grantsmanship. In 2021, over 21 faculty from all 9 divisions and diverse ranks utilized the service. In addition, trainees are also able to utilize this service to obtain reviews of abstract submissions to professional conferences.

Grant Writing Boot Camp: The DOM led its sixth annual grant writing boot camp in the spring of 2022. Seven junior faculty were selected to participate from a competitive pool of applicants. The 4-week Boot Camp consists of eight sessions co-facilitated by an experienced faculty and prior boot camp participants. Sessions included mini-presentations by facilitators, cohort/peer mentoring, and individualized feedback on grant sections (e.g., aims, strategy, letters of support). A mock study section is offered at the end for interested participants. To date, 19 out of 25 faculty participants - 75% - have received grant funding.

Research Training Opportunities: The DOM Division of Academic Internal Medicine with support of the chief residents hosts the Project And Investigative Research

(PAIR) database. PAIR lists opportunities for resident and medical student research involvement and includes over 35 active projects, and innovative tools and resources to enhance research productivity. PAIR has increased resident and medical student research engagement and faculty to resident mentorship. Early career investigators have the opportunity to leverage NIH-funded training initiatives: four T32s and a resident-focused R38. At present,10 DOM faculty members are recipients of K-awards.

Expert Consultations - Specific Aims, Summary Statements, and Implementation Science: New in 2021, the DOM offered quarterly consultation sessions to improve specific aims sections and strategize how to respond to summary statements. Led by at least two experienced NIH-investigators, topics covered basic science, translational research, and behavioral study designs. DOM also provided monthly implementation science consultations through the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science. Together, over 25 faculty and students took advantage of these sessions.

ENHANCING DOM’S CULTURE OF SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

Ideas on Tap: The DOM sponsors a quarterly research mixer, “Ideas on Tap” (IOT), to strengthen collaborations and increase awareness of departmental scientific discoveries. The IOT is an informal social experience where faculty and students present their research and enjoy refreshments. In 2021, each IOT focused on a specific topic. January featured DOM training grants, August showcased resident research, and October was open for all research areas.

Scholarly Activities Day: 2022 marked DOM’s 9th annual Scholarly Activities Day. The keynote speaker was Avery August, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Cornell University. Additional speakers were Andrea Pappalardo, MD, Nadim Mahmud, MD, PhD, Abeer Mohamed, MD, PhD and Shiva Shahrara, PhD. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual poster session was not held but this session with awards will resume in 2023.