Clinical Research in the ICU: A Program for Success in Challenging Times

Abstract

In times of shrinking departmental budgets, physician attrition, restricted house staff work hours, and reductions in grant funding, there has been a trend towards migration of physicians away from academic medicine. Creative solutions to maintain clinical research programs are frequently necessary. At the University of California Irvine Medical Center, a clinical research program has been created that has allowed research to both survive and thrive in challenging times. The MICU Research Associates Program (MICU-RAP) provides a longitudinal experience for select undergraduate students to facilitate research as part of the MICU team while receiving academic credit and valuable experience. The MICU-RAP student coordinator and faculty advisor work together to recruit research associates, organize weekly meetings, create and implement research protocols, and mentor students and future physician-scientists. Student research associates are trained to develop and maintain a secure database, assist in the author...