Survey Summary    

    

LSUHSC SCHOOL OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS GRANTS & RESEARCH COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING RESEARCH CAPACITY
March 13, 2008
The Grants & Research Committee was given the charge to assess the research capacity of the School of Allied Health
Professions.  The Committee developed two surveys for this purpose: 1) a survey documenting faculty clinical and
research interests and resources was completed by 36 faculty in October 2007 (64% response rate), and 2) an
anonymous questionnaire assessing research skills and experience and perceived barriers and facilitators to research
productivity was completed in December 2007 by 23 faculty who self-identified as researchers on the first survey (88%
response rate).  The top six priorities for increasing research capacity identified from the capacity assessment are
presented below along with their associated recommendations.
1.                   CULTIVATE AN ACADEMIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THAT PROMOTES  RESEARCH
	Hire an Assistant/Associate Dean of Research (an experienced researcher with a successful research grant funding record) Reinstate an annual Research Day Explore the possibility of establishing an SAHP PhD program Conduct an assessment of the current MHS program Recruit research faculty with demonstrated research records and provide them with good salaries, adequate start-up funds, and duties/responsibilities that enable research productivity
2.                   INCREASE DEDICATED RESEARCH TIME FOR IDENTIFIED RESEARCH FACULTY
	Recruit clinical faculty to free-up current faculty with demonstrated research potential whose clinical/teaching duties prevent them from focusing on research Encourage Department Heads to provide release time for faculty with demonstrated research potential, with the condition that referred publications will be produced within a given timeframe
3.                   INCREASE RESEARCH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
	Initiate an expanded SAHP Intramural Small Grants Program (increased funding and duration) Consult with or retain a grants development specialist Examine the impact of the Faculty Incentive Plan (FIP) on research productivity and consider alternatives Revisit the possibility of implementing a Faculty Research Incentive Plan Consider purchase of core research equipment for collaborative/interdisciplinary research groups Provide travel funds for research-related conference presentations
4.                   FUND CONSULTATION ON RESEARCH DESIGN AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
	Contract with the LSUHSC School of Public Health to provide biostatistics consultation (throughout the research process or as needed for particular projects)
5.                   PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH-RELATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
	Contract with national and international experts to provide in-house research-related continuing education Institute a monthly lunchtime "brown bag" seminar for those interested in research to share research ideas, problems, solutions, projects, information on design, data analysis, and dissemination Explore development of a faculty group of editors to review manuscripts and provide guidance to faculty wishing to submit manuscripts Provide funds for travel to conferences, and continuing education/training events
6.                    FOSTER COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS AND MENTORING
	Develop interdisciplinary collaborative research opportunities within and between Departments/Schools Lay the groundwork for a network of research collaborations, including development of a faculty asset database, identification of collaborative research strands, and opportunities for formal and informal networking Initiate a Research Consortium with researchers from other local and statewide institutions Tailor Intramural Small Grants Program to encourage interdisciplinary research Provide formal recognition in the annual faculty evaluation process for the time and expertise given by mentoring faculty involved in collaborative projects