The Regional Research Committee (RRC) is an internal funding mechanism that provides support for KPSC studies that can be completed within one year. KPSC physicians, residents and fellows are eligible to apply for these grants. Physicians can apply for grants up to $55.000. Residents and fellows can apply for grants up to $6,000. Applications for large grants ($6000 to $55,000) are reviewed at semi-annual meetings. Smaller projects (up to $6000) are reviewed more frequently. See the RRC website for more information about this funding mechanism and deadlines.
Faculty Southern California - Research
KPSC Graduate Medical Education Research Program
Mission and Vision Statement
To foster a climate of inquiry, innovation, knowledge creation, and appreciation for scholarly work among trainees and faculty affiliated with KPSC’s graduate medical education programs.
To empower individuals who are interested in conducting research or developing research skills to conduct (or participate in) research projects, to successfully complete these projects and to disseminate their results to others, inside and outside of KPSC.
We also seek to make the scholarly activity requirement a worthwhile learning experience with value for individuals and KP as an organization, and to promote positive attitudes towards research by helping people to see the varying forms that research may take and the value of research to their daily work.
Program Goals
- To support research literacy among residents & fellows so they can apply high quality medical research to clinical practice
- To support residents, fellows or faculty members who wish to conduct research to implement studies and share their work with others
- To build sustainable research capacity in all KPSC GME programs.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The KPSC Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the group that is formally designated to review and monitor biomedical and social science research involving human subjects, as required by federal regulations. The purpose of IRB review is to assure that appropriate steps are taken to protect the rights and welfare of humans participating as subjects in the research. To accomplish this purpose, IRBs use a group process to review research protocols and related materials (e.g., informed consent documents and investigator brochures) to ensure protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects of research.
Additional IRB information and resources are provided below.
Frequently Asked Questions about the IRB
I’m just reviewing medical records; do I need IRB approval?
Yes, if the project meets the criteria for research with human subjects. If the review is limited to existing data, and identifiers will not be recorded, the project may qualify for expedited review. If prospective data collection is involved, and/or identifiers will be recorded, the protocol may also be eligible for expedited review. In either case, a qualified IRB reviewer must make the determination.
My study doesn’t involve any risk of any kind. Do I still need to submit an application?
All protocols involving research with human subjects (including chart review and specimens) that involve or are conducted by anyone affiliated with Kaiser Permanente must be submitted to the IRB for review and approval. This requirement applies regardless of the risk level of procedure.
Links
Regional Research Committee (RRC)
Research Mentorship Program
The Research Mentorship Program is an 18-month program that is open to residents, fellows and faculty who are interested in conducting original research studies. The program is by application, and the next cycle of the program will begin in June 2016. All lecture slides and webinar recordings from the mentorship program are being made available to the entire GME community on this site. Please take advantage of any resources you find helpful! For more information about the Mentorship program, please see our program flyer.
Links
Research Resources
Research Lectures
- What every physician should know about statistics – Part 2 (Topics: common statistical tests, common study designs and their analysis, understanding bias – guest lecture by Jeff Slezak, KPSC Department of Research and Evaluation)
- What every physician should know about statistics – Part 1 (Topics: descriptive statistics, p-values, confidence intervals – guest lecture by Jeff Slezak, KPSC Department of Research and Evaluation)
- Overview of the KPSC IRB process (Topics: review of the IRB review process from start to finish, tips for a smooth IRB review – guest lecture by Marcela Sanchez and Aniss Khani, KPSC IRB)
- Demonstration of how to use iRIS to submit an IRB application
- Overview of KPSC’s research databases (Topics: review of the data resources available at KPSC for conducting research, guest lecture by Jeff Slezak, KPSC Department of Research and Evaluation)
- Research design and sampling
- Developing a statistical analysis plan and estimating sample sizes (lecture by Dr. Mary Helen Black, KPSC Department of Research and Evaluation)
- Identifying variables and measures; designing surveys and medical record reviews
- Framing a research question (lecture slides)
- Conducting a literature review (lecture slides)
- Developing an effective conference abstract (lecture slides)
Research Handouts and Worksheets
- Frequently Asked Questions about KPSC Research Resources
- Resident Research Project Checklist
- Off-site administrative support for physician researchers at KPSC
- 12 Steps to Conducting a Study at KPSC
- 1-page Study Planning Worksheet
- Developing a Research Question Worksheet
- Conducting a Literature Search Worksheet
- Overview of Research Designs
- Selecting a Study Design Worksheet
- Selecting Variables and Measures Worksheet