Setting up the Research Support Room

Human Resources

  • Qualified research advisors
    • with formal training and experience in clinical research and scientific methodology are required.
    • ideally and whenever possible, each project should be assessed and discussed by two simultaneous advisors.
  • Having a statistician in the Room is useful, but it is not essential if the advisors have a good understanding of quantitative methods in clinical research (including basic statistics).
  • If possible, it is helpful to have an admin staff who organises the Room’s agenda.

Physical Resources

  • A suitable room inside the hospital or institution. This one can be shared with other groups but not at the same time.
  • A large table for the meeting. Sometimes there can be a group of up to 8–10 researchers involved in the same project.
  • A computer with access to the internet, as some virtual meeting platforms or software for online appointments, will be required.

 

 

Time

The most important element for the Researcher’s Support Room to be successful is time. Carefully reading the projects and understanding the aims, interests and ideas of the researchers is essential to identify and suggest improvements. Research advisors should have time allocated each week for the Research Support Room activities.

  • The total amount of time required to run the project will depend on the local demand.

"In the University Hospital of Brasilia, for instance, the Researcher’s Support Room is open to the public (upfront reservation required) for two 4-hour periods per week. The secretary is available to receive appointment requests during regular working hours, five days a week."

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