anindya-duuta-report-consultation-2016

Notes from Dr. Anindya Dutta on CMC’s Consultation 2016 I visited CMC to participate in Consultation 2016 from October 3-5, representing the Research Committee of the Vellore CMC Foundation as well as the CAFEAE Group (CMC Alumni for Enhancing Academic Excellence). The abstract below highlights my 25-minute talk and the attached PowerPoint contains the slides that accompanied the talk.

Abstract: I am representing the alumni and the Vellore CMC Foundation Research Committee in the USA who are very involved in enhancing academic activities at CMC [Founders: Drs. Ajit Varki (’68) and Shiv Pillai (’69); current leaders: Drs. Honorine Ward (’69) and Philip T. Ninan (’69)].

We first want to congratulate CMC for its extensive research activities done in conjunction with its huge impact on the clinical and educational arena. Our advice is very sensitive to the fact that current faculty at CMC are the best judges of what needs to be done to enhance Research activities there. We are all agreed that it is a laudable goal to get CMC Vellore to the forefront of biomedical research in India and the world.

The very concrete steps proposed by the Vice Principal for Research Dr. Biju George (’86) and his committee deserve full support. Research is an integral part of the mission of an academic medical center. CMC Vellore is exceptional in its commitment to service, education and the collaborative delivery of both. The same commitment and collaboration, if slightly redirected to research, will enable the institution to become a thought leader in academic medicine in India and the world.

Simple steps will help achieve this goal.

1) The administration, including the Advisory Council, the Director, the Principal, the Department Chairs and others must agree on the value of research and highlight the research going on at CMC in every forum. Research is very consistent with Christian values, and so there is no barrier to highlighting references to Research done in CMC even in prayers and sermons. Faculty hires, promotions and reappointments should consistently take into consideration the research accomplishments of an individual, though of course, that cannot be the only criterion in an institution that also has a huge service and educational commitment.

2) Research is expensive and even though the Indian research funding environment is good, seed funding and maintenance funding has to come from the clinical enterprise and from philanthropic funds.

3) Research can be clinical, translational, related to quality of care or basic. Thus there should be enough interest in the clinical departments to do some kind of research and the basic science departments should be evaluated on their research output. However, for improvement of academic reputation it is important that almost all research be deemed complete only after peer review and publication.

4) Time for research is a significant concern for clinical faculty (also true in the West). So while everyone in a department may not want time for research, each department should consider giving protected research time to selected individuals on a term-limited basis, with renewal of the term dependent on external peer review of research. CMC alumni can help with such peer-review.

5) Collaborations should be encouraged between clinicians and faculty in basic science departments, and between clinicians and PhD scientists or nurses or paramedical staff, to make a meaningful

advance in the research enterprise. Research collaborations between CMC and the mission hospitals should also be encouraged. The mission hospitals have a very unique perspective on health care delivery and medical data in resource-restricted environments that lends itself very well to scientific analysis of quality control and effectiveness.

6) CMC has been very proactive about sending faculty abroad to acquire new clinical skills as they develop. A similar effort spent on sending faculty abroad to acquire new research skills will benefit the research enterprise.

7) Consistent efforts at a cultural change may be necessary. Research reputation tends to accrue to individuals or groups, and active effort by the senior faculty and administration is necessary to manage any perceptions of inequality that may arise from this. The whole institution gains in reputation when good papers are published from CMC.