AN ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL FOR DEVELOPING MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLINICAL RESEARCH IN THE ACADEMIC MEDICAL-CENTER

Objective. To assess the impact of a new organizational model designed to stimulate multidisciplinary clinical research. Methods. We conduct ed a prospective, 3 1/2-year followup of a research training program f or residents, fellows, faculty, nurses, and allied health professional s in rheumatology and orthopedic surgery. Program components included a multidisciplinary clinical research conference, a clinical research methods curriculum, consultations, a patient registry, and regular mee tings of a Research Methodology Core group. Measures included particip ation in each program component and the number of new investigators wh o developed funded clinical research projects. Results. The multidisci plinary clinical research conference was attended by 369 new health pr ofessionals; 218 professionals participated in at least one of the cou rses; and 280 consultations were provided to 108 professionals. Thirte en new investigators developed 17 new grant proposals, of which 14 wer e externally funded. Investigators who successfully procured funding f or new projects demonstrated significantly more participation in progr am components compared with those who did not (P < 0.001 overall). Con clusion. Participation in the program was significantly correlated wit h the development of new prospective patient-based studies. We conclud e that our model has the potential to foster such research in other se ttings.