Modules

Research Course Modules — Original Research & Evidence Review

Modules of the Course

Original Research & Dissemination · Evidence Review & Meta-Analysis

Module 1 — Original Research & Dissemination

Module 1 image 1
Participants discussing the assigned articles.
Module 1 image 2
Poster created in group activity.

Preparatory Phase (Feb–Mar 2026)

Theme: Getting started.

Learning objectives
  • Perform focused literature searches using PubMed.
  • Refine a feasible research topic with attention to ethics and logistics.
  • Recognise key challenges in planning clinical research.
  • Prepare and present a research protocol.
  • Online inauguration and introduction to the Course.
  • Zoom sessions on research challenges, PubMed search strategies, topic selection, and protocol preparation.
  • Participant introductions.
  • Online MCQs or open-ended quizzes after each Zoom session, with detailed explanations and digital pass-certificates.
  • Online pre-test to the first contact session.

Previous Zoom session on choosing a topic:

First Contact Session (Mar 2026 · St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru)

Theme: Research designs.

Learning objectives
  • Differentiate between major research designs and select appropriate methods.
  • Translate a research question into a structured protocol.
  • Perform sample size estimation with software.
  • Critically appraise published studies.
  • Lectures on variables, research question, research designs, sampling, and sample size estimation.
  • Panel discussions on different research designs.
  • Group activities on different research designs, discussing published articles.
  • Group work: develop and present a draft protocol; option to join multicentric study.
  • Opportunity for the participants to display their artistic talents, such as singing or painting.
  • Online, vignette-based MCQs about the topics, with detailed explanations and digital pass-certificates (shared in the weeks after the contact session).
Deliverables
  • Critical appraisal reports of published studies.
  • Draft protocol presented in-session.
  • CME credit hours

The schedule of last year's first contact session can be viewed here.

Online Phase (Mar–Jun 2026)

Theme: Core skills — biostatistics, rating scales, ethical and legal aspects.

Learning objectives
  • Understand commonly used statistical tests.
  • Develop questionnaires and rating scales.
  • Learn the ethical and legal aspects of research.
  • Zoom sessions on biostatistics, case reports, ethics, and critical appraisal.
  • Online, vignette-based MCQs after each Zoom session, with detailed explanations and digital pass-certificates.
  • Group discussions on respective protocols
  • Work related to the multicentric study
  • Online pre-test to the second contact session.
Deliverables
  • Recordings of selected sessions and the MCQs and their explanations, for future revisions.

The schedule of last year's Zoom sessions can be viewed here.

Second Contact Session (Jun 2026 · Kasturba Medical College, Manipal)

Theme: Manuscript writing, posters, and presentation skills.

Learning objectives
  • Write clear and structured research manuscripts.
  • Design professional posters and slides.
  • Perform common statistical tests with SPSS
  • Workshops on writing paper sections and presentation design.
  • Workshop on SPSS.
  • Group activities on different manuscript sections, discussing published articles.
  • Group work: finalise and present the protocol; prepare and present a poster; create and present research presentation slides; discuss issues related to the multicentric study.
  • Opportunity for the participants to display their artistic talents, such as singing or painting.
Deliverables
  • Finalised protocols, presentation slides, and posters.
  • CME credit hours
  • Course certificate
  • The schedule of last year's second contact session can be viewed here.
  • Online MCQs and open-ended quizzes on the topics covered in the contact session will be conducted in the subsequent weeks.
  • Support for the multi-centric study will continue till the publication of the project.

Assessment & Certification

Awards
  • Dr. MV Ashok Memorial Award for the the best group (includes certificates, medals, and cash prize)
  • Dr Vinoth Memorial Award for the best participant (includes certificate, medal, and cash prize.)

    Criteria for the awards are in the FAQ section.

  • Formative assessment: session MCQs and mentor feedback.
  • Summative assessment: online post-test.
  • Course Certificate: will include the attendance percentage for contact and Zoom sessions.


Module 2 — Evidence Review & Meta-Analysis

Module 2 image 1
Article published by BCPR-5 students.
Module 2 image 2
From an online discussion of ongoing projects.

Phase 1 — Introduction & Foundation (Jun 2026 · Last two days of the second contact session)

Focus: group cohesion, question formulation, and protocol basics.

Learning objectives
  • Formulate focused review questions using PICO(T).
  • Draft SR/MA protocols with clear inclusion/exclusion criteria.
  • Develop advanced search strategies across databases.
  • Lectures on SR/MA principles and practical workshops on PICO question formulation.
  • Hands-on exercises in PROSPERO registration and literature search.
  • Hands-on exercises in screening (Rayyan)
Deliverable
  • Preliminary PICO question and protocol outline.

Phase 2 — Guided Execution & Feedback (Jun–Sep 2026)

Bi-weekly online sessions providing step-by-step mentorship.

Learning objectives
  • Conduct collaborative screening and data extraction.
  • Assess risk of bias and interpret heterogeneity.
  • Perform and visualise meta-analytic results using RevMan.
  • Sessions on data extraction, RoB assessment, publication bias, and basic meta-analysis.
  • Project-based discussions and feedback from mentors and peer mentors (alumni of previous batches).
  • Protocol presentations.
Deliverables
  • Extraction sheets, RoB assessments, and preliminary analysis outputs.

Phase 3 — Finalisation & Presentation (Sep 2026 · St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru)

In-person wrap-up: manuscript polishing, presentation, and mentoring.

Learning objectives
  • Prepare SR/MA manuscripts according to PRISMA.
  • Learn GRADE assessment.
  • Create visuals (PRISMA flowchart, forest plots) and interpret results.
  • Finalise manuscripts for submission and dissemination.
  • Group activities on the remaining stages and manuscript finalising.
  • Peer review swap, where the groups assess manuscripts of the other groups.
Deliverables
  • Completed manuscript ready for submission.
  • CME credit hours

Support for the projects will continue till their publication.

Assessment & Certification

Award
  • Award for the best systematic review and meta-analysis (includes certificate and cash prize)

    Criteria for the award will be announced later. The winner will be declared only in the next BCPR year, as the manuscript polishing, peer reviews, and publication may take months.

  • Formative assessment: session MCQs and mentor feedback.
  • Summative assessment: online post-test.
  • Course Certificate: will include the attendance percentage for contact and Zoom sessions.