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Courses » Health Research Fundamentals

Health Research Fundamentals

ABOUT THE COURSE

National Institute of Epidemiology [NIE], Indian Council of Medical Research [ICMR] is offering online programmes on conduct of human bio-medical research. The programme will be offered as NIE-ICMR e-Certificate – NIeCer - Courses. The first in this series, NIeCer 101:Health Research Fundamentals, is a basic level course in health research methods. It will explain the fundamental concepts in epidemiology and bio-statistics related to research methods. This course will provide an overview of steps and principles for designing bio-medical and health research studies among human participants. 

INTENDED AUDIENCE
Any current or potential health researcher
We expect this course to be useful for individuals interested in pursuing health research in the roles of study investigators, clinical/public health researchers (physicians, counselors, research associates, social scientists, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, data and quality managers etc.), scientists, ethics committee members and project managers. 

PRE-REQUISITES
Undergraduate medical/dental/nursing/AYUSH students
Graduate in any discipline

INSTITUTIONS THAT WILL VALUE THIS
Government/ private sector, public health service institutions/ agencies, Post graduate institutions in biomedical and allied sciences, Medical colleges/ Universities, NGOs engaged in health research, Clinical research organizations, Pharma companies and marketing research organizations

COURSE DURATION
20 hours in 8 weeks
18 January - 11 March, 2016

LAST DATE FOR ENROLLMENT
25 January 2016

2865 students have enrolled already!!

COURSE INSTRUCTORS


All the instructors are faculty members for the two-year Master’s level public health training [MPH] programme at the ICMR School of Public Health of the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, India. Besides the Masters’ level programme, the faculty members have been conducting PG diploma and various short-term training programmes in public health/epidemiology and biostatistics. Besides teaching, the faculty members have been conducting epidemiological/public health research. For more details please visit www.nie.gov.in

TEACHING ASSISTANTS
D Bella Devaleenal, MBBS, DLO, MPH
Scientist C, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis-ICMR, Chennai
G Angeline Grace, MBBS, MPH, FHM
Scientist C, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis-ICMR, Chennai
S Sriram, MBBS, MPH
Scientist C, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis-ICMR, Chennai
E Rajalakshmi, MD (Siddha), MSc (Epid.)
Project Scientist C, National Instititute of Epidemiology-ICMR, Chennai
Upasana Sharma, BAMS, MPH
PhD scholar, National Institute of Epidemiology-ICMR, Chennai
COURSE LAYOUT

Week 1: Conceptualizing a research study
Introduction to health research – Dr. Sanjay Mehendale
Formulating research question, hypothesis and objectives – Dr. P Manickam
Literature review – Dr. P Ganeshkumar

Week 2: Epidemiological considerations in designing a research study (1/2)
Measures of disease frequency – Dr. R Ramakrishnan
Descriptive study designs – Dr. Prabhdeep Kaur
Analytical study designs – Dr. Manoj Murhekar

Week 3: Epidemiological considerations in designing a research study (2/2)
Experimental study designs: Clinical trials - Dr. Sanjay Mehendale
Validity of epidemiological studies – Dr. Tarun Bhatnagar
Qualitative research methods: An overview – Dr. Tarun Bhatnagar


Week 4: Bio-statistical considerations in designing a research study 
Measurement of study variables – Dr. R Ramakrishnan
Sampling methods – Dr. R Ramakrishnan
Calculating sample size and power – Dr. R Ramakrishnan

Week 5: Planning a research study (1/2)
Selection of study population – Dr. P Ganeshkumar
Study plan and project management – Dr. Sanjay Mehendale
Designing data collection tools – Dr. Tarun Bhatnagar

Week 6: Planning a research study (2/2)
Principles of data collection – Dr. Prabhdeep Kaur
Data management – Dr. P Manickam
Overview of data analysis - Dr. P Manickam

Week 7: Conducting a research study
Ethical framework for health research – Dr. Sanjay Mehendale
Conducting clinical trials - Dr. Sanjay Mehendale

Week 8: Writing a research protocol
 Preparing a concept paper for research projects – Dr. P Manickam
Elements of a protocol for research studies – Dr. Tarun Bhatnagar   

CERTIFICATION EXAM
The exam is optional. Exams will be on 20 March 2016 and 27 March 2016.
Time: 2 pm-5 pm
Tentative list of exam cities: http://nptel.ac.in/noc/pdf/Exam%20City-list.pdf
Registration URL: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee of Rs 1000 needs to be paid.

Certificate
Certificate will be given to those who register and write the exam. Certificate will have your name, photograph and the final score (based on assignments and final exam).
It will have the logos of NPTEL and ICMR. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANT
M Saravanan, BCA
Technician A, National Institute of Epidemiology-ICMR, Chennai

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
P Sharly Devi, MSc
LDC, National Institute of Epidemiology-ICMR, Chennai