Academic activity of the obstetrics and gynecology wing Research and Development Unit founded 2005 and headed by Prof Kupfermincz

Objectives of the research and development unit

Supporting research and integrating it in the academic training program at the obstetrics and gynecology wing

Background

Clinical and basic science research, along with routine clinical and surgical work, are the basis for the activity of an obstetrics and gynecology wing at an academic medical center. Academic positions for senior staff members are a function of their teaching and research achievements. A prerequisite for the admission of a resident to our training program is his or her acceptance, that academic training and regular exposure to scientific research is an inseparable part of their duties and their privileges. Allowing six months of "basic science" training during the residency program reflects the central role of the resident's scientific training. Our aim is that at the end of their training program, residents will be eligible for a Lecturer at the University.

Scientific research requires skill, experience and many resources. The Research and Development Unit will act to raise funds, distribute them and encourage both residents and senior staff to engage in research relevant to the fields of obstetrics, gynecology and fertility.

In the future we are planning a basic research laboratory serving the various units of the Lis hospital.

Professional services

Basic science research

·          Performing basic research in cooperation with the hospital's research laboratories, and with other scientists and research laboratories at the university and other academic institutions.

·          Recruiting professional personnel within the hospital and outside of it.

·          Couseling medical students and residents in their laboratory work.

·          Assisting researchers in their contact with the R&D department of the Tel Aviv Medical Center.

Clinical research

·          Assistance with computerized databases in the Lis Hospital and the Medical Center

·          Assistance with the medical records archive.

·          Counseling in preparation of clinical questionnaires.

·          Cooperation with research laboratories in the Lis Hospital, such as the IVF laboratory.

·          Continuous cooperation with the R&D department of the hospital in order to encourage interdisciplinary research with other wings in the medical center.

·          Organization of multicenter studies with other gynecology departments in the countries in order to recruit more substantial numbers for research and control groups/

·          Cooperation with the industry.

Research services for department staff

Integrating research topics.

Choosing research objectives.

Assessment of projects' applicability.

Research methods counseling.

Assistance in writing research proposals.

Appropriate selection and implementation of statistical methods Submitting proposals to the Helsinki committee.

Planning a research budget.

Recruiting sources for funding.

Preparing applications for research grants.

Application to different funds such as the department of Health's chief scientist, GIF, BSF and the university.

Raising funds through the Medical Center's R&D department.

Resource allocation (time, funding, laboratory services, statistical services, patient recruiting).

Academic services for department staff

·          Writing abstracts.

·          Preparing posters and multimedia presentations.

·          Training in research presentation.

·          Editing research papers.

·          Creating associations between researches with common academic interests.

·          Assistance in submitting applications for academic positions at the university.

·          Cooperation with other academic centers in Israel and abroad.

·          Researchers' participation in international congresses, educational programs and training programs around the world.

Academic services for department staff

·          Integration of research proposals from commercial companies, and assistance in planning and implementing research projects in the department.

·          Counseling the department's residents in their basic science and other research projects.

·          Assisting medical students and their counselors in planning and conducting research projects in the department.

·          Finding fellowship training programs and research fellowships for residents completing their training.

·          Regular scientific meetings for residents to discuss ongoing and future research.

·          Periodic journal club sessions updating clinical and basic science topics.

·          Research tools, statistical tools and computer software training for researchers in the department.

Current and future research

Choice examples of ongoing research at the Lis Maternity Hospital include

·          Labor and Delivery – umbilical cord length and pregnancy complications, fetal monitoring and obstetric outcome, fetal wellbeing.

·          Ultrasound unit – biomedical engineering research, monozygous twins physiology.

·          IVF – stem cells in the treatment of different diseases, pregestational genetic. diagnosis.

·          Fetal maternal medicine – pregnancy complications and thrombophilia, pregnancy complications and inflammatory markers.

·          Gynecologic oncology – genetic modulation influencing cell proliferation and differentiation, immunologic therapy for ovarian cancer.

·          Male fertility – defects in spermatogenesis, genetic basis for male infertility

·          Grafting of fetal tissue in mice.

Contact us at tel: 03-6925603, Email us at: tmcobgyn@tasmc.health.gov.il