Clinical Vs Bench Research Paper for residency

[Lccjblu]

This topic was slightly glossed over in this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=861483
But, I would like to get a few more opinions about this matter.

I'm currently trying to decide on a summer research topic and would like to know if residencies value bench research more so than clinical research. Assume, for example, that I'd be a middle author on a bench research paper, but a first or second author on a clinical research paper. Which would be valued more?

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[jdh71]

This topic was slightly glossed over in this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=861483
But, I would like to get a few more opinions about this matter.

I'm currently trying to decide on a summer research topic and would like to know if residencies value bench research more so than clinical research. Assume, for example, that I'd be a middle author on a bench research paper, but a first or second author on a clinical research paper. Which would be valued more?

The long and short of it . . . generally the higher up the academic totem pole you go, the more bench research of valued. Ironic since most of us don't pay a lot of attention to it on any regular basis.

 

[Valadi]

I'm going to quote what I said in the last thread because it's really the long and short of this discussion. You're a summer research 1st between 2nd year med student, the equivalent of a college freshman in the medical world. "Clinical vs. bench" is esoteric and not going to make a difference until you can show you can carry the ball to the other end of the field: project-->poster-->abstract-->pub-->chapter. Moreover, significance is the larger issue at hand here. A well published clinical study trumps a poorer performing bench publication, and the converse is also true. The only specialty I can think of that may value the bench more is rad onc, and even then for a summer project it doesn't matter if the alternative is to get publications in something clinical.

Getting pubs trumps everything. If you'll get pubs with a lower quality study, then do that. Residencies look at your # of pubs while factoring in quality of work and prestige of the journal; but better to have pubs than none.

They look at the quality of the work over type. (eg, bench work elucidating metastatic pathway > a retrospective chart review on 50 patients with metatastes; prospective randomized study on drug Y in 1000 ptx > doing nmrs for a summer on the drug).

Bench is not always greater than retrospective/clinical. Again, it all boils down to quality and usefulness of the research. In my example, I said bench *elucidating a cancer pathway.* Pretty big deal. I also have a bench example that is not as good as a clinical one.

Your best bet is to contact someone in the department you're interested in and ask them what's going on and how you can get involved. Attend the grand rounds so your face gets known and keep saying your interested. Anything is better than nothing, something that will get published is better than anything, and a high quality publication is better than a low quality publication.

Types of clinical studies: A good idea would be to check out the Oxford Centre classification of evidence based medicine. Those are basically the types of studies you have open to you. As a med student, retrospective studies (grade 2B evidence) and below will be your best friend because they are quick and dirty to bang out. The higher up the evidence tree, the more time intensive. Another good option would be to get onto reviews and systematic reviews (grade 2A), but without the clinical knowledge, they are harder to do than just the data entry of a chart review

Edit: Just scrolled up and saw I also said long and short. Was not meaning to usurp or respond to jdh's comment.

 

[Valadi]

Also, I just saw it says you're a pre-med. In which case, it really doesn't ****ing matter. Do what you want. I thought you were an MS1.

 

[CatFactorial]

Bench bc at least you'll get to sit down.

...

Besides, those who do bench research end up becoming chairmen.

...

 

[drctother]

Also, I just saw it says you're a pre-med. In which case, it really doesn't ****ing matter. Do what you want. I thought you were an MS1.

****ing pre-meds is right

 

[Lccjblu]

Also, I just saw it says you're a pre-med. In which case, it really doesn't ****ing matter. Do what you want. I thought you were an MS1.

... I am actually an M1, i just dont post enough on this site to have been bothered to change my profile

but thanks for your response i really appreciate it.. ended up going with a database study that the PI said would enable me to write and submit a paper.

 

[Lccjblu]

also did bench research during ugrad and a year off.. so i figured id expand my portfolio

 

[tallash]

For a research project between first and second year, do clinical research. I was in the same dilemma, went with clinical (even though I have a background in basic), and had just enough time to do something productive that resulted in a presentation at a national meeting and a nice (read: high impact) publication. Now it's all that my interviewers ask about during the interview season for residency, and one at one of the "greatest hospitals in the world" (self-anointed, of course) even said "well, you've already published above the level we would expect for applicants to [insert competitive specialty here] fellowships at this institution".

Seriously, very few people do basic research until fellowship (if then, even).

 

[Dr Love]

Bench research is much harder to get published than clinical research, consequently it is valued much much more. Personally, I think clinical research is BS, used only to get quick publications useless to everyone but the author.

 

[Valadi]

Bench research is much harder to get published than clinical research, consequently it is valued much much more. Personally, I think clinical research is BS, used only to get quick publications useless to everyone but the author.

Yes, because understanding which patient populations an intervention will provide benefit, or finding predictors of mortality, is BS.