Health Research System› All What You Need to Know : CenŒeofBesear S ìB s DiremorateGeneralo First edition July 2015 Foreword The current need for scientific research has become more important than ever before due to the fierce competition among countries to obtain specialized knowledge that ensures welfare of their citizens and supremacy over other countries. Based on the beliefs of the Ministry of Health in the Sultanate of Oman on the importance of health research and its great role in the development process, the Ministry has taken great care and interest on scientific research, and has provided the required financial and technical support. Scientific research is the elementary support for the Ministry in planning and promotion of health services rendered by the Ministry. Awareness of the scientific research methodologies and its procedures have become a requisite for any field of knowledge which include research problem identification, methodology selection, data collection tools, data analysis and extraction of outcomes. In addition, health research helps in adding new information as well as updating old available information that aims to develop information frequently, and then use it to solve upcoming challenges that may be faced by the health system. The Ministry of Health has also established a central committee to review and approve research from the scientific and ethical aspects to ensure that researchers will come out with accurate and proper information related to the health and service problems faced by the Omani society. It is also vital to provide researchers with a broad knowledge of the functioning of the research system in the Ministry of Health; and with this in mind, this booklet will provide a complete overview on all the important aspects associated with scientific research in the Ministry of Health. It is our hope that researchers will use it as a reference tool to better understand the research system, broaden their capacities to benefit their research careers as well as enhance and promote scientific innovation and creativity. Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Al-Saidi Minister of Health Health Research System: All What You Need to Know I First edition July 2015 Health Research System: All What You Need to Know Taskforce ▪ Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Al Qasmi, Director General of Planning and Studies (Ministry of Health) Doctor of Science in Biostatistics, Tulane University (United States of America) ▪ Dr. Adhra Hilal Nasser Al Mawali, Director of Centre of Research and Studies (Ministry of Health) Ph.D. in Flow Cytometry and Molecular Genetics, University of Adelaide (Australia) ▪ Mr. Waleed Nasser Al Shekaili, Senior Superintendent Health Information System (Centre of Research and Studies, Ministry of Health) M.Sc. in Health Services and Public Health Research, Aberdeen (United Kingdom) ▪ Ms. Sultana Mohamed Saif Al Sabahi, Medical Laboratory Technician (Centre of Research and Studies, Ministry of Health) M.Sc. in Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Sultan Qaboos University (Oman) ▪ Mr. Avinash Daniel Pinto, Research Assistant (Ministry of Health) M.Sc. in Molecular Medicine, University of Sheffield (United Kingdom) Health Research System: All What You Need to Know II First edition July 2015 Contents FOREWORD I INTRODUCTION 1 PART ONE: OVERVIEW ON HEALTH RESEARCH PRIORITIES 2 PART TWO: HOW TO SUBMIT RESEARCH PROPOSALS 4 PART THREE: GENERAL OVERVIEW ON THE RESEARCH AND ETHICAL REVIEW & APPROVE COMMITTEE 5 OVERVIEW ON THE RESEARCH AND ETHICAL REVIEW & APPROVE COMMITTEE 5 OBJECTIVE 5 THE SCOPE OF WORK OF THE COMMITTEE 6 MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS OF THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE 7 CRITERIA FOR SELECTING MEMBERS & ESTABLISHING THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE 7 MEMBERSHIP ROTATION SYSTEM 8 MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 8 PART FOUR: REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSALS 9 THE ROLE OF MEMBERS 9 REVIEW PROCEDURES 9 COMMITTEE DECISIONS 11 PART FIVE: TYPES OF RESEARCH TO BE REVIEWED BY THE CENTRAL AND REGIONAL RESEARCH COMMITTEES 13 RESEARCH THAT SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE CENTRAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE 13 RESEARCH THAT SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE REGIONAL RESEARCH COMMITTEES 13 PART SIX: RULES FOR PROVIDING RAW DATA 14 PART SEVEN: RULES FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ANALYSING RESEARCH DATA 15 PART EIGHT: FUNDING HEALTH RESEARCH 17 PART NINE: HEALTH RESEARCH AWARDS 18 INTRODUCTION 18 VISION AND MISSION 18 AWARD CATEGORIES 18 OBJECTIVES 18 GENERAL CONDITIONS 19 SPECIAL CONDITIONS 20 SELECTION CRITERIA 20 IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM 20 AWARD APPLICATION FORM 22 Health Research System: All What You Need to Know III First edition July 2015 Introduction The scientific progress that countries in the world now witness is closely linked to scientific research which is one of the indicators to measure development of the country. Hence, the Ministry of Health has given health research considerable attention in order to support decision-makers and lay the pillars of evidence-based medicine. The attention of the Ministry of Health on health research appear in several aspects, notably the creation of the Centre of Research and Studies in the Directorate General of Planning and Studies for carrying out research and policy development, providing assistance to researchers, and research collaborations with other health research institutions within and outside the Sultanate of Oman. The Research and Ethical Review & Approve Committee was established in 1998 to facilitate the supervision and follow-up of the research process with a commitment to sound ethics and research practices. Taking into consideration the critical role played by health research in developing the health system, health research has been selected as one of the key components of “Health Vision 2050”. This was in order to intensify efforts and raise research capacity through the development of clear plans for the future, drawing a roadmap for Health Research, and improving quality of research outputs in order to be feasible and effective to improve health system performance. It should be noted that the Centre of Research and Studies has so far provided many important publications for researchers in the Ministry of Health, including a “Health Research Priorities” booklet to highlight the most prominent health problems faced by the Sultanate of Oman as well as those considered as challenges by the Ministry of Health. The Centre of Research and Studies has also issued a “Health Research Funding Guideline” booklet, which familiarizes researchers on how to seek financial support from the Ministry of Health to carry out research. This booklet is a basic roadmap for researchers at the Ministry of Health from which researchers can identify the mechanisms for submission and approval of research proposals and know what research should be approved by Central and Regional Committees, rules to obtain raw data, and the mechanisms for providing technical and financial support, all of which are important components for researchers to acquire the basic steps for carrying out research in the Ministry of Health. This booklet will also guide researchers for applying for research awards by the Ministry of Health to encourage research and improve the quality of the conducted research. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 1 First edition July 2015 Part One: Overview on Health Research Priorities Prioritization is one of the main features of development and prosperity in proper planning for future projects. As a consequence, the Ministry of Health specifies priorities of the health problems to be focused on by research that will enrich the health system with appropriate information for the development of the health system and health services provided. The focus of the Ministry of Health on health research is to support decision-makers with the appropriate evidence that give strength and durability of progress in health care and the advancement of health services provided. Prioritization is also considered as a process of consolidation and intensification of efforts, so that the yield of expenditure in health research is directed to face the most prominent health problems of the Ministry of Health. The process of setting priorities is also an investment in the available resources in order to get the best possible results. With this in mind, the first edition of the “Health Research Priorities” booklet has been published (in March 2014) which is to be used as a roadmap for Omani and non-Omani researchers who are interested in the health issues faced by the Sultanate of Oman. This booklet has been developed for researchers to elucidate the route to ensure the creation of evidence required for decision-makers. This booklet has included two categories of key health priorities: health system research priorities, and disease and risk factors‟ research priorities. The focus of the research priorities of the health system is on the six building blocks of the health system which are service delivery, health workforce, health information system, medical products, vaccines and technology, health financing, leadership and governance. Furthermore, the most prominent inputs and outputs of these building blocks were taken. The second category of research priorities is about diseases and risk factors, which covers the diseases which have priority in the Sultanate of Oman as well as around the world, to tackle the existing problems and address anticipated problems in the future on different health aspects. This category includes several aspects, most notably non-communicable diseases, birth defects and Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 2 First edition July 2015 genetic disorders, road accidents, aging disorders, health promotion and many other important aspects. From this point, we are directing researchers to focus on the implementation of research that can be extracted from “Health Research Priorities” booklet (first edition published in March 2014). This booklet can be found through the Ministry of Health website or by contacting the Centre of Research and Studies. This booklet has also been distributed to all health and educational institutions dealing with research in the Sultanate of Oman. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 3 First edition July 2015 Part Two: How to Submit Research Proposals The first step in conducting scientific research in Ministry of Health institutes is by writing up a research proposal as per the form designed by the Research and Ethical Review & Approve Committee (RERAC). The form is designed by experts in the Ministry and updated on a regular basis. The form can found through the Ministry of Health website which can be filled and sent to the rapporteur of the Research and Ethical Review & Approve Committee. Researchers can contact the Committee through the following links: MoH Website www.moh.gov.om E-mail mohrerac@gmail.com Telephone 24695921 /24697551 Fax 24696702 Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 4 First edition July 2015 Part Three: General Overview on the Research and Ethical Review & Approve Committee The Ministry of Health has established a central committee to review and approve research from scientific and ethical aspects to ensure that researchers will come out with accurate and proper information relating to the health and service problems faced by the Omani society. The Committee will contribute to promotion of health research thus ensuring reliance on their outcomes. This Committee will also help in identifying the common shortcomings by professional and weak quality of research. On the other hand, it is also a tool for self-learning, as researchers will be briefed on how to conduct scientific research and how to obtain information and apply them in real life scenarios. Overview on the Research and Ethical Review & Approve Committee Objective Improve quality of research and maximize benefit from their outcomes In general, the Committee aims to achieve the expectations of the Ministry of Health through the Centre of Research and Studies in the Directorate General of Planning and Studies at the Ministry of Health, to improve the quality of research and maximize the benefit from their outcomes. Accurate data from quality research provides researchers with the ability to benefit in addressing the respective health problems. It also helps decision makers to take informed decisions based on the outcomes of these research and studies. The policies and procedures of this Committee thus aim at providing a standard framework for the research projects at the Ministry of Health. At the same time, it endeavours to achieve the objectives of the Centre of Research and Studies that contribute to achieving the Vision and aspirations of the Ministry of Health. Some of the goals of the Centre of Research and Studies are listed below: 1. Develop an active research environment in the Ministry of Health by establishing an encouraging research environment that supports scientific research financially - Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 5 First edition July 2015 internally through the Ministry of Health and externally through research organizations such as The Research Council (TRC); and by encouraging research spirit through research competitions, awards and providing a flexible environment for researchers. 2. Capacity building for committee members and researchers through field visits, workshops, training sessions, development of scientific research teams and exchange of expertise and visits with local and international research organizations as well as sending health practitioners to receive higher education in the field of research. 3. Encourage research excellence in health sciences, which in turn will increase the number of distinguished researchers. This will enrich the quality of effective research. 4. To meet the strategic needs of the Ministry of Health and the Sultanate of Oman by focussing on the national health research priorities. Research on these priority topics will provide solutions to some national health problems. 5. Encourage health research that provide solutions to national, regional and international health problems both on the individual level and by forming multi- faceted internal and external teams to address individual health problems or problems that have overlapping nature between different health disciplines. These teams will enhance the research network and cooperation on national, regional and international levels. 6. Promote innovation through a system of intellectual property as well as transfer and protection of knowledge and technology. The Scope of Work of the Committee ▪ Participating in developing policies, guidelines and plans for the scientific and ethical aspects related to conducting research. ▪ Approving guidelines and models for writing research proposals, review mechanisms and providing researchers with such tools. ▪ Reviewing the research proposals in terms of scientific and ethical aspects to ensure that they are consistent with the applied scientific practices. ▪ Following up of approved research, implementation, and reviewing of the final report of the research. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 6 First edition July 2015 ▪ Ensuring compliance of all clinical, epidemiological and other research with the laws and regulations in force in the Sultanate of Oman, and the scientific and ethical applied practices in addition to eliminating the practice of conducting research without the approval of the Central Research Committee or Regional Research Committees. ▪ Providing Regional Research Committees with the guidelines and models for writing research proposals and review mechanisms for implementation by the health institutions that fall under their supervision. ▪ Coordinating and cooperating with research centres, universities, institutes, ministries and international organizations to approve the training programs on research methodologies and ethics. ▪ Maintaining the final proposals in a comprehensive database and issuing reports on the Committee's activities and achievements. Membership and Meetings of the Research Committee Criteria for Selecting Members & Establishing the Research Committee The Central Research Committee and the Committees at the governorate and directorate-general levels should be formed in line with the following criteria: ▪ Committee members should preferably be high academic qualification holders (Master‟s or Ph.D.). ▪ Each Committee member should have at least one scientific paper published in an accredited scientific journal. ▪ Each Committee member should have an interest in scientific health research. ▪ Each Committee member should have experience in research and scientific studies. ▪ Committee members should represent the major specialties such as: - Medical specialties (Internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery etc.) - Nursing - Pharmacology - Epidemiology - Quantitative and Qualitative research Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 7 First edition July 2015 - Allied medicine (public health, laboratories, radiology, etc.). ▪ The Committee should have at least one statistician. ▪ The Committee should have a designated member for auditing the ethical aspects of the research. ▪ The Technical Focal Point should be one of the members in the Committee. ▪ The Financial Focal Point may be summoned to attend Committee meetings if the need arises. Selection process of the members should ensure representation of all active categories in the field of research. The Ministry of Health should have the largest representation at the Central Research Committee along with representatives of other organizations and institutions such as The Research Council (TRC), Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) and academic universities. The Chairman and Vice-chairman will be selected based on their merits and experience in the field of research and publication of scientific articles. A majority of the members in the Committee should be Omanis (80%). Membership Rotation System The Research Committee‟s members may be rotated every two years to provide the opportunity to introduce fresh perspectives and enhance the Committee‟s efficiency and quality of work. This will also help in avoiding bias resulting from forging personal relationships among members of Committee and researchers which may impact the neutrality of the Committee. Meetings of the Committee ▪ Frequency: The Committee shall meet every 2 months (the first week of January, March, May, July, September and November) in the presence of the Chairman and/or the Vice- chairman. The Chairman may call for an extraordinary meeting when the need arises. ▪ The quorum: The meeting shall be deemed in order if attended by two thirds of the members of the Committee in the presence of the Chairman and/or Vice-chairman. ▪ Minutes of the meeting: The rapporteur will prepare written minutes for each meeting and the decisions taken with regard to the research proposals. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 8 First edition July 2015 Part Four: Review of the Research Proposals The Role of Members ▪ Each member will be responsible for reviewing the research proposals individually. He/she is not permitted to assign this job to another member. ▪ If a research proposal to be reviewed represents a conflict of interest with any Committee member, he/she will be excluded from review responsibilities associated with that particular research proposal. ▪ The Committee may request the assistance of external reviewers when the need arises. Review procedures ▪ The Committee will receive research proposals at any time throughout the year. ▪ The research proposals will be sent to members of the Committee (3 weeks before the meeting). ▪ The research proposals will be reviewed by members of the Committee within three weeks. ▪ The Committee will meet every 2 months to take decisions about the research proposals that were reviewed by members of the Committee. ▪ The researcher should submit his/her reply to the major and/or minor comments of the reviewers within one month from the date of receipt. The research proposal shall be deemed invalid and will not be entertained if the deadline has been crossed without a valid reason. The researcher will then be obligated to re-submit the proposal which will be treated as a new submission. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 9 First edition July 2015 Researcher/PI Rapporteur Rapporteur Committee meeting Review by Committee members Figure 1: Review Mechanism of Research Proposals Table 1: Research Review Mechanism – timeline Procedure Time Receiving research proposals Throughout the year Sending proposals to members Three weeks before the meeting Review by Committee members During the three weeks prior to the meeting Meeting and decision The first week of January, March, May, July, September and November Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 10 First edition July 2015 Committee Decisions The researchers should consider that the following evaluation criteria will be taken into account whilst evaluating the research proposal. Table 2: Research Proposal Evaluation Form Title of the research Name of the researcher/PI: Institution/Department: Designation: Evaluation criteria Out of Score Clarity of the proposal: Is the proposal clear and coherent and with good context and directed towards achieving any one of MoH research 10 priorities? Are all aspects of the proposal consistent with international best 10 practices? How comprehensive and up to date is the review of literature? 10 New Idea: Is the proposal just a repetition of an earlier work or is it a 10 new idea? Scientific importance of the objectives of the proposals. 10 Yield of the proposed research: Will it generate useful information / outcome at both the national and scientific level to improve the efficiency of the health system, raise the level of health services or 10 improve the knowledge and health behaviour at the level of the community and the individual? Quality and feasibility of the research methodology and work plan 10 Research plan and management 10 Capabilities of the research team for the project implementation 10 Adequate manpower 10 Sufficient time 10 Research capacity building: training (students or staff) to increase research capacity, establish cooperative relations and partnership at the 10 local and international level and to attract potential funding from Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 11 First edition July 2015 alternative sources Budget estimate: adequate budget to conduct the study in compliance with international standards and practices are considered in the preparation of the budget Skills, scientific qualification and background of the Principal Investigator and Research Assistants Total score 10 10 140 Remarks of the reviewer Points of strength in the proposal: Points of weakness in the proposal: Final reviewers decision : - Approved as submitted - Approval after minor changes and clarifications - Approval only after relatively major changes and amendments - Disapproval (state reasons) Note for the reviewers: The decision shall be taken independent of the score obtained and shall be based on the merits and overall comments of the submitted proposal. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 12 First edition July 2015 Part Five: Types of Research to be Reviewed by the Central and Regional Research Committees Research that should be Reviewed by the Central Research Committee 1. Research involving national health policies and strategies. 2. National research or surveys that represent the Sultanate of Oman. 3. Clinical, experimental and interventional studies at national or governorate level. 4. Research funded or co-funded by external agencies. 5. Research that includes more than one governorate either on the level of population or health institutions. 6. Research to obtain an M.Sc. or Ph.D. from inside or outside the Sultanate of Oman, subject to being approved by at least one supervisor. 7. Research proposals referred by the Regional Research Committees for advice and speciality support. Research that should be Reviewed by the Regional Research Committees 1. Local research on the level of the governorate or its population or health institution. 2. Research that focuses on reviewing and evaluating files and surveys on the governorate level. 3. Research that falls outside the scope of the Central Committee. 4. Research proposals that fall under the scope of the regional committee but were submitted to the Central Research Committee. Note: Research proposals falling under the purview of the Regional Research Committees‟ but requiring speciality support may be referred to the Central Committee. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 13 First edition July 2015 Part Six: Rules for Providing Raw Data 1. The raw data accessible to the Centre of Research and Studies shall be provided to any researcher or institution subject to providing a detailed plan (research proposal). The plan should include the aim of obtaining this data, the methodology, the type of variables required, the sample size of the sample, the statistical analyses that will be used to obtain new outcomes alongside the previous published reports and research. 2. The researcher / applicant institution will only be provided with (or access to) the raw data which is relevant to the study as per the approved proposal. 3. Research ethics should be maintained at all times whilst handling the raw data including respecting the privacy of personal information. The data should be used only for research purposes and should not to be utilised by other institutions without prior approval of the owner of this data. 4. The research plan should be approved by the Central Research Committee at the Ministry of Health or by the research committees at the governorate or the directorate-general levels (in case such research falls within their jurisdiction). 5. The raw data shall only be provided after two years following completion/publication of the final report of the study for which the raw data is requested, except in exceptional circumstances deemed appropriate by the Ministry of Health and/or the owner of the data. In such circumstances, the issue will be considered by the respective research committee. 6. The owner of the raw data shall have the right to discuss and review the work plan submitted by the researcher and request appropriate amendments if necessary. He/she also has the right to reject providing this data if found that the research plan will not add any new information to what is already available. 7. Any publication arising from the use of the requested data should have an acknowledgement to the owners of the raw data. 8. The owner of the raw data should be provided with copies of the summary of the study, outcomes, recommendations, reports and the scientific papers for review of the outcomes as well as ensure that they do not prejudice the original study in any way. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 14 First edition July 2015 Part Seven: Rules for Providing Technical Assistance for Analysing Research Data In a bid to foster partnership and cooperation between the Centre of Research and Studies in the Directorate General of Planning and Studies with other research institutions as well as enhancing collaboration between the Centre of Research and Studies and those interested in research, the Centre of Research and Studies will provide technical assistance to analyse the research data as per the following conditions: • The research / study topic should contribute to enhancing the quality and efficiency of the health services and systems especially the health research priorities of the Ministry of Health. • The Centre of Research and Studies should be a partner in the research. The extent of technical support should be acknowledged with the name of the ‘Centre of Research & Studies’ when the report is published. The name of the Centre of Research and Studies should also be mentioned when the outcomes of the local, regional and international studies are published. • The Centre of Research and Studies shall be kept aware of all the steps taken in the research/study since its initial stages (the methodology of the research, selection of samples, tools of the study and others). • The Centre of Research and Studies shall decide the suitable time for the appointment for providing technical assistance consistent with financial and human capabilities, and provided that it does not contradict with the Centre's interests or priorities. The priorities (in the following order) for providing technical support for analysing the data shall be as follows: • Research implemented at Ministry of Health institutions and listed in the five-year health development plan (especially health system research). • Research included in the training curricula for affiliates of the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB). • Research implemented by Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 15 First edition July 2015 • Research implemented by other Ministries and organizations. The request for technical assistance to analyse the data should be submitted to the Centre of Research and Studies in the Directorate General of Planning and Studies. The application should indicate the following: • Research title • Researcher‟s name • Institution • Mobile number • Email: (to ensure easy communication between the Centre and the researcher). A reply will be sent to the researcher (the applicant for technical assistance) within two weeks from the date of receipt of the application. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 16 First edition July 2015 Part Eight: Funding Health Research To facilitate the research process in the health sector, the Ministry of Health has allocated (since 2014) a special fund to support health research. This step is considered as the translation of the policy to achieve the Vision of the Ministry of Health directed to support pillars of evidence- based medicine, and to support decision-makers with this evidence. These efforts will clearly be focused towards raising the quality of care and the advancement of health services, which in turn will be reflected on the satisfaction of the beneficiaries of these services. The Research Funding Committee (RFC) was formed to oversee financial support for research, headed by His Excellency the Undersecretary for Planning Affairs, with membership of several Directors-General and the Director of the Centre of Research and Studies in the Ministry of Health. This Committee is responsible for taking the final decision in approving the provision of financial support after taking into account the opinion of reviewers who will evaluate the research proposals from scientific and ethical points of view. The Ministry of Health has developed strategies and regulations for the distribution of this fund. The fund will be distributed in four main categories: central research, governorate research, incentives, and other research activities. The amount allocated varies for each category. The details of the process to apply for research funding, evaluation criteria, competition between researchers to obtain the financial support, disbursal of funds, budget distribution, follow-up actions, contracts, progress reports, and other necessary details are published in the “Health Research Funding Guideline” booklet (July 2014). This booklet can be accessed through the Ministry of Health website or by contacting the Centre of Research and Studies. This booklet has also been distributed to all health and educational institutions dealing with research in the Sultanate of Oman. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 17 First edition July 2015 Part Nine: Health Research Awards Introduction In terms of what currently dominates the world globalization in all aspects of life, it has become imperative that the Ministry of Health follows international standards in making decisions and evidence-based planning. Borne out of the efforts of the Ministry of Health on promotion of scientific research and supporting researchers, the Ministry has adopted a set of awards to encourage and reward research excellence, and stimulate scientific research which is an essential element of human knowledge in all fields as well as the investment potential of researchers to solve health problems. Vision and Mission & VISION: The Ministry of Health to be one of the leading scientific research institutions locally and globally. & MISSION: Motivating researchers at the Ministry of Health to conduct outstanding scientific research, and to encourage publication in internationally reputed journals. Award Categories & Young Investigator Award & Best Research Award Objectives & To honour the staff of the Ministry of Health interested in health research and its dissemination & To promote the dissemination of research findings in local and international refereed scientific journals & To stimulate an outstanding research environment to improve health research & To develop infrastructure for scientific research in the Ministry of Health in order to create a strong scientific base of human resources to adopt strategies for scientific research Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 18 First edition July 2015 & To spread the spirit of competition between individuals and institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Health. & To encourage all Ministry of Health staff to compete on the track to research excellence General Conditions ▪ The Principal Investigator should be a staff of the Ministry of Health ▪ The research should not be part of the professional fulfilment towards a professional qualification for any researcher on the research team. ▪ The researcher should fill the award application form carefully and send it via email to moh.researchaward2015@gmail.com along with the following attachments: - An electronic copy (pdf) of the scientific material (full report or article if published) - A summary of the report/research article in English and Arabic - Approval of the research team to participate in the competition for the award („Award Submission Approval Form‟ document) - A brief significance statement in English and Arabic explaining the role of the research in the development of academic and scientific innovation, and potential economic impacts in the country (not more than 1 page; font size 12; 1.5 spacing) - Approval letter from the Central/Regional Committee ▪ The submitted research should not have won any other award in a similar competition inside or outside Oman ▪ Each researcher is eligible to apply only for one of the advertised awards ▪ A researcher can participate with the same research only once ▪ The research should be conducted in the Sultanate of Oman. ▪ The research should not exceed 2 years since the research has been completed or published. ▪ The researcher should be willing to provide any additional information if required by the Ministry of Health Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 19 First edition July 2015 Special Conditions To be eligible to apply for the Best Research by young researchers at the Ministry of Health award, the Principal Investigator should not be older than 30 years at the time of application submission. Selection Criteria ▪ The research topic should be one of the listed Ministry of Health priorities. ▪ The research should have an effective impact on improving the health system and health care as well as enhancing health culture. ▪ The research should be conducted based on sound scientific methodology. • Preference will be given to research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Implementation Mechanism & Announcement of the start date for submission of applications will be on the Ministry of Health‟s website (www.moh.gov.om) and local newspapers in the month of January each year. & A team of reviewers will be nominated by the Research Funding Committee to evaluate the submitted research. & Evaluation by the reviewers and their reports and recommendations of candidates for the awards shall be given to the Research Funding Committee & The adoption of a minimum score of 80/100 to be nominated for Best Research at the Ministry of Health award & The adoption of a minimum score of 75/100 to be nominated for Best Research by young researchers at the Ministry of Health award & When there is a significant difference between the scores given by any two reviewers with a difference of 25% or more, the Committee will refer the research to another reviewer and his/her opinion in this case will be considered. & Competition results are final and cannot be appealed & The research will be saved in the database of the Centre of Research and Studies & A handbook about winning research submissions will be prepared and disseminated in the media both inside and outside the Ministry. Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 20 First edition July 2015 & The winning research submissions will have to provide a visual presentation of the summary of the study. & Awards will be distributed at a ceremony & The deadline for application submissions for the award will be 31st March of the same year & The awards will be announced during the meeting of the Research Funding Committee for research in May of the same year. & The award may be granted for more than one research submission and divided equally between the winning researches in case of obtaining the same score in the evaluation. & The award can be withheld in any year if the submitted researches do not meet the expected quality for the award. & The award should be divided among the members of the research team as deemed appropriate Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 21 First edition July 2015 Award category Award Application Form (Please tick one) Applicant details: Name Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy) Place of work Current job title Latest academic qualification Year of receiving latest academic qualification  Best Research Award  Young Investigator Award The research team members’ details (in the same order as it appears in the report/publication): Name Current job title Email Mobile phone number Research details : Research title Has this research previously won another award: If yes, please specify: No Yes Required attachments: □ Curriculum vitae □ The final report of the research or the published article (pdf) □ Summary of the research report or the published article □ Approval letter (form the Central or the Regional committee) □ Award Submission Approval Form □ A brief significance statement (not more than 1 page; font size 12; 1.5 spacing) Kindly send the completed form via email to moh.researchaward2015@gmail.com Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 22 First edition July 2015 Award Submission Approval Form from the Research Team This approval form states that all members of the research team have no conflict in submitting this research for consideration of an award by the Ministry of Health according to its rules and regulations. Name of researcher Signature Date Health Research System: All What You Need to Know 23