Update from the Scientific Committee

During 2002, the BGS Scientific Committee’s activities included circulating new guidelines for research training for SpRs, to developing a database of research active geriatricians.

It is hoped that the database will encourage research collaboration and provide budding researchers with contacts appropriate to their area of interest. Suzanne Sorensen from Research Into Ageing addressed trainees at the Autumn Meeting in October, about the two-year fellowship which is being funded jointly by the BGS and RIA. There have been few applications for this generous grant, which is available for any area of research in ageing and would be ideal for a SpR project leading to an MD or PhD. As always, BGS start up grants are also available for smaller projects, and the amount has been increased to £2500.

The Eli Lilly award, previously granted to assist with expenses in attending a meeting outside the UK to present either a paper or poster, is no longer available owing to a lack of sponsorship.

The Autumn Meeting also hosted a Research Surgery, chaired by Dr Richard Lindley, with Dr Steve Parry, Dr Rajkumar and myself on the “panel”. It was gratifying to see an increasing number of attendees compared to previous meetings. On this occasion 26 SpRs attended and we had an international flavour with three Dutch SpRs attending (I was quick off the mark in attempting to set up exchange schemes with them)! Following an introduction by Dr Lindley, an informal discussion took place between the audience and the panel. SpRs asked about specific issues such as identifying appropriate supervisors, determining project areas most likely to lead to publication and higher degrees, and the differences between PhDs and MDs. We also covered issues such as applying for grants, the most appropriate time to go out of programme, and how much notice the regional training committee requires.

In forming the Research Surgery Panel, we sought to have it comprised of a diverse group - doctors with differing backgrounds (teaching hospital and district general), at different stages in their career (SpR, recently appointed NHS consultant, established NHS consultant and Senior Lecturer) and with different research interests (stroke, falls, cardiovascular). We hoped to provide a balanced range of opinions. We certainly felt the meeting was a success and hope that the attendees thought so too. We would be grateful for feedback and ways in which you feel the meeting could be improved. We had a number of personal queries at the meeting and will be answering these as soon as possible. If anyone else has a question with regard to research please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jugdeep Dhesi
On behalf on the Trainees’ committee