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About the EAPC Research Network

The EAPC Research Network Junior Forum

The EAPC Research Network Junior Forum, JF, is a platform for education, communication and collaboration amongst junior researchers. It hopes to serve as a meeting place where individuals can learn about research, share experiences and develop the skills necessary to lead palliative care research into the 21st Century. The aim of this initiative is to build a strong foundation for the provision of high quality, effective and collaborative palliative care research which will produce better palliative care at a clinical, scientific and social level.

The JF evolved from the desire of young researchers to become an integral part of the solution to providing better palliative care. The initiative has been motivated by the wish of young researchers to work with international colleagues with similar levels of experience and share the excitement and challenges faced in this field of medicine. The JF was launched in a separate session at the 5th Research Forum of the EAPC in Trondheim in May 2008.

Summary of Conference Feedback on the EAPCRN Junior Forum

EAPCRN Junior Forum is a place where members would like to…..
Learn about	General principles of research; what research ‘is’ and ‘is not’ Trial methodologies : choosing the right one Statistics and data analysis
Find out how to	Get started in research Write a research curriculum vitae (CV) Get your work published Write grants and get funding
Have detailed discussions on	How to do a PhD Pitfalls and difficulties in research Strategies for problem solving
Be involved in	Group discussion Social activities
Have the opportunity to	Share ideas and expertise Learn about each other’s work Discuss topics directly with interested parties Meet international research partners, including those representing psychological medicine, social sciences and humanities

EAPCRN Junior Forum will be important because …..
It offers the opportunity for	Sharing ideas with others The transfer of knowledge and information Discussion Social and scientific networking Young researchers to present their own work Young researchers to ask questions
It has the potential to	Enhance training and boost education in research related topics Help ‘neglected’ areas of research gain acknowledgment Facilitate multi-centred trials through collaboration Establish a strong foundation for the future of research Enable Palliative Care to lead the field in the training of ‘young researchers’
It will help	Individuals to get started in research Young researchers develop skills for research Young researchers make the most out of their research experience Disseminate information about educational and collaborative opportunities Counter the ‘isolation’ sometimes felt by young researchers Teach young researchers more about work of EAPC Make it easier for young researchers to get to know one another

EAPCRN Junior Forum might achieve its goals through …..
An “on line” forum	For dissemination of information As a platform for discussion As a portal for ‘online’ courses in research-related topics Where individual’s research work can be highlighted Where research opportunities can be advertised
A secure webpage	Where individual’s can post their research profiles
Satellite conference at EAPC meetings (ie half day session)	For lectures on specific themes given by experts For young researchers to present their own experience of research For presentations on research-related topics Where researchers can meet via concept of ‘speed dating’
“Summer School” Programme	To foster informal internships and visiting scholar exchanges With view to developing specific PhD / ‘masterclass’ programmes With a view to developing educational courses
An Organizing Committee	Formed and convened via on line forum Led by the needs and involvement of JF members
Coordination	With PhD / teaching programmes already being established ie from Australia and USA

EAPCRN Junior Forum should be cautious not to …..
Reinvent the wheel	By setting up courses which are already readily available
Neglect areas of research	By failing to represent properly less mainstream fields of research

Further (more detailed) thoughts and feedback suggestions included;
Questions which should be addressed when ‘learning about research’;

What is it about?
What is it like?
Where do I start?
Is it for me?
Should I do this?
How do I do it?
Who can I turn to for advice?
How does research work?

An ‘Online’ forum could include

Online bulletin board
Wiki- environments
Article of the month
JF blog
‘Toolbox’ of getting started in research – questions and answers addressed, practical advice
A source of Information on courses and conferences
A checklist of skills required/desired in research
Forum for sharing ideas and information through concept of ‘social networking forum’ ie facebook

Secure webpage could ;

Contain Information on members such as name, contact details, area of research, supervisors etc
Act as pinboard for collaborators
Central trial register – to find out what’s going on where

Educational programmes could include finding out about;

How to obtain and secure funding (as the central point of research)
What infrastructures are available for junior researchers in their country?
What (and where) research opportunities are available? – MSc, MD, PhD – and how to make these meaningful experiences
What opportunities are available after your period of research or after you have gained your MD/PhD? What opportunities are there for an ‘academic career’ at a national/international level?

Other ideas and activities could include;

Mentoring: Experts/Seniors being offered the opportunity to mentor young researchers
Learn about infrastructure for research in different countries
Representation on Training Boards/ Research bodies to help understand requirements of and/or obtain resources for doing research at Registrar level