VY 1

Question 1

Learning Objectives

Answer 1

A. To learn about the types, goals, and approaches in pursuing scientific research in biomedical sciences

B. To understand the dynamic relationships among different types of research in biomedical sciences (basic, pre-clinical, and clinical research)

Question 2

Not all scientific work is __________

Answer 2

hypothesis-driven

Question 3

What is ‘scientific method’?

Answer 3

methods for the collection of ‘UNBIASED AND ROBUST’ data through observation and experimentation, formulation and testing of hypotheses

Question 4

What is the most important ingredient in scientific experimentation?

Answer 4

Controls

Question 5

What can alter observations?

Answer 5

Beliefs

Question 6

What is the aim of ‘basic sciences’?

Answer 6

gain a mechanistic understanding of a biological phenomenon of POSSIBLE IMPORTANCE to understanding human physiology or diseases

Question 7

What should basic science research address?

What should the approach of basic science research be like?

Answer 7

Gain crucial insights on KEY CONCEPT APPLICABLE TO MULTIPLE BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, esp humans, as a whole

Question 8

What are some examples of simpler biological systems used in research?

Answer 8

• bacteria
• yeast
• C. elegans (worm)
• drosophila (fly)
• zebra fish
• mouse

Question 9

What is the aim of pre-clinical research?

Answer 9

• potential clinical entity
• predict its EFFICACY AND SAFETY in particular using in vitro and in vivo methods
• tend to be more FOCUSED AND COULD BE HIGHLY REGULATED due to FDA guidelines
• More on safety > efficacy; as clinical studies also ensures efficacy, and FDA knows that researchers won’t work on something that is not efficacious

Question 10

What is IND and NDA?

Answer 10

IND: declare to the authorities for clinical trials; prevent unnecessary cost if it failed in the clinical w/o passing the IND

NDA (new drug application): report to the authorities for drug registration and marketing

Question 11

What it takes to become a scientist?

Answer 11

• HARDWARE: impt concepts and methodologies
• SOFTWARE: IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY
  AWAKEN YOUR CREATIVE MIND

Question 12

How do we nurture the soft scientific skills?

Answer 12

A: Think great thoughts
B: Make great discoveries
C: Be a great scientist

Question 13

A. How do we think great thoughts?

Answer 13

• Ask qns
• Ask a good qn
• Ask it in a different way
• Read and learn all the time and about everything
• Have time to think
• Connect the dots
• Talk a lot
• Listen as well

Question 14

B. How do we make great discoveries?

Answer 14

• Do lots of experiments
• Think great thoughts (A)
• Notice everything
• Reject nothing

Question 15

C. How to we become a great scientist

Answer 15

• Think great thoughts (A)
• Make great discoveries (B)-
• Hang out w great scientists
• Tell everyone about your great thoughts and your great discoveries
• Never give up

Question 16

What is clinical research?

Answer 16

• predict safety and efficacy in broader patient population

- promising ‘clinical’ entity; using human subjects

Question 17

How is the funding like for biomedical research?

Answer 17

• for basic research: government/charity funds

- for applied research: private funds (cause huge returns in the future)

Question 18

in what directions can research go?

Answer 18

it can go in either direction of the continuum

- bench to bedside or bedside to bench are common