By Kathy Rembisz   Biomedical Research Alliance of New York (BRANY) released a new research protocol template specifically designed to address the unique needs of social-behavioral-educational researchers. This launch comes as part of Protocol Builder, a secure, cloud-based protocol writing application. This special template provides a guided, step-by- step protocol-writing process for investigators who specialize in psychology, nursing, educa- tion and other disciplines that are focused on behavioral and social functioning. “Social and behavioral research is distinct from biomedical research,” said Jeffrey Cohen, Ph.D., a principal with HRP Consulting Group, a division of BRANY. “The process of writing a protocol can be more subtle than an interventional drug study, for example,” said Cohen. He explained that while biomedical researchers are generally accustomed to preparing, sub- mitting and following...

Most medical schools, as part of the graduate medical curriculum, require residents to conduct at least one research project. These projects are designed to give clinicians early in their career an opportunity to manage a project, understand the importance of well-designed clinical research and to improve their communication skills. This may be the first time a resident goes through the entire process of writing a clinical research protocol that must undergo the rigorous review by their superiors and the IRB. Some institutions provide the resident with a mentor, or preceptor. But in some cases, the resident must rely on other sources for assistance, such as fellows or the medical librarian. A successful residency research project starts with a strong, well-developed protocol....