The Student Training Program is a unit of ODPRN that is devoted to recruiting and training students to conduct drug policy research generally using the administrative databases housed at ICES. Non-funded students can also become involved in the program. However, all students must be supported by a Core Academic Unit (CAU) member and must be pursuing drug policy-relevant research to be eligible for the program.
Program Objectives
The main objectives of the program are:
- To allow the opportunity for students to conduct drug safety and policy research
- To train students in the processes involved in using the administrative databases available at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) when relevant to their project
- To support trainees in their endeavours to work through a drug policy-relevant research project
- To establish a multidisciplinary environment that allows the students to collaborate with individuals, including other trainees, researchers, physicians, and policy-makers
- To expose the trainees to real life policy decision-making processes
Program Components
The successful candidates will be involved in the following program components:
- The main aspect of the training program will involve the undertaking of an independent drug policy research project such as a systematic review, economic analysis, observational study, etc.
- Projects may involve use of Ontario healthcare databases housed at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) if data already exists or if projects can be covered by external funding
- Attendance of webinars where Core Academic Unit (CAU) members and/or policy-makers will present on a specific research area
- Participation in webinars where students will deliver presentations on research progress
- Involvement in a drug policy experience, which may include attendance at policy meetings or telephone correspondence with policy-makers