BMJ to support KSA's medical researchers in developing research skills

October 11, 2015: BMJ, one of the world’s leading healthcare knowledge providers, will visit doctors, students and researchers across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from October 12 to 17, 2015 to help them develop their research skills and learn how to write papers that can get published in top journals. Dr. Trish Groves, Deputy Editor and Head of Research at The BMJ and Editor-in-Chief of BMJ Open, an international online journal will present a workshop on ‘BMJ Research Capabilities - How to Get Your Research Papers Published’ at the 2nd Saudi International Conference on Scientific Publishing 2015 at King Saud University in Riyadh.

Following her workshop, Dr. Groves will travel to six leading universities across the KSA to deliver workshops to groups of medical students, researchers and faculty staff. She will make her first stop at the Princess Nourah University and Alfaisal University on October 12, 2015, followed by Kau Hospital in Jeddah on October 13. From there, Dr. Groves will visit King Fahad Medical City and King Saud University on October 14, the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs on October 15, and finally to Dammam University on October 17.

In addition, Dr. Ahmad Risk, BMJ Clinical Director, KSA, will visit a number of medical schools over the coming months, providing ongoing support to students and researchers. 

The workshops are based on BMJ’s new online e-learning programme ‘Research to Publication’ which provides early career researchers with the knowledge and skills they need to become published authors. The online training programme, in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco, comprises stand-alone, self-study modules that guide learners through the process of designing, conducting, writing, submitting, and publishing their work in an international journal.

Dr. Groves said: “With BMJ’s expertise and global reputation as a leading provider of trusted evidence-based support for doctors, researchers and patients, we are ideally placed to help with the journal publication process. By helping nations better plan, do, and publish research, they can ultimately deliver better healthcare. We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with students and researchers across the region.”

To mark the launch of the programme, BMJ in partnership with Saudi Digital Library (SDL) is offering five students the chance to win 12 months of complimentary access through a Research Capabilities Award. The five lucky winners will receive a year’s access to Research to Publication as well as expert guidance from Dr. Groves and the opportunity to publish their work in BMJ Open.

“We are delighted to work with our partners at SDL to help inspire and support healthcare researchers in KSA with the most relevant knowledge for success,” concluded Dr Ahmad Risk.