Medical Student Research Institute

Recognizing that research is an integral part of a university, the School of Medicine of St. George’s University (SGU) established the Medical Student Research Institute (MSRI) in 2009 to encourage, support, and centralize medical student research across all four years of the MD program.

The MSRI program provides exceptional students the opportunity to work on faculty-mentored research projects while completing their medical training, thereby fostering a culture of inquiry and academic excellence.

The goals of the MSRI are to:

• Advance SGU’s mission that views research as an essential component of medical education and health care delivery.
• Facilitate collaboration between medical students and faculty in clinical and basic science research.
• Centralize student research within a single institutional structure to share resources across SGU’s multiple campuses and clinical sites.
• Promote and track all scholarly activity undertaken by students and faculty.
• Provide training and online resources to assist students and faculty in conducting and publishing scholarly work.
• Offer outstanding students the opportunity to graduate with a Distinction in Research or a Scholarly Activity Award through publication or conference presentation.

Each MSRI student is matched with a faculty mentor whose expertise aligns with the student’s research interests and career goals.

• Mentors may guide students through existing projects or collaborate to design new studies of mutual interest.
• Faculty mentors devote significant time to advising, reviewing, and helping students achieve a tangible scholarly product, such as a conference abstract or peer-reviewed paper.
• During the Clinical phase, students are paired with experienced Clinical Faculty Mentors who provide practical guidance and ensure research activities integrate seamlessly with clinical training.

Participation in the MSRI requires dedication, professionalism, and consistent engagement throughout the duration of the program.

All MSRI students are expected to:

• Attend all scheduled activities, meetings, and training sessions.
• Complete all required MSRI research courses and assignments by the stated deadlines.
• Obtain and maintain Ethics Certification (or an equivalent recognized credential).
• Maintain professional communication with mentors, peers, and program staff.
• Clearly list St. George’s University, School of Medicine, Grenada as their affiliation on all scholarly outputs.

Due to the program’s intensity, prospective applicants are strongly advised to ensure they are in good academic standing and can commit fully to the program’s demands.

MSRI is divided into Basic Sciences and Clinical Years. For information on the respective programs please contact the persons below:

Michael Montalbano, MD
MSRI Grenada Basic Science Director
mmontal1@sgu.edu

Tarek Almabrouk, MD
MSRI-KBT Basic Science Director
talmabro@sgu.edu

Adnan Saad, MD
MSRI UK Clinicals Director
asaad1@sgu.edu

Ronald Chamberlain, MD
US Clinicals MSRI Director
rchamber@sgu.edu

Ted Gaeta, MD
US Clinicals MSRI Director
tgaeta@sgu.edu

Basic Science MSRI Program Directors (Grenada & Northumbria)

• Dr. Michael Montalbano – Basic Science MSRI Director (Grenada)
  Email: mmontal1@sgu.edu
• Tarek Almabrouk, MD – MSRI-KBT Basic Science Director
  Email:  talmabro@sgu.edu

Clinical Science MSRI Program Directors

• Dr. Theodore Gaeta – U.S. Clinical MSRI Director
  Email: tgaeta@sgu.edu
• Dr. Ronald Chamberlin – U.S. Clinical MSRI Director
  Email: rchamber@sgu.edu
• Dr. Adnan Saad – U.K. Clinical MSRI Director
  Email: adnan.saad@nhs.net

Eligibility

• Students are accepted during Term 2 of Basic Sciences.
• A minimum WMPG of 90.00% in BPM 1 is required to apply and to remain in the program.

Application and Matching Timeline

Timeline	Activity	Responsible Party
BPM 1 – Last Week of Term	Faculty inform MSRI Director of available research slots	Faculty
BPM 2 – First Week	Announcements for applications made during BPM 2 courses and via Sakai	MSRI Office
BPM 2 – Application Period	Students submit online applications ranking their preferred research departments	Students
BPM 2 – After Application Deadline	Faculty review applications and conduct interviews (individual or group)	Faculty & Students
BPM 2 – 1–2 Weeks After Exam 1	Students are notified of matching results	MSRI Director

Online MSRI Course (Grenada)
The Grenada MSRI online course runs for approximately 3 months and includes six modules:

1. Thinking like a Clinical Researcher
2. Research Design, Statistics, and Pitfalls
3. How to Write a Paper for Publication
4. Research Ethics and IRB Requirements
5. Presenting at Conferences (optional)
6. Submitting a Paper (optional)

Students who fail to complete all required assignments and quizzes by the stated deadlines will be dismissed from the program.

Eligibility

• Students must achieve a minimum WMPG of 90.00% in the Foundations to Medicine (FTM) course.
• Students must maintain this average to remain in the program.
• Admission requires approval by the U.K. Director of MSRI (Dr. James Coey).

Application and Matching Timeline

Timeline	Activity	Responsible Party
End of Previous Term	Faculty inform the U.K. MSRI Director of available research slots	Faculty
Orientation Week (Term 1)	Applications announced; students apply via KBT Administration	Students
After FTM Exam 2	U.K. MSRI Director meets with eligible applicants and faculty	MSRI Director
Two Weeks After FTM Exam 2	Students are notified of mentor matching and project scope	MSRI Director

Students may initiate projects in Northumbria during Terms 1–2 and continue their work under Northumbria faculty mentorship if projects extend into their time in Grenada.

Purpose and Scope

The Clinical MSRI Program was established to support and recognize research by students during their Clinical Rotations. It provides structured mentorship, centralized support, and recognition for outstanding scholarly output.

Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum Cumulative WMPG of 90%.
• No timeline issues or remediation of failed courses.
• At least 2.5 years remaining to complete the Clinical Phase.
• No disciplinary or professional behavior violations.

Application Process

All students beginning their clinical rotations receive an invitation to apply. Eligible students complete an online application, reviewed by the relevant Clinical MSRI Director:

• U.K. Students: Dr. Adnan Saad – adnan.saad@nhs.net
• U.S. Students: Dr. Theodore Gaeta – tgaeta@sgu.edu
• U.S. Students: Dr. Ronald Chamberlin – rchamber@sgu.edu

Successful applicants are notified approximately one week after the deadline. The assigned Clinical MSRI Director then facilitates the matching of each student to a faculty mentor based on research interests and clinical site placement.

Program Evaluation

Every six months, both students and faculty mentors must submit progress reports detailing achievements, outputs (e.g., publications or abstracts), and any challenges encountered. Continued participation is contingent on satisfactory progress.