Strategic Plan

Mission of TouroCOM Research Laboratories

TouroCOM is committed to promote the health of individuals and populations in the community not only through training physicians, but also through high quality research. The Research Plan for TouroCOM is designed to develop, promote and enhance basic, applied clinical and community-based research with emphasis on issues germane to the local community.

The long-term goal of the Research Plan is to develop and sustain active, nationally and internationally recognized basic science, applied clinical, medical education, and epidemiological research involving the basic science and clinical faculty as well as the students of all ongoing programs. An active research environment within the COM will stimulate and promote faculty development and provide opportunities for professional growth and intellectual satisfaction for the faculty.

TouroCOM research will focus on basic sciences and diagnosis and treatment, both pharmacologic and osteopathic, of infectious diseases, cancer, asthma and allergies, diabetes and hypertension, vascular disorders and stroke, and on aging and developmental disorders.

The following goals are the targets of our research program:

1. To recruit faculty with a background and interest in research.
2. To expand research facilities and to support the research mission.
3. To expand research capabilities and technologies available to our faculty and students.
4. To promote multidisciplinary and collaborative research and to integrate research and education.
5. To establish a faculty and student research development program including the ability of faculty members to apply for extramural funding, and to stimulate faculty research activities by promoting incentives.
6. To make the TouroCOM research activities and achievements available to the public through publications, conferences, science exhibits, web postings, and virtual conferences.

Activities Planned for Academic Years 2020/2021

Continuation of existing research projects and activities

1. Expansion of TouroCOM Faculty Laboratory Research Program
1. Expanding training of faculty in basic laboratory (bench) and clinical research
2. Assisting faculty in developing and conducting new research projects
3. Training and assistance in grant proposal writing and in procurement of extramural funding
4. Continuing and expanding research meetings and seminars with TouroCOM faculty and students
5. Expansion of Research Honors Program for outstanding TouroCOM students
2. Expanding clinical research capabilities
1. Creating an affiliated group of Research Adjunct Faculty from other schools and hospitals and inviting them to lecture and participate in our research seminars and research activities
2. Establishing appropriate protocols, policies and procedures, securing proper licenses and assuring compliance necessary for clinical research
3. Expanding research collaboration with sister Touro colleges and schools and with other extramural research centers
4. Completion of TouroCOM laboratory facilities
1. Completion of TouroCOM Biosafety (BSL3) laboratories
2. Enhancement of the facilities and the addition of equipment at the Middletown laboratory
5. Introducing new laboratory capabilities, research techniques and technologies

Research at TouroCOM

Emphasis on scholarship and research and the commitment to biomedical research

Students are encouraged to undertake research activities either in our research laboratories or in laboratories of other hospitals and institutions affiliated with our school. Students are invited to join and to participate in ongoing research projects of our faculty. In addition, the students that are able to develop their own research projects are assisted in developing research protocols and, if necessary, a necessary equipment/ research tools/reagents/ laboratory disposables are purchased for the use by the student.

Emphasis on biomedical and clinical research starts even before students enter the first year of school. Research and scholarly activities are an important part of interviewing process of D.O. candidates and the overall research and scholarly activities are weighted and are part of the overall score in the admission process.

A student science fair with poster presentations (Touro College Research Day) is held annually to showcase students' research and scientific achievements. Students are encouraged to show their research presentations at national meetings.

TouroCOM's commitment to biomedical research is best illustrated by its extensive research laboratories, built and equipped entirely with TouroCOM funds. The research plan for TouroCOM is designed to develop, promote and enhance basic, applied clinical and community-based research with emphasis on issues germane to the local community.

TouroCOM research laboratories are currently used by TouroCOM students and faculty to conduct several research programs focusing on diagnosis and treatment, both pharmacologic and osteopathic, of infectious diseases, asthma and allergies, diabetes and hypertension, vascular disorders, stroke, aging, developmental disorders, autism, and finally, on oncogenesis.

All faculty members are encouraged and are provided necessary support to conduct research activities. No research project proposed by faculty or by students has ever been denied proper and adequate support.