The Master’s Research Paper (MRP) is a milestone requirement for students in the MPharm program. The milestone requires students to complete a non-thesis research project to address an important problem related to an area of medication use or clinical practice, and orally defend their completed research to the satisfaction of the research paper advisory committee.
To satisfy this milestone requirement, students must write a protocol and conduct all aspects of the research including:
- obtaining ethics approval
- recruiting participants
- data collection
- data analysis
- preparation of the final report.
The MRP must be evaluated by at least two faculty members, one of whom should be the student's research supervisor.
Research areas
MPharm Research Papers should address an important clinical or practice issue with their project and constitute original research. Students will identify a research question in collaboration with their research supervisor, based on interest, importance and need and will work with their research supervisor who will be primarily responsible for ensuring that the learning outcomes associated with the research project are achieved.
Active areas of research include, but are not limited to:
- Anticoagulation
- Assessment of value and impact of clinical and professional pharmacy services
- Applied pharmacokinetics, drug interactions
- Geriatric care, frailty, and dementia
- Health technology
- Impact of pharmacists as immunizers, travel medicine
- Pharmacotherapy and pharmacoepidemiology of diabetes
- Pharmacoeconomics related to treatment of hepatitis C infection
- Primary care, rural health
- Oncology
- Opioid use and harm reduction
- Neurological diseases
- Nutrition
- Self-care and pharmacist prescribing for common ailments
Follow the link to review current faculty research areas.
Research supervision
Students will identify a primary research supervisor (or co-supervisors) within the first month of the program* whose research expertise aligns with their own interests in an area that is clinically relevant.
The primary research supervisor must be a faculty member in the School of Pharmacy. In the case of co-supervision, at least one co-supervisor must be a faculty member in the School of Pharmacy.
Collaborators may be invited to participate in the research project at the discretion of the primary research supervisor. For example, if the student wishes to conduct research at a practicum site, the site may have a research advisor to support the project.
MPharm Master’s Research Paper Supervisor Appointment
The supervisor of the Master’s Research Paper is appointed using the declaration of supervisor form, which must be completed by the student, signed by the supervisor, and submitted to the School for approval.
Role of the primary research supervisor
In addition to the roles and responsibilities of research supervisors as outline in the Guide for Graduate Research and Supervision, the purpose of the primary research supervisor (or co-supervisors) is to provide guidance to the student as they complete their research project, including but not limited to:
- Arranging the second reader for final assessment of the Master’s Research Paper
- Ensuring that the learning outcomes associated with the research project are achieved
- Ensuring the research project adheres to the standards for researchand is feasible to be completed within the timeline given
- Guiding in all aspects of the research including obtaining research ethics, recruitment of participants, data collection, data analysis and preparation of a final manuscript and presentation
- Approval of the proposal research project
- Reading and assessing the final Research Paper
- Attending and assessing the final Research Paper presentation
In a co-supervisory situation, if one co-supervisor is not from the School of Pharmacy, an additional faculty member at the School of Pharmacy must act as second reader.
Research proposal
Students are expected to develop a research proposal normally by the end of the first term. To ensure they have time to obtain ethics approval and complete the research project in a timely manner, students are encouraged to complete the proposal as early as possible.
Students are encouraged to attend the Scientific Writing and Searching Workshop prior to beginning work on their research proposal. This workshop is normally offered once at the beginning of each term by the School of Pharmacy Liaison Librarian, in collaboration with a member of the University’s Writing and Communication Centre.
The Liaison Librarian is also available for one-on-one appointments. Refer to the Research and writing resources page in the Current MPharm student landing page for more information.
Research outline
It is recommended that students follow the accepted format for thesis papers, even though the scope of the MPharm research project is not as broad.
The research outline should include:
- Title page
- Abstract
- Table of contents
- Table of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Objective(s) of the research and a testable hypothesis
- Proposed methods
- Significance of the research
- List of references
Research proposal assessment
The primary research supervisor (or co-supervisors) is (are) responsible for providing final approval of the research proposal before the student is allowed to proceed with the research.
Research ethics
Students are responsible for obtaining research ethics approval, with guidance from their primary supervisor (or co-supervisors). Research supervisors will support their students in obtaining necessary ethics training and approval, if necessary. Refer to the Office of Research Ethics for details.
Final research paper and oral presentation
Students are required to make an oral presentation of their completed research to the satisfaction of the primary supervisor and second reader to complete degree requirements. Final Research Paper presentations will normally be scheduled during the final exam period of the third and final term of the program.
Before giving the research presentation, students must submit their publication-ready manuscript to the School and obtain approval from the primary supervisor to present. Students are required to name a target journal on their title page and format their manuscript accordingly.
Students must submit their final research paper at least two weeks ahead of the oral presentation to allow the readers adequate time to review the final manuscript.
Assessment of the final research paper and oral presentation
The final Research Paper must report findings from original research and be suitable for submission for publication in an academic journal. The primary supervisor (or co-supervisors) will be responsible for ensuring the final written format fulfills this requirement.
Possible outcomes:
Accepted
The student has passed the milestone, and nothing further is required.
Passed conditionally
The candidate must complete revisions to the satisfaction of the primary supervisor.
Re-examine
There are significant concerns with the submitted work. The candidate must complete revisions to the satisfaction of the research paper advisory committee and re-present their work. Students should arrange fees for the following term as it is expected that they will need an additional term to meet their degree requirements.
Failed
The candidate is required to withdraw from the program.