Frequently asked questions about the evaluation of the quality of clinical research

Question

Answer

Why is the evaluation carried out?

A national evaluation of the quality of clinical research is carried out every four years. It provides the basis for the allocation of 20 percent of the total ALF grant for clinical research.

What does ALF stand for?

National agreement on the training of medical doctors, clinical research and development of health care.

What is the process for Uppsala's work with the evaluation?

The preparatory work in Uppsala has been underway for some time and was intensified during the autumn of 2021. A project group, a steering group and three working groups with representation from the university and the region, have been established to deliver the basis for the evaluation.

Who is conducting the evaluation?

The Swedish Research Council (VR) is tasked with carrying out the evaluation.

Why is evaluation so important?

• To maintain and develop excellent clinical research in Uppsala, in collaboration between Uppsala University Hospital (Akademiska sjukhuset) and Uppsala University.
• A considerable part of the ALF funding is allocated based on how we are doing in the evaluation.
• The results of the evaluation affect our future opportunities to fund research.
• The evaluation gives us the opportunity to present Uppsala as an attractive environment for clinical research.

How is the evaluation done?

• The Swedish Research Council (VR) will contact a number of clinically active researchers and doctoral students, who will be asked to answer a questionnaire about the research environment at the hospital and the university.
• Representatives from the University Medical Board (USS) and the University Medical Board Executive Committee (USN) will be interviewed by international experts (hearings).
• Three internationally composed panels evaluate and assess the dossier that we as an ALF region submit.

What is being evaluated?

The parts that are evaluated are the quality of scientific production, the clinical significance and societal benefit of research, and the prerequisites for research.

When will the evaluation be carried out?

The evaluation work will continue in 2022 and VR's final report will be published in early 2023.

Who can participate in the evaluation?

During this spring, a number of clinically active researchers and doctoral students will be selected by the Swedish Research Council (VR) to answer a questionnaire about the research environment at the hospital and the university.

How can I, as a researcher/doctoral student, contribute to a good result?

The evaluators will have access to a compilation of the answers to the questionnaires. This will be part of  the basis for the evaluation. A positive image contributes to a high rating and thus, by extension, resources for research in Uppsala.

Where can I find more information about the ALF evaluation?

• Information about Uppsala's internal work with the evaluation can be found at www.medfarm.uu.se/collaboration/alf/
• It is also possible to contact the project managers for Uppsala's internal work with the evaluation, by sending an e-mail to alf.medfarm@uu.se
• Further information can be found on the Swedish Research Council's website Vetenskapsrådet (vr.se)

Is there a plan to work with communication around the ALF evaluation?

• The project team working on the ALF evaluation has engaged a professional writer, who will review the texts to facilitate understanding and reading flow.
• A communication plan with priority activities has been established to ensure involvement of stakeholders, channels, objectives and purpose for communication around the evaluation.

There are two similar evaluations underway during the same period. What sets them apart?

One evaluation concerns the quality of clinical research in the ALF regions and is carried out by the Swedish Research Council (VR). The other one concerns university hospital health care and is carried out by the National Board of Health and Welfare – Socialstyrelsen.

Who evaluates what?

VR evaluates the research. Socialstyrelsen evaluates the university hospital health care.

How is Socialstyrelsens evaluation bias handled?

Socialstyrelsen collects the accounts of all the experts they hire, and make an assessment on a case-by-case basis. An expert should not evaluate the activities in which they are involved. It is Socialstyrelsen that makes the final assessment based on the data collected and decides on the report that is published.

What is the time span for the references underlying the cases that will be part of the evaluation?

Published 2000-2020

What is the time span for the 44 publications to be selected as a basis for the evaluation?

Published 2016-2020