title: Undergraduate research: an innovative student-centered committee from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concern has been expressed in recent times whether medical schools have adapted sufficiently to cater for the increasing demand of physician-scientists. Studies have shown that research involvement at the undergraduate level is vital to accommodate this growing need. Enhanced communication skills, improved problem-solving abilities and better future employment opportunities are among the other many benefits of undergraduate research (UR). Herein, we report projects run by a unique student driven undergraduate research committee (URC) at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia aimed at providing the future generation of physicians training opportunities for pursuing a research intensive career.
  
  
  METHODS
  The article describes the unique structure of the URC and provides an in-depth description of the various programs and activities used in promoting students' research activities. We analyzed students' perception of URC activities via a questionnaire and analyzed research-output of the first graduating batches through their publication record.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, more than 60% of the graduating students were involved in the various research programs offered by the URC and around 50% published in peer-reviewed journals with an average impact factor of 2.4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research involvement by medical students is an essential need of the twenty-first century and models like URC could provide crucial platform for research training to the new generation of physician-scientists.
authors.affiliation: Alfaisal University , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulhadi A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alamodi
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abu-Zaid
authors.forename: Lucman A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Anwer
authors.forename: Tehreem A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Mohammad Abrar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shareef
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shamia
authors.forename: Salman M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nazmi
authors.forename: Abdullah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alshammari
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rahmatullah
authors.forename: Ammar J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Alsheikh
authors.forename: Ranim A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Chamseddin
authors.forename: Loai M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dweik
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaqinuddin
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002321:Career Choice; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013337:Students, Medical