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Scientific Structure
REPAR’s scientific structure has been created in accordance with its area of research focus:
“Human research may be categorized into one of the following four dimensions of the conceptual model: 1) impairments; 2) disabilities; 3) obstacles and 4) handicap situations, as well as the relationships between these various dimensions. Primary impairments at the root of disabilities and handicap situations must fall into the following categories: 1) musculoskeletal; 2) neurological or 3) sensory. Multidisciplinary projects conducted in collaboration with clinical settings are preferred. Pharmaceutical research is excluded.”
Within REPAR’s area of research focus, specific themes are to be expanded upon by groups of researchers. These groups are to be multidisciplinary, include cooperation from various universities, encompass many of the four methodologies (i.e., clinical, epidemiological, evaluative, basic research) and bring together full researchers, associates, clinicians and student members.
These groups are to be placed under the guidance of a coordinator, with full researcher status, who has been recommended by the members of the group, accepted by the Scientific Council and appointed by the Board of Directors. The coordinator will be responsible for inspiring the group to develop a research program that brings together initiatives of both researchers and clinicians within a specific research theme. Specific projects are to be developed within this program so that group members can draw up grant applications to submit to the FRSQ or another peer review funding agency or other agencies.
Research theme coordinators will submit an annual activity report to the Scientific Council, upon which they will sit as ex-officio members. Activity reports will include a summary of the work carried out and a development proposal, which will be submitted for review by a peer committee appointed by the SC. The Scientific Council, in view of this evaluation and the established research priorities, will make recommendations to the Board of Directors pertaining to the program’s continuation and its funding needs.
Research theme coordinators will receive a development budget to coordinate and develop small pilot projects (e.g., bibliographical reviews, pre-test of a tool or a method, etc.) to help set up the program and projects. The coordinator will spend the budget in consultation with the group members. The Scientific Council will conduct a post-assessment of the research program’s progress with respect to the scientific and budgetary plans in accordance with the above-mentioned method. However, the SC will welcome any applications for intermediary assessments that the SC will conduct with the help of a peer committee.
Preferential research themes are to be discussed by the Scientific Council so that they continue to fully comply with REPAR’s area of research focus, as well as enhance knowledge and adapt to the evolution of science in the field of rehabilitation. Once a research theme has reached sufficient autonomy through external funding, support from REPAR will be decreased in order to foster the emergence of new research themes.
The Scientific Council may act through debate or through a call for proposals among the network’s full researchers in order to determine which groups are to be favoured. Selected proposals will be submitted to the Board of Directors. The SC will recommend the number of groups to be favoured and this number will be determined by the Board of Directors based on scientific priorities and REPAR’s budget.
All projects must be approved by a Quebec research ethics committee before receiving financial support from REPAR.
Every year, both the Scientific Council and the Board of Directors review the selection of favoured groups.
SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL (SC)
The Scientific Council advises the Board of Directors on scientific matters: groups and research themes that are to be favoured, scientific evaluations (projects, grants, team applications, memberships, REPAR internal evaluation, etc.), development, scientific relationships between researchers and research teams and any other science-related topics.
The Scientific Council ensures that the network’s scientific objectives are met. The SC deliberates on scientific topics upon request by the Board of Directors or on its own initiative. The SC only plays a consultative role and all recommendations must be submitted to the Scientific Director and approved by the Board of Directors before being adopted.
The SC acts as a peer committee and appoints internal members of the SC or external members to review evaluation applications that it receives. The evaluation method must be similar to that of FRSQ peer committees. Evaluations are submitted to the Scientific Director for final decisions.
Composition of the Scientific Council:
The composition of the Scientific Council is consistent with REPAR’s scientific structure.
The Scientific Council is made up of fifteen (15) members, consisting of eleven (11) researchers (including research theme coordinators and other members while keeping an optimal balance among the research groups), two (2) clinicians and two (2) students, while ensuring that all themes and types of research are represented.
Researchers on the Scientific Council are nominated by researchers from each research theme and appointed by the Board of Directors.
Both of the clinician members are nominated at REPAR’s General Assembly and voted in by the clinicians in attendance.
Both of the student representatives are nominated at REPAR’s General Assembly and voted in by the students in attendance.
The chair is chosen among the members of the Scientific Council that is voted in and appointed by the Board of Directors. The chair holds the deciding vote. His/her mandate lasts for two years (which can be renewed once).
The mandate of each member of the Scientific Council is two (2) years with the possibility of renewal.
One of the members of the Scientific Council is appointed secretary. The secretary, in collaboration with the chair, is responsible for calling meetings and preparing the minutes.
Notifications of meetings must be done in collaboration with REPAR’s secretary at least one month in advance, unless the Scientific Council decides otherwise.
Minutes are available no later than two business weeks following the conclusion of a meeting.
Notifications, agendas and minutes will be distributed via the website and are only available to members with a special access code.
The Scientific Council receives an operating budget.
Every year, the Scientific Council Chair receives a scientific report from the research theme coordinators as well as other groups and forwards it to the Board of Directors.
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