Project Plan Form
2016-2017 PLAN
Please share with your mentor as guiding document for your work in PLAN (Sept 2016/March 2017).
Section 1 (blue) is due uploaded with the Pathway to PLAN Research Immersion Planning Form.
Additional sections will be completed during the PLAN course.
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The following template will be used to integrate the concepts introduced during the small group sessions,
the personalized interactions with the course instructors, the research mentors and the research area
directors.
This tool provides a practical opportunity to apply what you have learned and will facilitate your transition
to your Research Immersion.
The template will serve as a cumulative working document with previous information continually updated
and improved based on new knowledge and group feedback.
The template is divided in sections and specific assignments to facilitate the progressive development of the
plan.
Although a few projects may not fit the template perfectly, it provides a simple but complete list of elements
common to a structured research plan.
The final project plan must be completed and presented by the end of the course. It will be used to evaluate
your performance during PLAN.
Assignment
number
and due
date
Design element
Your project plan
Student Name
Title
Research Area
Mentor’s name and email address
Planned start month and year
Planned duration of research project
(3-month minimum).
#1
Location  VU or  not-VU, Where:
Assessment of risks for the conduct of the study
List and present alternate plans
Proposed Project Timeline (include deadline for
presentation of completed research project plan)
List the dates for:
From (mm/yy):
Through (mm/yy):
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Literature review update
Update protocol
Data collection
Data Analysis
Write-up*
Presentation*
*May not be applicable
Introduction and Study question
• Describe briefly the scientific background and
rationale.
• State the specific research question that the study is
designed to address (including PICOT elements).
• If hypothesis-driven, state main hypothesis.
Clinical and Public Health Implications
• How will the proposed study advance our knowledge
in the field?
(P) Population
• How will the study population be defined?
• Describe the selection (inclusion/exclusion) criteria.
(I) Intervention/Exposure (E+)
• What will the intervention/exposure be, and how will
it be defined and measured?
(C) Comparator Intervention/Exposure (E-)
• What will the comparison intervention/exposure be,
and how will it be defined and measured?
(O) Outcome or “Disease”
• What will the outcome/disease be, and how will it be
defined and measured?
• Will the study include a “no-disease or control”
comparator group (case-control or cross sectional
study)?
(T) Timing
• What will the time frame for assessing outcomes be
(if cohort)?
• Describe the strategy for follow-up
• What will the time frame for assessing exposures be
(if case-control)?
• What will the time frame for assessing exposure and
outcomes be (if cross-sectional)?
(S) Setting
• What will the study location, relevant dates (overall
years of study), and methods of data collection be?
Study Design
• Descriptive (case report/case series, etc.), ecologic,
cohort (retrospective/prospective), case-control,
cross-sectional, randomized trial.
Strengths
#2
• Highlight particular strength(s) of any key study
elements above.
Limitations
• Are measurement issues anticipated (e.g. use of
imperfect/surrogate measurements)?
• Generalizability - based on selection criteria (e.g. How
will the study population compare to the target
population…who you might apply results to?)
Other Study Variables (called Covariates)
• Describe potential confounders (e.g. variables
associated with both exposure and disease).
Analysis
#3
• Describe statistical methods to be used, including
strategies to control for confounding
Proposed Tables/graphs
• How will results be presented? NOTE: Include no
more than 5 tables/figures in total.
• E.g. Table 1: Number of participants, key study
participant characteristics (demographic, clinical,
social, etc.) information on intervention/exposures
and potential confounders, frequency of
outcomes/disease events
• E.g. Table 2: Main associations
• E.g. Table 3: Additional analyses