RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Role of non-government organizations in engaging medical students in research JF Journal of Investigative Medicine JO J Investig Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 709 OP 716 DO 10.1136/jim-2016-000348 VO 65 IS 3 A1 Branavan Manoranjan A1 Ayan K Dey A1 Xin Wang A1 Alexandra Kuzyk A1 Karen Petticrew A1 Chris Carruthers A1 Ian Arnold YR 2017 UL http://hw-f5-jim.highwire.org/content/65/3/709.abstract AB The continued decline in medical trainees entering the workforce as clinician-scientists has elevated the need to engage medical students in research. While past studies have shown early exposure to generate interest among medical students for research and academic careers, financial constraints have limited the number of such formal research training programs. In light of recent government budget cuts to support research training for medical students, non-government organizations (NGOs) may play a progressively larger role in supporting the development of clinician-scientists. Since 2005, the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation has sponsored 621 Canadian medical student research projects, which represents the largest longitudinal data set of Canadian medical students engaged in research. We present the results of the pre- and post-research studentship questionnaires, program evaluation survey and the 5-year and 10-year follow-up questionnaires of past recipients. This paper provides insight into the role of NGOs as stakeholders in the training of clinician-scientists and evaluates the impact of such programs on the attitudes and career trajectory of medical students. While the problem of too few physicians entering academic and research-oriented careers continues to grow, alternative-funding strategies from NGOs may prove to be an effective approach in developing and maintaining medical student interest in research.