ABSTRACT
Developing research in a department de novo depends upon both motivation and capacity. Although it is possible to develop research from within, the use of external collaborative relationships may facilitate research development. The Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Missouri has classified research programs into some stages. Aside from programs with no research activity, programs can be classified as those with emerging, entrepreneurial, or sustainable research. Departments that lack a history of scholarship pose the greatest challenge. Entrepreneurial programs rely upon the diversity of skill sets within its investigators to be able to respond successfully to new directions in funding. Once research is established, simply doing "more of the same" will not move the research program to the next level; rather, a specific plan must be developed and implemented. Once research activity has begun within the department, it must be continuously reinforced.
