In response to emerging challenges and societal demands, Universidad Ricardo Palma has reinforced its commitment to research as a fundamental pillar of its institutional policy. Over recent years, Instituto de Investigaciones de Ciencias Biomédicas (INICIB), affiliated with the Rectorate and the Faculty of Human Medicine, has made significant progress, consolidating its contribution to the university's research development.

Research management is a key focus at the Instituto de Investigaciones de Ciencias Biomédicas of Universidad Ricardo Palma. From the Rectorate and the Vice-Rectorate for Research, clear policies are established for the development of the research system, the strengthening of productive groups, and the provision of incentives and stimuli to encourage research and promote the ongoing construction of a scientific community. It is essential to assess whether the resources allocated to research have a positive impact on the university, and to quantify and evaluate trends and evolution over time ⁽¹⁾.

Recognizing research as a critical axis that drives the quality of higher education, innovation, and social commitment, this activity has been integrated into our licensing and accreditation processes, which has positively impacted our university's ranking. Research not only reflects the current state of the institution but also shapes its future, positioning it as a benchmark in the generation of intellectual property, knowledge, and human resources that impact educational, scientific, economic, and social realms ⁽²⁾.

Restrepo & Zabala (2016) state that the challenge for universities is to design clear indicators that allow for the evaluation of performance and the achievement of their objectives, and that serve to structure action plans and programs in line with their mission principles. Research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) activities play a fundamental role in defining competitive strategies for universities; hence the importance of their appropriate planning, optimal execution, and accurate measurement ⁽³⁾.

Over the past few years, we have implemented key indicators that have improved decision-making in management and facilitated a more precise evaluation of our policies, reforms, and academic programs. The generation of up-to-date and reliable data is now a standard practice at our institute, ensuring that information serves those responsible for defining and implementing policies that promote robust and relevant research ⁽⁴⁾. This approach represents a dynamic process that includes continuous reevaluation and adaptation to changes in scientific practice and institutional needs.

These efforts reflect our commitment not only to maintaining but also to continuously improving our academic and research standards, underscoring the vital role that Universidad Ricardo Palma plays in advancing science and technology nationally and internationally.

In this editorial, we highlight the performance and achievements reached in thirteen key research management indicators of the Instituto de Investigaciones de Ciencias Biomédicas of Universidad Ricardo Palma. The results, covering the year 2023, are organized into five essential categories: A) Human Resources and Research Lines: Increase in research faculty and greater student participation in research, with ongoing lines until 2026 (Table 1). B) Infrastructure, Technology, and Budget: Development of laboratories and advanced technology, with a 100% increase in budget (Table 2). C) Projects and Publications: Funding for multiple projects and increase in high-impact publications (Table 3). D) Research-Teaching Integration, Events, and Courses: Improvement in the integration of research and teaching, and the holding of events and training courses (Table 4). E) Student Participation and Sustained Theses: High student participation in degree courses and an increase in sustained theses (Table 5). This compendium of indicators and achievements reflects the Institute's commitment to excellence in research and education, setting a benchmark for future efforts in the biomedical field.

During 2023, the Instituto de Investigaciones de Ciencias Biomédicas of Universidad Ricardo Palma has consolidated its research processes, showing significant advances in high-quality scientific production and in attracting resources for the funding of its research projects, reflecting robust growth in both areas compared to 2022 ⁽⁵⁾.

In the realm of scientific production, the indicators reflect sustained growth exceeding the established goals. According to the SCOPUS index, the growth in scientific output was more than 30%, significantly surpassing the planned target of 20%. This increase is particularly notable in the publication of articles in journals categorized within Q1 and Q2 quartiles, where more than eight articles were published during the year. This achievement emphasizes the international relevance and high impact of the research conducted at the institute.

Publishing in Q1 and Q2 quartile journals is essential because these represent the most prestigious and impactful journals in the scientific field. These publications ensure significant visibility within the international scientific community and contribute decisively to the academic prestige and research influence of the University. Moreover, such publications are crucial for attracting high-level collaborations, competitive funding, and top-tier research talent, which are essential for maintaining and enhancing the quality and innovation in future research projects ^{(6, 7)}.

Regarding resource acquisition, the institute has stood out for its ability to attract external funding, as demonstrated by securing a project funded by PROCIENCIA-CONCYTEC with a budget of half a million soles for a project on inflammatory markers in Peruvian breast cancer patients. For the first time, INICIB-URP, along with three Oncological Centers in Peru: INEN in Lima, IREN-North in Trujillo, and IREN-South in Arequipa, are participating collaboratively in this clinical research venture. This complements the ongoing efforts in self-financing, where twenty projects were completed, five more than initially projected. Additionally, the research budget grew by more than 100%, far exceeding the 25% target proposed for 2023. This budgetary growth reflects not only greater investment in infrastructure and technology but also increased confidence in the institute's capacity to manage and expand its research effectively ⁽⁸⁾.

These advancements demonstrate not only the institute's commitment to excellence in research but also its ability to manage resources that enhance scientific production and technological development. The ability to exceed goals in scientific production and financial resource acquisition positions the institute as a leader in biomedical research in the region, with clear positive impacts on academic training and contribution to global scientific knowledge.

The formulation of standardized measurement indicators for science, technology, and innovation at international, regional, and institutional levels remains a constant need. In 2022, we proposed the design of an indicator system tailored to the characteristics of university institutions and the current trends in the Latin American region. The use and analysis of these indicators allow us to establish patterns, trends, and regularities in the organization that favor the institutional management of knowledge about the processes of science, technology, and innovation. Research management is directly linked to the university's capacity for the generation, dissemination, and evaluation of new knowledge ⁽⁹⁾.

This progress is a cornerstone for future initiatives, where the institute is expected to continue expanding its influence and capacity in scientific research, maintaining its focus on quality and international relevance of its contributions. Additionally, the solid infrastructure and resources acquired will enable addressing more complex and competitive scientific challenges at a global level, ensuring sustainability and continued growth in scientific production and technological innovation.

http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?script=sci_serial&pid=2223-2516&lng=en&nrm=iso

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