Given the importance of the research component to respond to phenomena and problems demanded by society ⁽¹⁾, at Universidad Ricardo Palma, research has been fostered and promoted as an institutional policy. The Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas, which reports to the Rectorate and is integrated into the Facultad de Medicina Humana, has been working to contribute substantially to this growth in research.

Research is directly related to the quality processes of higher education, innovation, extension, linking, licensing, accreditation, and finally, the ranking of universities. As is evident, research is linked to the present and the future of universities. Therefore, measuring the impact of research is essential because educational institutions are and must be permanent generators of intellectual property, knowledge and human resources, which impact the educational, scientific, economic and social sectors.⁽¹⁾

Indicators have become key instruments to improve decision-making in the management of institutions and for a better definition, development, and evaluation of policies, reforms and programs. To support the evaluation and decision-making relevant to the definition and implementation of policies that promote research, it is essential to generate updated and reliable information for use and analysis by those responsible for these processes. ⁽²⁾

In this editorial, we present thirteen of the research management indicators of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas of Universidad Ricardo Palma, grouped into 5 categories: A) Human resources and research lines, B) Infrastructure, technology and budget, C) Projects and publications, D) Research-Teaching Articulation. Events and Training Courses, and E) Student participation and sustained theses (Table 1).

The management indicators shown by the INICIB⁽³⁾, their purpose is to evaluate the performance technically and objectively of the different dimensions of the work of the Institute that is in charge of the research function, providing the information that allows detecting areas of performance and taking advantage of opportunities to optimize said functions.

Gathering the critical mass of researchers and exceeding 5% of research professors in the Facultad de Medicina Humana, with various specialties, including experts from other disciplines, has been possible in the context of the 100 x 100 URP Special Program⁽⁵⁾. The University and the Institute have clearly defined 2021-2026 research priorities in accordance with national priorities. Based on this definition, it is essential to finance or sponsor research that addresses these priorities. The validity and continuity of the work of the Research Ethics Committee plays a fundamental role in the research process.

The University generated the conditions and approved the special 100 x 100 URP Program to promote scientific production, which allowed for the incorporation of research professors, assigning bonuses, and providing support for translations of articles and publications in high-impact journals. The year 2022 began the development of research laboratories, with significant infrastructure and technology investments. Other programs, such as the incentive program for professors who publish, the support program for participation in national and international events, the annual program for financing research projects, among others, reflect the vision and political will of the University.

If we consider scientific production as the highest indicator of the results of scientific activity, this should be the fundamental criterion for measuring research activity. Moreover, the indicators are helpful in the information and decision-making process, as statistical and management information, as system productivity information and for political use.⁽⁵⁾

A significant step is transferring research to future generations of doctors through teaching various academic subjects. As a result, diverse research training activities have been developed. Each year an average of 160 theses are supported and approved. Research must be considered as a means of professional, technological, and economic development of society and not an end to graduate⁽⁶⁾. Another strategy to promote and motivate quality theses has been the “Contest and award for the best theses each year”. In addition, participation in scientific events has been achieved to disseminate the work of researchers and the results obtained.

In universities, research centers, institutes, and laboratories, it is inherent to focus on evaluating scientific work. This evaluation should be an institutionalized activity, playing a significant role for the development and proper management. We can consider that research is a complex activity that requires a series of indicators that allow us to evaluate each of the aspects in order to obtain a global vision of scientific efficacy or performance.⁽⁶⁾

Research evaluation can play an essential role in the development of science and its interactions with society. In addition, research indicators can provide crucial information that would be difficult to aggregate or understand from individual experiences. Both quantitative and qualitative evidence are necessary in universities to support decisions related to science, since these have to be made based on high-quality processes and data⁽⁷⁾

With the research management indicators mentioned above, we have built the foundations to project sustained and progressive growth in scientific production, teamwork, respect, ethics, and academic integrity. The most significant current and future challenge of those to come will be how to ensure the sustainability and identity of researchers, the necessary allocation of budgets, as well as the effective coordination of the various levels of decision-making within the institution.