University Multidisciplinary Research Network in Territorial Primary Care
The network's vision and missions
The MUST national network was created in 2024 with the aim of encouraging initiatives and facilitating the implementation of multidisciplinary and collaborative clinical research projects in primary care. It was awarded the F-CRIN label in September 2024.
MUST aims to structure and coordinate national and international research projects by mobilizing investigative centers (MSP-U/CDS-U and MSP/CDS) demonstrating expertise and activity in primary care clinical research.
The network's objectives are to:
- To bring research as close as possible to the patient: in conjunction with the players concerned and involved, to develop research directly as close as possible to the patient (maisons de santé pluriprofessionnelles, health centers,...) by integrating and optimizing actions already underway.
- Meet patients' needs, by contributing to better prevention of frequent pathologies with a high impact in terms of public health, such as chronic diseases like diabetes, or cardiovascular, respiratory, psychiatric diseases...
- Federate healthcare teams engaged in regional research and support them in carrying out national and international projects.
- Structure and develop research activity: optimize existing practices and guarantee their quality.
- Train new healthcare professionals in primary care research and promote research that is integrated into GPs' daily practice.
- Collect data in primary care using the P4DP Platform for data in primary care https://www.p4dp.fr
.
Network organization
The network is coordinated by Professors Julie Dupouy and Cédric Rat, and is supported by the Collège National des Généralistes Enseignants (CNGE).
Operational coordination, the network's "front door", is handled by the coordination team comprising the co-coordinators, Prof. Julie Dupouy and Prof. Cédric Rat, and the network project manager.
The co-coordinators, with the support of the project manager, are responsible for implementing the chosen orientations and the network's strategic and scientific decisions, including those taken by the Steering Committee. The coordinating team's missions include:
- Leading and promoting a collective clinical research dynamic (organizing meetings and providing summaries)
- Acting as an interface between promoters and network members
- Centralizing information and ensuring its dissemination to all members
- Ensuring the implementation and execution of projects and actions common to all members
- . common to all members
- Set up and ensure the collection of indicators for monitoring network activity
- Draw up the network's annual activity report
- Organize communication on behalf of the network
- Interface with certification bodies and partner organizations
- Work towards the development, the sharing and transmission of expertise within the network
- Propose areas of work and strategic development
- Work to ensure the network's long-term future, in particular by seeking financial support and building a business model
.
The Steering Committee is made up of the co-coordinators, the network project manager, the referents from each university site and a methodologist (if validation of participation in a project is on the agenda).
The Steering Committee is responsible for the network's strategic and scientific decisions, its smooth running, and the implementation of the chosen orientations. To this end, at the beginning of each year, it draws up an annual report N on the network's activities, objectives and an action plan for year N+1. It also validates the network's participation in future research projects and responses to calls for projects, the organization of training courses and events, and the harmonization of practices within the network.
.
On the basis of the activity report for year N and the objectives for year N+1 issued by the Steering Committee, the Strategy Committee is responsible for evaluating the network's activity in terms of response and achievement of strategy and objectives. It makes recommendations and suggests areas for improvement.
CNGE
The Collège National des Généralistes Enseignants (CNGE) is an association dedicated to the training and promotion of general medicine as an academic and scientific discipline. Founded in 1983, the CNGE supports teaching, research in primary care, and the continuing professional development of general practitioners. It brings together 14,000 general medicine teachers and internship supervisors, encourages research and collaborates with academic and healthcare institutions to harmonize the training of future doctors. The CNGE also organizes scientific and educational events (such as the Annual Congress and the Assises de la recherche en soins primaires), training courses, and is involved in national and international research projects. The journal exercer, published by the CNGE, is a reference in general medicine.
