Research is usually the culmination of study during the undergraduate  medical internship, a period that integrates clinical practice with academics. In most nations, there is an opportunity to conduct research during this period, which is an invaluable tool, though it also brings numerous difficulties and restrictions.

Conducting research in predoctoral education teaches doctors the fundamental principles of research. They learn to formulate scientific questions, set up experiments, process data, and report results. Additionally, they apprentice to search and investigate medical literature in a way that allows them to apply what they have learned in clinical rotations. Research fosters critical evaluation and intellectual curiosity, essential skills in evidence-based medicine. Research projects can offer innovative contributions to the progress of medicine and better clinical practice.

Research during the preclinical years of medical education increases competitiveness for residency programs and career options. It also helps medical students establish professional networks with experienced mentors. However, research in undergraduate medical education presents significant challenges: the academic load, research, and clinical rotations require a balance between work, private life, and academic management. Some undergraduate programs do not allocate the necessary curricular time for research work. Additionally, material, human, and financial resources must be adequate for the development of students, especially in environments with underdeveloped infrastructures.

Furthermore, there is a lot of pressure to publish, which leads to sacrificing the quality of research and learning. Most medical students have not conducted research before, and the lack of time coupled with the complexity of patient research often makes it impossible to conduct a thorough and extended study. Also, in some countries, there are ethical issues such as obtaining informed consent and managing confidential data. Moreover, medical research, especially involving large clinical trials, is very costly and, therefore, inaccessible to many institutions and countries.

Undoubtedly, research in undergraduate medicine is essential to advancing scientific knowledge and developing possible treatments for chronic diseases. Although it has numerous advantages, it also presents many problems concerning workload, resources, and expectations.

To overcome the challenges in research, universities, and hospitals must adopt a proactive and enthusiastic approach to integrating research into their undergraduate programs. They must design research programs that allow students to acquire knowledge while inspiring them to become innovative leaders in the medical field. The aforementioned requires a bold vision recognizing research as a central pillar of medical education.

Universities must create an environment that promotes intellectual curiosity and critical thinking from the early years of the practice. That implies offering courses that combine research with clinical practice, providing a practical context for theoretical learning. Additionally, it is necessary to ensure that students have access to adequate resources, including well-equipped laboratories and research databases, and the opportunity to work with experienced mentors who can guide and support their development.

Hospitals, for their part, must facilitate collaboration between medical researchers and students, allowing the latter to participate in relevant research projects. These actions will enrich the undergraduate medical students' training and contribute to the advancement of medicine by generating new knowledge and innovative practices.

Universities and hospitals must work together to create an environment that values integrity and excellence in research, recognizing the importance of research as a tool for continuous professional development. They should strive to build a research culture among medical students that allows them to become competent doctors, critical thinkers, and leaders in the health field.

Adopting an enthusiastic and visionary approach to research in undergraduate medicine has the potential to transform medical education. Doing so can ensure that future doctors acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to face the challenges of the 21st century, significantly contributing to medicine advancement and patient care improvement.