To Support Future Medical Advances, Revamp the Rules for Funding Research
Dr. Gary Michelson shares his commentary in The Hill on why the government, philanthropic and corporate sectors must reimagine how the funding ecosystem invests in and prioritizes young and diverse science researchers.
Photo credit: @manjurulhaque
“The NIH especially must ensure that highly innovative young investigators have access to funding opportunities that support them at critical junctures in their careers, such as the transition between postdoctoral research and their first faculty appointment.”
Dr. Michelson’s op-ed was originally published on thehill.com.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL
Now is the moment to lock in policies that enhance support for young researchers who have the potential to produce transformative health breakthroughs. At the core of this problem is a “hyper competitiveness” within the NIH ecosystem that selectively impacts early career researchers. These investigators are more likely to engage in high-risk, high-reward research of the sort that has yielded today’s multiple vaccines against COVID-19. Hyper competitiveness in the system can skew support for research that is risk-averse and incremental in scope. To address this, at least 10 percent of the NIH budget — regardless of the total — must go to programs that support early career investigators.
The NIH also can provide more fellowship programs and grant opportunities to ensure that promising young investigators gain independence early on in their careers. Many young researchers wait close to a decade for their first independent NIH research grant. That’s too long.
Read more commentary here.