On Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 APS President Peter Wagner, Past President Gary Sieck, President-elect Joey Granger, Science Policy Committee Chair John Chatham, and Executive Director Marty Frank met with officials at the National Institutes of Health to discuss APS priorities.
The APS leadership met with Dr. Sally Rockey, Director of the Office of Extramural Research, Dr. Story Landis, Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Dr. James Kiley, Director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and Dr. Greg Germino, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Discussion in several of the meetings focused on the importance of training the next generation of researchers. At the NHLBI, APS leadership conveyed specific concerns about the lack of support for individual pre-doctoral fellowships. There was also discussion about efforts to diversify the scientific workforce through programs designed to support underrepresented minorities during training. NIH officials expressed concern about the lack of progress in this area, citing the low numbers of minorities applying for R01 grants despite many years of efforts to increase diversity. The APS Minority Programs were highlighted, and the leadership encouraged the NIH to look more broadly at how to measure the success of diversity programs.
Declining success rates for R01 grant applications were a topic of discussion in many of the meetings. At the NINDS, Dr. Landis reported that they are working to support investigators and maintain the number of R01 grants by phasing out certain large projects to free up resources, and providing bridge funds when necessary. The APS leadership raised concerns at the NHLBI about the decision to use different paylines for A0 and A1 grant applications and the challenge that presents for investigators. An additional pressure for investigators at major research institutions is the requirement to support a large percentage of their salaries on research grants. Dr. Rockey referenced the recent Science editorial by Dr. Bruce Alberts[1] and noted the need to examine the current academic business model which encourages investigators to support the bulk of their own salaries with grant dollars.
Officials at both the NIDDK and NHLBI asked the APS for help in identifying Society members who are willing to participate in the peer review process. In the past the APS has solicited volunteers for peer review service and submitted contact information to the NIH, and will continue to do so as necessary.
Footnote
- Alberts, B. Overbuilding Research Capacity. Science 329, 1257 (2010).