RESEARCH TEAMS OF THE FUTUREWorking Groups and Co-Chairs

Interdisciplinary ResearchPatricia Grady, NINR Ken Olden, NIEHSLarry Tabak, NIDCR

High-risk Research

Ellie Ehrenfeld, NIAID

Stephen Straus, NCCAM

Public-Private PartnershipsAndy von Eschenbach, NCI Richard Hodes, NIA

Research Teams of the Future:Interdisciplinary Research

Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Multi- and Interdisciplinary Research

“Just definitions either prevent or put an end to a dispute”

Nathaniel Emm

Multi- and Interdisciplinary Research

A

B common problem

Work on

A

B

C

A

B

Multidisciplinary

Interdisciplinary Interaction

forges new discipline

More is different

P.W. Anderson, Science 177, 393-396, 1972

Multi- and Interdisciplinary Research will be Required to Solve the “Puzzle” of Complex Diseases and Conditions

GenesBehaviorDiet/NutritionInfectious agentsEnvironment Society???

Physicians

Sociologists

Dentists

Engineers Economists

Nurses

Physicists

PsychologistsMathematicians

InterdisciplinaryResearch

Challenges to Interdisciplinary Research

The current system of academic advancement favors the independent investigator

Most institutions house scientists in discrete departments

Interdisciplinary science requires interdisciplinary peer-review

Project management and oversight is currently performed by discrete ICs

Interdisciplinary research teams take time to assemble and require unique resources

Research Teams of the Future:Current Roadmap RFAs

Interdisciplinary Research Meetings and Networks for Methodological Development in Interdisciplinary

Research Training for a New Interdisciplinary Research Workforce Supplements for Methodological Innovations in the Behavioral and

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Health Research Training: Behavior, Environment and

Biology Short Programs for Interdisciplinary Research Training Curriculum Development Award in Interdisciplinary Research Exploratory Centers (P20) for Interdisciplinary Research

Public/Private Partnerships High Risk Research

NIH Director's Pioneer Award

Exploratory Centers (P20) for Interdisciplinary Research

Purpose: to plan exploratory centers that overcome barriers to conducting interdisciplinary research

How? Applicant organizations must describe their plans to facilitate interdisciplinary research

1. How the institution will distribute credit for direct (and indirect) costs to reflect the contributions of different components

2. How the institution will recognize the contributions of the research team beyond the Principal Investigator

3. How the institution attends to the careers of "interstitial" team members who play important roles in interdisciplinary research, but who are not tenure track or eligible/appropriate to be principal investigators on research grants.

Supplements for Methodological Innovations in the Behavioral and

Social Sciences Purpose: to develop innovative methodology (research

design, data collection techniques, measurement, and data analysis techniques) in social and behavioral sciences research.

What? New technologies and the analytical complexities associated with

the integration of behavioral, social, genetic, and biomedical data Improved methods for performing research on diverse populations

or on potentially sensitive or covert behaviors such as drug use, abuse, and violence

Innovative experimental designs to study how changes in economic, social, environmental, physical, or political context affect all aspects of ongoing research

Development and integration of behavioral and social sciences measures with those of the biomedical disciplines

Research Teams of the Future:Training, Career Development and High

Risk Research

Patricia A. Grady, Ph.D., R.N.

Transforming Research Training

Interdisciplinary research training

is a prerequisite to

interdisciplinary research.

Transforming Research Training means:

Linkages among biological, behavioral, social, physical sciences

Collaboration between clinicians and scientists

Partnerships with industry

Research Teams of the Future: ’04 RFAs

Interdisciplinary Research Meetings and Networks for Methodological Development in

Interdisciplinary Research Training for a New Interdisciplinary Research Workforce Supplements for Methodological Innovations in the Behavioral and

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Health Research Training: Behavior,

Environment and Biology Short Programs for Interdisciplinary Research Training Curriculum Development Award in Interdisciplinary Research Exploratory Centers (P20) for Interdisciplinary Research

High Risk Research NIH Director's Pioneer Award

Training for Interdisciplinary Research Workforce

Develop and implement novel training programs

Build upon existing multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary institutional research programs

Prepare individuals to lead or engage in team approaches to solve complex health problems

Interdisciplinary Health Research Training: Behavior, Environment and Biology

Formal coursework and research training in a new interdisciplinary field for those having advanced degree in a different discipline

Required to have behavioral or social science discipline

Integration of behavioral/social with more traditional biomedical

Curriculum Development Award in Interdisciplinary Research

Support the development of innovative courses and curricula designed to train interdisciplinary scientists

Curricula can be designed for undergraduate, pre-doctoral or postdoctoral students, or combinations

Focus on programs that encourage the integration of quantitative, physical, behavioral, or social sciences with the traditional biomedical sciences

Short Programs for Interdisciplinary Training

Fusion of information, research practices and technologies

Promote training in “interdisciplines”

Students emerge with sufficient understanding of a new discipline that they can meld it with their previous training

Traditional Roadmap

Outstanding individuals

High risk/high impact research

Novel programs

NIH Director’s Pioneer Award

New program to support individuals with untested, potentially groundbreaking ideas!

Encourages innovation, risk-taking

Totally new application and peer review process

Expected to be highly competitive

Expanded eligibility – (not only traditional biomedical investigators)

Provides $500,000/year for 5 years

Research involves taking risks