Navigating NIH/NIAMS Grant Funding : From Training Awards to ...

Navigating NIH/NIAMS Grant Funding : From Training Awards to Career Development Awards 

Marie Mancini, PhD 

Rheumatology Program Directors’ 

Conference 

March 15, 2013 

Navigating Funding through 

the NIAMS/NIH 

Marie Mancini, Ph.D. 

Program Director 

Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Biology 

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal 

and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) 

National Institutes of Health 

Department of Health and Human Services 

Outline 

• NIH/NIAMS…Who are we? 

• Fiscal Year 2012 Spending 

• NIH Training and Career Development Mechanisms 

– Institutional Training Grants 

– Fellowships 

– Mentored Career Development Awards 

• NIAMS Forum for Clinical Mentored K Awardees 

– Historical Outcomes 

• NIH’s Biomedical Research Workforce Committee: 

Recommendations and Implementation 

• Questions/Discussion 

1



National Institute of 

Biomedical Imaging 

and Bioengineering 


Nursing Research 

National Heart, Lung, 

and Blood Institute 

National 

Cancer Institute 

National Institute 

of Environmental 

Health Sciences 


General Medical 

Sciences 


Diabetes and Digestive 

and Kidney Diseases 

National 

Center for 

Advancing Translational 

Sciences 

National 

Library 

of Medicine 

National 

Human Genome 

Research Institute 

Center for 

Scientific 

Review 


of Mental 

Health 

Clinical 

Center 


of Arthritis and 

Musculoskeletal and 

Skin Diseases 

The 27 

Institutes 

and 

Centers 

of the 

NIH 

National 

Institute on 

Drug Abuse 

Center for 

Information 

Technology 

National 

Institute on Aging 

John E. 

Fogarty 

International 

Center 

National Center 

for Complementary 

and Alternative 

Medicine 


on Minority Health 

and Health 

Disparities 

National 

Institute on 

Alcohol Abuse 

and Alcoholism 


of Allergy and 

Infectious Diseases 


of Child Health and 

Human Development 


Dental and Craniofacial 

Research 


on Deafness and Other 

Communication 

Disorders 


Neurological Disorders 

and Stroke 

National 

Eye Institute 

NIAMS: Extramural Program Organization 

Dr. Stephen Katz, NIAMS 

Director 

Dr. Bob Carter, NIAMS Deputy 

Director 

Grants 

Specialists 

Dr. Laura Moen 

Division of Extramural 

Research Activities 

Ms. Melinda 

Nelson 

Chief Grants 

Management Officer 

Dr. Susana 

Serrate-Sztein 

Division of Skin and 

Rheumatic Diseases 

8 Program 

Officers 

Dr. Joan 

McGowan 

Division of 

Musculoskeletal 

Diseases 

8 Program 

Officers 

NIAMS 

SROs 

Dr. Charles 

Rafferty 

Chief, Scientific 

Review Branch 

Clinical 

Coordinators 

Review 

Grants 

Mgt. 

Program 

2



Program Official 

• Responsible for the programmatic, scientific, and/or 

technical aspects of a grant 

• Provides scientific guidance to investigators pre- and 

post-award 

• Develops initiatives 

• Provides post-award oversight 

NIAMS: Division of Skin and Rheumatic Diseases 

• Dr. Su-Yau Mao 

– Arthritis Biology Program 

• Dr. Marie Mancini 

– Systemic Immune Diseases Biology Program 

• Dr. Yan Wang 

– Rheumatic Diseases Genetics and Translational Research 

Program 

• Dr. Jim Witter 

– Rheumatic Diseases Clinical Program 

• Dr. Phil Tonkins 

– Rheumatic Diseases Biopsychosocial Research Program (includes 

PROMIS, FMS) 

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Funding/Funding_Opportunities/Supported_Scientific_Areas/default.asp 

3



NIH and NIAMS Spending: 2012 


Extramural: 84.6% 

IR/RMS/Other: 15.4% 


Extramural: 82.0% 

IR/RMS/Other: 18.0% 

http://www.niams.nih.gov/About_Us/Budget/12_budg 

et_detail.asp 

Support by Career Stage: 

Ph.D. Track 

Award 

Types 

T32 T32 

K99/R00 

F31 F32 K01 K22 K99 R00 

phase phase 

K02 F33 

Your Career 

Stage 

Graduate 

Student 

Ph.D. 

Faculty 

Position 

Independent 

Investigator 

R and P awards 

4



Support by Career Stage: 

Clinician Scientist Track 

Award 

Types 

T32 

F32 K08 K22 

K23 

K99/R00 

K99 

phase 

R00 

phase 

K02 F33 K24 

Your Career 

Stage 

Medical 

Student 

M.D. 

Clinical 

Training 

Phase 

Research 

Training 

Phase 

Faculty 

Position 

Independent 

Investigator 

R and P awards 

Grant Mechanisms Supported by 

NIAMS: Ts and Fs 

These are also called the Ruth L. Kirschstein National 

Research Service Awards (NRSA) 

T32: Institutional Research Training Grants 

F31: Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote 

Diversity in Health-Related Research 

F32: Individual Postdoctoral Fellows 

F33: Individual Senior Fellows (sabbatical) 

5



T32: Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA 

Institutional Research Training Grants 

• Purpose: To develop and enhance research training 

through a coordinated programmatic approach, in the 

fields of arthritis, muscle, bone, musculoskeletal, 

and/or skin diseases. 

• Trainees and fellows are selected by the institution 

• Duration: 5-year institutional grant (renewable). 

• Application due: May 25 (one-time/year) 

• Can request: 

– Pre-doc slots and/or 

– Post-doc slots and/or 

– Short term slots 

PA-11-184: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-184.html 

Tips for Writing a Successful T32 

Application 

• Provide details on the outcome of your past T32 

trainees and/or rheumatology trainees: current 

position, publications, grant awards 

• Provide details on pool of eligible T32 candidates, and 

how decisions will be made regarding offers of support 

• Provide details on the mentors – who have they 

trained? 

• PAY ATTENTION TO THE TABLES 

6



NIAMS T32 Success Rates 

Applications Reviewed Number Awarded Success Rate (%) 

40 

60% 

35 

30 

25 

50% 

40% 

20 

30% 

15 

10 

5 

20% 

10% 

0 

FY07 FY08 FY09* FY10 FY11 FY12 

Success Rate Range: 28.6% - 53.8% 

0% 

Rheumatology T32s: New/Renewal 

7 

6 

No. of Awards 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 

New 2 0 0 1 0 0 

Renewals 2 3 5 5 2 3 

7



NIAMS T32: History 

300 

16 

250 

No. of Awards 

200 

FTTP 

Pre-Doc 150Slots 

100 

Post-Doc Slots 

50 

8 

17 

FY2012: NIAMS T32 

50 

68 

68 

162 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

Money (in Millions) 

9 

Short Term 0Slots 

FY07 2 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 

# Awards supported FTTP Amt. Money (in Millions) 

0 50 100 150 200 

0 

NIAMS T32s 

FTTP = Full-time Training Positions 

Rheum T32s 

NIAMS Rheumatology T32 Programs (FY11-12) 

Univ. of 

Washington 

Univ. of 

Colorado 

Denver 

Northwestern 

Univ. 

Univ. of 

Michigan 

Brigham 

and 

Women’s 

UPenn 

Mass. 

General 

Hosp. 

Boston 

Univ. 

UCSF 

UPitt 

Yale 

Univ. 

Stanford 

Univ. 

UCLA 

HSS 

Johns 

Hopkins 

Univ. 

MUSC 

UCSD 

UAB 

Vanderbilt 

Univ. 

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Funding/ 

Funded_Research/t32_grantees.asp 

UT-Houston 

Washington 

Univ. 

Univ. 

of Fla. 

8



NRSA Individual Awards: Fellowships 

F32: Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship 

– Up to 3 years 

– Requires and M.D. or Ph.D. or equivalent 

– U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status required 

– Pursue research training full time (40 hr/week) 

• Current Program Announcement: 

PA-11-113 

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11- 

113.html 

NIAMS F32 Success Rates 

Number 

100 

90 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

NIAMS F32 

Applications Reviewed Number Awarded Success Rate 

45% 

40% 

35% 

30% 

25% 

20% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

0% 


Success Rate 

Range: 22.1% - 41.5% 

9



F32 or T32 Slot? 

F32 

T32 Slot 

NIAMS Mentored Research Career 

Development Awards: Ks 

Provide 75% protected time for research with 

salary support (up to $75,000) and research 

expenses ($20K/$25K) 

• K01: Mentored research scientist development 

award 

• K08: Mentored clinical scientist development 

investigator award 

• K23: Mentored patient-oriented research 

career development award 

• K99/R00: NIH pathway to independence award 

See http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards.htm 

for links to current FOAs 

10



NIAMS K01: Mentored Research Scientist 

Development Award 

• Purpose: develop outstanding scientists 

• Must demonstrate a NEED for further mentored training 

• 3 – 5 years; 75% effort 

• Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident 

Number 

NIAMS K01 


40 

45% 

35 

40% 

30 

35% 

25 

30% 

20 

25% 

20% 

15 

15% 

10 

10% 

5 

5% 

0 

0% 


Success Rate 

Range: 

24.0% - 

39.1% 

K08: Mentored Clinician Scientist 


• Purpose: develop independent clinical research scientists 

• For clinicians performing bench research (basic/translational) 

• 3 – 5 years / 75 % effort 


30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 



60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

Range: 

39.9% - 

56.3% 

0 


0% 

11



K23: Mentored Patient Oriented Career 


• Purpose is to develop independent clinical researchers 

• For clinicians performing patient-oriented research 



30 

25 

20 

15 

10 

5 

0 


90% 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 


Range: 

36.0% - 

80.0% 

Characteristics of a Successful 

K08/K23 Awardee 

• Chooses to work on a high impact project 

• Willingness to be mentored 

• Able to learn the scientific method 

• Shows the resilience required to pursue a 

research career 

• Is able to respond favorably to criticism from 

peers 

12



K99/R00: Pathway to Independence 

Eligibility: 

• Must have a clinical or research doctorate 

• No more than 5 years of postdoctoral experience 

• Do not have a full-time tenure track assistant 

professor position 

• U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible 

The K99/R00 award will provide up to 5 years of support 

consisting of two phases: 

• K99: 1-2 years of mentored support as a postdoctoral 

fellow 

• R00: Up to 3 years of independent support as an 

independent, full-time, tenure-track investigator 

K99/R00 Success Rates 

35% 

30% 

25% 

20% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

0% 

21.7% 

20.5% 

22.6% 

21.7% 

14.3% 


29.0% 


16.7% 

24.9% 

10.0% 

21.6% 23.3% 

16.1% 


• NIAMS receives 20 – 

30 apps/year 

• Has funded 4 – 6/ 

year, including 

intramural 

• Applications from 

rheum field very 

limited 

• All extramural 

awardees have been 

PhD holders (no MD 

or MD/PhD) 

13



Loan Repayment Program 

www.lrp.nih.gov 

• Clinical research 

• Clinical research (individuals from 

disadvantaged background) 

• Pediatric research 

• Health disparities research 

• Contraception and Infertility research 

Loan Repayment Program 

• In exchange for a two-year commitment to 

your qualifying research career, NIH will 

repay up to $35,000 per year of your qualified 

educational debt, in addition to the 

institutional salary you receive for your 

research. 

• Must engage in research for at least 50% of 

level of effort (no less than 20 hrs/week) 

• Can compete for additional debt payment 

14



NIAMS Forum for 

Clinical Mentored K Awardees 

December 13-14, 2012 

Purpose of the Forum 

• Discuss challenges junior 

investigators face in 

pursuing research 

independence 

• Network with one another 

• Interact with NIAMS 

extramural staff and 

leadership 

• Enhance the Institute’s 

support of early-stage 

physician-scientists 

15



• What are the obstacles to becoming an 

independent clinical scientist? 

• What can the NIAMS and the broader scientific 

community do to support you? 

• Participants 

– 3 rd year K08 and K23 awardees (13) 

– Recent K award recipients who now have independent 

research careers (5) 

– Established investigators and representatives from 

professional/voluntary organizations (8) 

• In preparation for the meeting, participants were 

asked about: 

– Obstacles facing clinician-scientists (all participants) 

– What NIAMS, as well as the broader medical/scientific 

community, might do to help clinician-scientists (all 

participants) 

– Challenges accessing NIH or university research 

resources (current K awardees only) 

16



• Overview of the K awardees’ research 

• Breakout sessions 

– Round-robin session with NIAMS extramural staff (K 

awardees) 

• Grants management staff 

• Scientific review officers 

• Program directors 

• Clinical coordinators 

– The role of the NIAMS Centers program in clinical 

career development activities (all others) 

• Group discussion 

Agenda 

– K Career Development Award 

– R01 Transition 

Historical Outcomes: 

NIAMS Clinical Mentored Career 

Development Awards 

17



NIAMS Training Grant and Career Development 

Award Program Evaluation (2007) 

Summary of Key Findings 

Indicator/Grant Type 

T32 

(n=109) 

F32 

(n=44) 

K01 

(n=6) 

K08 

(n=58) 

Current science-related career 75% 84% 100% 100% 

Currently participates in research 54% 68% 100% 62% 

Received R01 grant 17% 34% 83% 55% 

Received other NIH funding 37% 59% -- 69% 

Published during past 6 years 55% 68% 100% 84% 

2007 NIAMS Evaluation: Summary of 

Recommendations 

• Change K award structure: more flexibility on 

percent effort requirement; allow other sources of 

funding 

• Bridge-type award to support trainees while 

pursuing a K award 

• Support interdisciplinary approaches; reinforce the 

value of mentorship; work together with other NIH 

ICs and private foundation 

18



NIH-Wide Program Evaluation (2011) 

• K01, K08, K23 

• Key questions: 

– Who is applying for and receiving awards? 

– What is the impact of participation on research 

productivity and independent careers? 

– Comparison group of matched unfunded applicants to 

test the impact of the program on research careers 

Conclusions 

• K awardees significantly more likely to have subsequent 

research publications 

• K awardees more likely to apply for subsequent NIH 

research awards 

• Collectively, prior K01, K08, or K23 awardees had a 

significantly higher R01 award success rate than pool of 

individuals with no prior career development support 

• K awards appeared to have the greatest impact on the 

subsequent NIH research involvement of MD recipients, 

followed by MD/PhD recipients, and then PhD recipients 

19



100% 

FY2000- 

FY2005 

FY1990- 

FY2005 

FY2000- 

FY2005 

Awarded R01 

80% 

Awarded RPG 

(non-R01) 

Percent of Cohort 

60% 

40% 

20% 

Awarded non-RPG 

Applied but 

grant not awarded 

Key personnel (no 

subsequent 

applications) 

0% 

K01 

Funded 

(n=134) 

K01 

Unfunded 

(n=134) 

K08 

Funded 

(n=468) 

K08 

Unfunded 

(n=468) 

K23 

Funded 

(n=190) 

K23 

Unfunded 

(n=190) 

No subsequent NIH 

activity 

Figure 15 from http://grants.nih.gov/training/K_Awards_Evaluation_FinalReport_20110901.pdf 

Rheumatology Training and Career Development 

Roundtable (2012) 

Joint meeting of the REF/ACR, AF, and NIAMS 

• K cohort (40 K awardees): 70% (28) applied for an 

R01 award 

• 27.5% (11) received a subsequent R01 award 

• Individuals who received both foundation support 

and an NIH K award were more likely to apply for 

and receive R01 funding than those who didn’t. 

• Transition period between K and R01 a vulnerable 

point in progression to independence 

20



• N = 87 

• 41 K08 (47.1%); 46 K23 (52.9%) 

NIAMS K08 and K23: 

FY2001-2006 Cohort 

Number of Awards 

18 

16 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

NIAMS K08 and K23 Awards 

FY01-FY06 

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 

K08 

K23 

NIAMS K08 and K23 Cohort 

Characteristics of Future R01 Awardees 

• Of 87 K08 and K23 awardees, 28 competed 

successfully for a subsequent R01 (to date) = 37%. 

• Average time after initiation of K award and receipt 

of R01: 4.8 years +/- 2.0 years 

– Median: 5 years. Range of 0.5-10 years 

• Awardee Degree(s) and subsequent R01: did not see 

much difference between MD vs. MD/PhD 

21



Number of K08/K23 Awardees 

K08 and K23 PIs Achieving Future 

18 

R01s 

16 

14 

12 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

K08 K23 K08 K23 K08 K23 K08 K23 K08 K23 K08 K23 

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 

# without R01 2 8 1 2 6 4 3 11 7 4 4 7 

# with R01 4 0 7 2 0 0 4 6 1 0 2 2 

Out of 87 K08/K23 awardees, 28 competed successfully for an R01 (37%) 

R01 Applicants from the NIAMS K08 

Cohort 

19% 

37% 

41 K08 

Awardees 

44% 

26 R01 

Applicants 

15 with no 

R01 

submission 

18 R01 

Awardees 

8 without 

R01 

Funding 

22



R01 Applicants from the NIAMS K23 

Cohort 

48% 

30% 

46 K23 

Awardees 

22% 

32 R01 

Applicants 

14 with no 

R01 

submission 

10 R01 

Awardees 

22 without 

R01 

Funding 

Discussion Topics 

• Focusing on the Present: How to Make the 

Most Out of Your K Career Development 

Award 

– Obtaining additional research support 

– Balancing patient care and research 

– Conducting clinical research 

– Mentoring 

• Looking to the Future: Planning a Successful 

Transition to your R01 

– Establishing independence 

– Thinking long-term: choosing a significant research 

niche 

23



Key Messages 

• K awardees would benefit from informational session(s) 

early in award, to discuss policy, other award options, 

etc. 

• Highlighted importance and roles of mentors; value of 

mentoring team approach 

• Organizations committed to supporting research career 

development should consider a type of K award 

supplement and/or bridge funding 

• Increased interactions among the NIAMS, K awardees, 

and mentors may provide needed encouragement and 

impetus 

Biomedical Research Workforce 

• A working group of the NIH Advisory Committee to the 

Director (ACD) was tasked with “developing a model for 

sustainable and diverse U.S. biomedical research 

workforce that can inform decisions about training the 

optimal number of people for the appropriate types of 

positions that will advance science and promote 

health.” 

24



US PhD and MD Degrees Awarded, by Field 

Number of PhDs Awarded 

9000 

8000 

7000 

6000 

5000 

4000 

3000 

2000 

1000 

0 

18000 

16000 

14000 

12000 

10000 

8000 

6000 

4000 

2000 

0 

Number of MDs Awarded 

Basic biomedical PhDs 

Behavioral and social 

sciences PhDs 

Clinical Sciences PhDs 

Chemistry PhDs 

MDs 

Source: Survey of Earned Doctorates 

NIH Implementation of ACD Biomedical 

Workforce Recommendations 

• While almost 

half of UStrained 

doctorates work 

in academia, an 

increasing 

proportion finds 

employment 

opportunities in 

non-academic 

sectors and in 

other researchrelated 

occupations. 

25



ACD Recommendations (June, 2012) 

• Prepare scientists for nonacademic careers 

• Move students through their Ph.D.s faster; move 

PhD graduates more rapidly onto permanent 

research positions 



•Preparing scientists for non-academic careers 

The Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training 

(BEST) Program 

• Goal: “to identify and support bold and innovative 

approaches to broaden graduate and postdoctoral 

training…to reflect the range of career options that 

trainees (regardless of funding source) ultimately may 

pursue and that are required for a robust biomedical, 

behavioral, social and clinical research enterprise. 

• Up to 15 BEST awards to be made in FY13, through 

NIH’s Common Fund 

• Applications due May, 2013: RFA-RM-12-022 

26





•Moving PhD graduates onto permanent research positions more rapidly 

• NIH will increase awards that lead to independence 

• K99/R00 

– The NIH will increase the number of awards, aiming for a 30% 

success rate 

– Eligibility period shortened from 5 years to 4 years 

– Expect awardees to remain in mentored (K99) position for at least 12 

months before transition 

• All NIH ICs should offer comparable programs for 

support of graduate student training 

– The F30 (MD/PhD pre-doc individual award) and F31 predoctoral 

fellowship program will be offered by most ICs 

– NIAMS signed onto both of these for FY14 

Resources 

• NIH Research Training and Research Career 

Development: 

http://grants1.nih.gov/training/extramural.htm 

• K Kiosk – NIH Career Development Awards (includes 

links to K Awards Across Institutes and Centers and all 

K FOAs): 

• http://grants1.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentaward 

s.htm 

• Career Award Wizard: 

http://grants.nih.gov/training/kwizard/ 

• NIH RePORTER: 

http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm 

27



Resources, con’t 

• NIAMS Homepage: http:www.niams.nih.gov 

• NIAMS Grant Mechanisms: 

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Funding/Funding_Opportuniti 

es/activity_codes.asp 

• NIAMS Policies and Guidelines: 

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Funding/Policies_and_Guideli 

nes/default.asp 

• NIAMS Paylines: 

http://www.niams.nih.gov/About_Us/Budget/funding_pl 

an_fy2013.asp 

Questions and Answers 

Thank 

you! 

28



Extras 

Preconceived Notions 

1. Training for a career in biomedical research is taking 

too long 

2. Training is getting longer every year 

3. Too many Ph.D.s are being produced for the number 

of jobs that take advantage of the training 

4. The average age of an investigator receiving his or 

her first R01 is approaching 42 years of age 

5. These conditions are turning away the “best and the 

brightest” 

6. While all of the above may be true, the enterprise is 

immensely productive, and should not be changed 

29



59 

Age Distribution in 1980 and 2010 

Sources: NIH and AAMC 

60 

30



WG Recommendations 

The working group made specific recommendations on: 

– Graduate Students - diversify and shorten the PhD and increase support 

on training grants and fellowships. 

– Postdoctoral Researchers - shorten the pathway to an independent 

career, increase support on training grants and fellowships, enhance the 

training aspects of the postdoc, and improve pay and benefits. 

– Information Collection, Analysis and Dissemination - fill data gaps, 

routinely tracking of student and postdoc career outcomes, and institute 

ongoing analysis of the workforce 

– Physician Scientists - conduct a focused follow-on study. 

– Staff Scientists - study sections should be receptive to these positions in 

applications. 

– Salary Support – long term approach to gradually reduce the percent of 

funds from NIH. 

– Diversity – stronger coordination of programs and rigorous evaluation. 

NIH Consideration of the Recommendations 

• A Pre-Implementation Team developed draft strategies for 

implementation for every recommendation 

• IC Directors engaged in vigorous discussion of the implementation 

strategies at the NIH Leadership Forum 

• Based on the Leadership Forum feedback, an Implementation Team 

refined the implementation strategies that were presented to NIH 

Leadership last week 

• The exact details and timing of the implementation plans are undergoing 

review and clearance and may be revised as the plans are developed 

further 

31



Proposed Implementation 

• Establish a grant program to encourage innovative training approaches (BEST). 

• Improve graduate student and postdoctoral training by: 

– Putting IDPs in place for all trainees 

– Reducing the length of graduate training 

– Providing F30s and F31s from all ICs 

• Increase postdoctoral stipends and consider policies on benefits. 

• Increase support for K99/R00 and Early Independence awards. 

• Develop a simple and comprehensive tracking system for trainees. 

• Revise training grant review processes so that study sections for consider a range 

of career outcomes and all graduate students in relevant programs. 

• Encourage fair consideration of Staff Scientists on grant proposals 

• Initiate discussion with the community to assess NIH support of faculty salary. 

• Create functional unit at NIH to assess the biomedical research workforce. 

• Conduct ACD Working Group study on optimal research training of individuals in 

clinical disciplines 

Working Group Conclusions 

• Weighing all the data analyzed, the working group 

concluded that: 

– The large upsurge in US-trained PhDs, increased influx of foreigntrained 

PhDs, and aging of the academic biomedical research 

workforce make launching a traditional, independent, academic 

research career increasingly difficult. 

– The long training time and relatively low early-career salaries when 

compared to other scientific disciplines and professional careers 

may make the biomedical research career less attractive to the best 

and brightest of our young people. 

– The current training programs do little to prepare people for anything 

besides an academic research career, despite clear evidence that a 

declining percentage of graduates find such positions in the future. 

32



Working Group Recommendations 

• The working group made specific recommendations on: 

– Graduate Students - diversify and shorten the PhD and increase 

support on training grants and fellowships. 

– Postdoctoral Researchers - shorten the pathway to an 

independent career, increase support on training grants and 

fellowships, enhance the training aspects of the postdoc, and 

improve pay and benefits. 

– Information Collection, Analysis and Dissemination - fill data 

gaps, routinely tracking of student and postdoc career 

outcomes, and institute ongoing analysis of the workforce 

– Physician Scientists - conduct a focused follow-on study. 

– Staff Scientists - study sections should be receptive to these 

positions in applications. 

– Salary Support – long term approach to gradually reduce the 

percent of funds from NIH. 

– Diversity – stronger coordination of programs and rigorous 

evaluation. 

33

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