A Review of
NASA Human Research Program’s
Scientific Merit
Assessment Processes
Letter Report
Committee on the Review of NASA Human Research
Program’s Scientific Merit Assessment Processes
Board on Health Sciences Policy
James A. Pawelczyk, Larisa M. Strawbridge,
Andrea M. Schultz, and Catharyn T. Liverman, Editors
INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu
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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This study was requested by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and supported by Award No. NNH08CC26B, Task Order 3, between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, finding, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-26050-3
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-26050-7
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Copyright 2012 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
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Suggested citation: IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2012. A review of NASA Human Research Program’s scientific merit assessment processes: Letter report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.“
—Goethe
INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advising the Nation. Improving Health.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Enginnering and Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
COMMITTEE ON THE REVIEW OF NASA HUMAN RESEARCH PROGRAM’S SCIENTIFIC MERIT ASSESSMENT PROCESSES
JAMES A. PAWELCZYK (Chair), Pennsylvania State University
MICHELLE H. BIROS, University of Minnesota Medical School
DIVYA CHANDRA, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Department of Transportation
IAN D. GRAHAM, University of Ottawa
CHAVONDA JACOBS-YOUNG, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
KATHIE L. OLSEN, ScienceWorks, LLC
TERRY M. RAUCH, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Department of Defense
SALLY J. ROCKEY, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health
CAROL E. H. SCOTT-CONNER, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
PETER SUEDFELD, University of British Columbia
IOM Staff
CATHARYN T. LIVERMAN, Project Director
ANDREA M. SCHULTZ, Project Director
LARISA M. STRAWBRIDGE, Research Associate
JUDITH L. ESTEP, Program Associate
ANDREW M. POPE, Director, Board on Health Sciences Policy
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Reviewers
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
David F. Dinges, University of Pennsylvania
Karl Friedl, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
James Lightbourne, National Science Foundation
Adrian Mota, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Sharlene C. Weatherwax, Department of Energy
Laurence R. Young, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by David Longnecker, Association of American Medical Colleges. Appointed by the Institute of Medicine, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments
were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.
ARS | Agricultural Research Service (USDA) | |
BAA | broad agency announcement | |
CIHR | Canadian Institutes of Health Research | |
DARPA | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency | |
DOD | Department of Defense | |
DOE | Department of Energy | |
EAGER | EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (NSF) | |
FAA | Federal Aviation Administration | |
HRP | Human Research Program (NASA) | |
IOM | Institute of Medicine | |
IRB | institutional review board | |
MIT | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |
NIH | National Institutes of Health | |
NOAA | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | |
NSF | National Science Foundation | |
OER | Office of Extramural Research (NIH) | |
QI | quality improvement | |
RAPID | Rapid Response Research (NSF) | |
RFA | request for applications | |
RFP | request for proposals | |
SAIC | Science Applications International Corporation | |
UPCG | Unique Processes, Criteria, and Guidelines (NASA) | |
USDA | U.S. Department of Agriculture | |
VA | Department of Veterans Affairs |