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4 Interdisciplinary Training Programs
Pages 58-98

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From page 58...
... Researchers have to be able to maintain a broad base of knowledge in a single discipline and be willing to change direction and pursue advances in other disciplines through collaboration or further training. Research training does not stop when a degree is obtained or a postdoctoral fellowship is over.
From page 59...
... As postdoctoral fellows, trainees are commonly encouraged to broaden their horizons by pursuing research experience in fields that differ from the foci of their dissertations. Formal interdisciplinary training at this stage is more likely, but still not the norm.
From page 60...
... Some of the training programs covered both predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows. Others focused primarily on one or the other.
From page 61...
... Just as important, perhaps, they are exposed to a rigorous evaluation of a wide array of experimental methods. A goal of many of the interdisciplinary programs reviewed is to provide students with a forum in which to interact with experts in relevant fields.
From page 62...
... ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Interdisciplinary Training Mechanisms for Postdoctoral Fellows In the 1920s, the Rockefeller Foundation established a fellowship in physical sciences for people who had just completed their doctoral training.4 These early postdoctoral training fellowships recognized that the field of physics had become too complex for a student to prepare for a research career adequately with only graduate school training. The postdoctoral training mechanism has greatly expanded since then.
From page 63...
... The committee heard from several program directors that postdoctoral fellows are the glue that holds interdisciplinary efforts together. They are the ones with the time to pursue collaborative research to bring two or more laboratories together in a research project.
From page 64...
... One such program is the NIH-wide initiative that called for multidisciplinary training on sleep research: "Innovative, multidisciplinary and collaborative training programs with interactive training provided by investigators from different disciplines and with complementary skills are strongly encouraged."52 Another example is a recent announcement from the National Institute of Mental Health to encourage translational research through postdoctoral training in intervention trials.43 These T32s are intended to
From page 65...
... Like fellowships, the institutional NRSA does not pay fringe benefits and requires a payback provision for the first 12 months of the award to postdoctoral fellows. Funding is limited to 5 years at the predoctoral level and 3 years at the postdoctoral level.
From page 66...
... However, training of postdoctoral fellows, undergraduates, or master's students can be incorporated if it adds value to the IGERT program. A plan for tracking the achievements of the IGERT program that may include an assessment of the effectiveness of the "multidisciplinary enterprise" is required by NSF.
From page 67...
... The options are endless and are subject only to the imagination of the investigators and the constraints imposed by the subject of study (see Box 4-4~. Translational Research Training Clinician-scientists are an important resource for interdisciplinary research that seeks to translate from bench to bedside and back.
From page 69...
... established the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) in 1964 to train MD/POD students in both the biomedical sciences and clinical practice.
From page 70...
... Markey Charitable Trust funded general organizational grants to about 20 programs that provided clinical exposure for PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows or that encouraged MDs to conduct research. The aim was to promote the bench-to-bedside translation of research.
From page 71...
... There are about 55 doctoral programs in social work, these programs are based primarily in large universities that can provide the background to ask integrated research questions that include behavioral sciences, medicine, economics, and sociology.7 ~7 Clinical TrainingforPhDs Training basic scientists in clinical sciences is another mechanism for enhancing translational research. This approach does not replace the role of clinician-scientists, but it can focus research efforts on clinical questions and provide a complement to the clinician-scientists.
From page 72...
... Students see patients, handle pathology, and become informed about major diagnostic and therapeutic facilities in a modern hospital. An outcome survey reflected the success of the program in encouraging participants to pursue relevant research careers in industry or academe.
From page 73...
... Granting mechanisms aimed specifically at junior faculty and new investigators that encourage interdisciplinary efforts could provide an incentive to move toward broader research questions that would otherwise be rejected as poor career choices. Several career development awards are available through NIH to support junior faculty (see Appendix D)
From page 74...
... Midcareer Investigator Awards Career development awards are available through NIH for established scientists, as well as for junior faculty (appendix D)
From page 75...
... Some foundations have programs that support sabbaticals for midcareer scientists. For example, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund's Clinical Scientist Award supports established physician-scientists for up to 5 years to do translational research.8 During the award period, investigators must spend at least 75% of their time in research.
From page 76...
... Longer research experiences are covered only if adequately justified.39 A recent request for applications expanded on this, allowing 1-2 years of support for training experiences that fostered translational research as part of a larger "education and training center."42 Funds can be used, for instance, to encourage clinical research by providing funds for postdoctoral fellows or residents who wish to continue mentored clinical or translational research. This program can also provide support for translational researchers at a critical point in their careers: between the postdoctoral position and the first K award.
From page 77...
... who demonstrate potential for independent research careers in transdisciplinary tobacco-related research or who are established investigators and are changing the direction of their research careers." P50 awards provide support for a broad interdisciplinary research program consisting of related research endeavors and associated core infrastructure to ensure their effective and synergistic functioning. The activities included in the
From page 78...
... Center support should be essential to the achievement of the work that is proposed. NSF Centers The NSF initiated the Science and Technology Centers Program in 1987 to encourage multidisciplinary research, technology transfer to nonacademic institutions, and innovative educational approaches.
From page 79...
... :::::: :t:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::: r:~:::: :j:::::::::::::: :j::::::::::::::: .~ me.-.-ce.n~er-.- o.~ -- -mseam-n~ co-l-l-a-Domllon~ ~m-posl-a~ ana~ ome-~ -- -speclal~ evenl$~ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The program encompasses several research consortia that address aspects of access to economic opportunity, building of community capacity, child and youth development, and mental health.
From page 80...
... Many programs exist specifically to encourage underrepresented populations in biomedical and behavioral sciences. Some of these programs are briefly reviewed below with explanations of how they can be extended to support interdisciplinary efforts.
From page 81...
... provide the Minority Investigator Research Enhancement Award to support minority institution faculty to collaborate with NIH-funded investigators.28 The Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Faculty Fellowship provides fulltime faculty from minority institutions with funds to do research at any U.S.
From page 83...
... On a smaller scale, travel awards can achieve similar goals. Several NIH institutes offer minority travel awards (Minority Travel Award Program NIAMS, NIDDKD27, Minority Institution Travel Award Program Human Genome Project24)
From page 84...
... The Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program (M-RISP, R24 mechanism) is sponsored by NIMH to build mental health research programs at minority institutions.38 The program supports a wide variety of activities designed to enhance the research environment and promote the capabilities ofthe faculty and students.
From page 85...
... For example, the Collaborative Minority Institution Alcohol Research Development (CMIARD) grant encourages alcohol research at minority institutions.48 The U24 mechanism supports a minimum of three alcohol research projects that can be exploratory or pilot.
From page 86...
... Other institutes use the mechanism to enhance the qualifications of the trainee. Another mechanism used to encourage reentry into research is the Supplement to Promote Reentry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers.57 It provides up to 3 years of support to people who have been out of research for 2-8 years, have at least 2 years of postdoctoral research, and would be ready for an independent research position.
From page 87...
... Multiple institutes cosponsor requests for applications in support of pain research that includes behavioral pain research, research on low back pain and common spinal disorders, complementary and alternative medicine, and management of symptoms at the end of life. Collaboration Across Government Agencies The Human Brain Project Phase I Feasibility Studies Brain and behavioral research produces vast amounts of diverse and complex data.
From page 88...
... To span the full range of translational research basic mechanisms through clinical trials the committee found that collaborative efforts between NSF and NIH should be encouraged. Government-Foundation Collaborations Tobacco Use Research Centers The Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Centers were initially funded through a joint effort of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
From page 89...
... Mechanisms to facilitate interdisciplinary efforts should be available at all stages of a career. Special attention needs to be directed toward supporting interdisciplinary efforts of junior faculty who may be discouraged by their vulnerability as they establish their careers and face tenure and promotion decisions.
From page 90...
... Funding mechanisms to support interdisciplinary training in appropriate fields (as identified in Recommendation 1) should provide additional incentives to the universities and the trainees along the following lines: · Through the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program, encourage participating universities to support MD/POD programs in the social and behavioral, as well as biomedical, sciences.
From page 91...
... · Support midcareer investigators in developing expertise needed for interdisciplinary research. These programs should include sabbaticals, career development awards, and university-based, formal courses for faculty development to enhance interdisciplinary and/or translational research.
From page 92...
... 1999. Clinical Scientist Awards in Translational Research.
From page 93...
... 1998. The Careers and Professional Activities of Graduates of the NIGMS Medical Scientist Training Program.
From page 94...
... 1998. Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs at Minority Institutions.
From page 95...
... 1999. Supplements to Promote Reentry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers.
From page 96...
... 72. Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, National Center for Research Resources, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Institute of Dental Research.
From page 97...
... 1999. Call for applications: The Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program 1999.
From page 98...
... 98 BRIDGING DISCIPLINES 92. Yachnin S


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