Bridging Disciplines in the Brain, Behavioral, and Clinical Sciences (2000) / Chapter Skim
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5 The Future of Interdisciplinary Research and Training
5 The Future of Interdisciplinary Research and Training
Pages 99-108
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From page 99... ...
in interdisciplinary programs can breed additional successes in research, in obtaining funding, in training the leaders of the future. As described in chapter 4, funding mechanisms exist to support training throughout a scientific career.
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From page 100... ...
Current search engines for Web-based searches and for literaturebased searches can miss pertinent references and obscure relevant data in a cloud of extraneous citations. Videoconferences and virtual meetings could become increasingly important for conducting interdisciplinary research.
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From page 101... ...
To measure the outcome of the training programs, it is necessary to have methods that will accurately reflect their success in promoting interdisciplinary research. Identifying Interdisciplinary Programs It is not possible to evaluate interdisciplinary training programs if they cannot be identified.
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From page 102... ...
For example, studies have shown that the training grant mechanism (T32) is less effective in inducing trainees to apply for NIH grants than is the fellowship mechanism (F32~.8 The analysis by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the Medical Scientist Training Program revealed that graduating MD-PhDs were more likely to apply for and receive NIH grants than graduates with just an MD.
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From page 103... ...
Some assessment tools have been used to evaluate research outcome and could be used to compare interdisciplinary and disciplinary programs. For example, bibliometric analyses constructed around interdisciplinary research could be developed to compare the relative output of research institutions or to compare the relative productivity of one funding mechanism over another.~7 ~8 Such data would highlight institutions that are producing high-quality interdisciplinary research, and this could lead to a greater understanding of the factors that contribute to the high output.
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From page 104... ...
If universal and meaningful search terms were developed, the databases IMPAC II, MEDLINE, and CRISP might be used to conduct such analyses. In fact, NIH used these databases in the 1980s to conduct bibliometric analyses to determine the effectiveness of different research support mechanisms, such as to determine whether center grants are more effective than ROls in supporting clinical research, or in evaluating whether some categories of investigators or institutions are more likely to conduct research relevant to an agency's mission.~7 Past tracking of federally funded training efforts has gathered data on the numbers of people trained on a T32, for example, or the percentage of fellows who entered academic versus industry careers after completion of training.~0 ~3 ~4 These assessments tend to result in recommendations about the need for more or fewer PhDs, or for increased or decreased efforts in specific fields, such as molecular biology or immunology.
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From page 105... ...
Examples of such changes might be increases in the number and funding of academic research centers that are not aligned with particular departments, increases in collaborative research studies across departments, increases in faculty joint appointments, and increases in training programs that offer interdisciplinary opportunities. Mechanisms also might be developed to assess the extent to which federal agencies and private foundations actively promote interdisciplinary research (and training)
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From page 106... ...
Their commitment to such programs can be demonstrated through reallocation of existing resources, encouragement of shared facilities, creation of faculty positions that span departments, revision of tenure and promotion policies, and so on. The committee emphasizes the importance of collecting data on the outcomes of interdisciplinary programs, but recognizes the difficulties inherent in follow-up studies.
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From page 107... ...
The committee recommends the following: Recommendation 6: NIH should develop and implement mechanisms to evaluate the outcomes of interdisciplinary training and research programs. · Identify interdisciplinary research and training as such in all federal grants to facilitate future analyses.
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From page 108... ...
1998. The Careers and Professional Activities of Graduates of the NIGMS Medical Scientist Training Program.
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