Extensions for Early Career Scientists Whose Career Trajectories Have Been Significantly Impacted by COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic, along with extensive mitigation measures, has adversely affected progress in many biomedical research settings. Evidence from multiple sources, including a survey NIH issued to its supported extramural research workforce last fall, indicates legitimate concerns about career trajectory for early career scientists, including those with caretaker responsibilities. An article by Dr. Erin Gibson and her colleagues argued for a “reset” with focus on early career investigators. One point I took away from this paper is that a reset does not necessarily mean for us to go “back to normal” after the pan...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - February 8, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike career development COVID-19 extension request fellowship scientific workforce diversity Source Type: funding
Help Us Understand How You Use Common Data Elements in NIH-Supported Research
The NIH Data Science Strategic plan drives us towards having accessible, well-organized, secure, and efficiently operated data resources to maximize the value of data generated from NIH funding. To meet the mark as we move forward, data need to be interoperable, interconnected, harmonized, standardized, and shared where and when appropriate. One way we hit the mark is through encouraging researchers to adopt Common Data Elements (CDEs).
CDEs foster rigor, facilitate data sharing, and allow multiple datasets to be integrated. They also help make data more FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). Many diff...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - February 8, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike COVID 19 data data management Data sharing Request For Information (RFI) Source Type: funding
NIH R01 Grant Outcomes of T32 Postdoctoral Participants: Associations with Demographics, Cohort, Degree, and Career Development (K) Awards
Introduction
Postdoctoral NIH T32 programs aim to provide select trainees with experience to enable successful career and research development. Here we present data on NIH career development, or K award, and R01 equivalent research grant outcomes of participants in post-doctoral T32 programs.
Cohorts
These analyses are based on the outcomes of 35,528 T32 post-doctoral participants (including 18,671 men and 16,857 women) who matriculated between 1995 and 2009, for whom we had data on age and gender, and who had received MD, MD-PhD, or PhD degrees. We followed them for designation as principal investigator (PI) on subsequent...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - February 1, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike T32 Source Type: funding
Enhancing Diversity at NIH-Funded Conferences
A recent Harvard Business Review article noted that the gap between awareness and action when it comes to gender equity is ‘gender fatigue’ – a “phenomenon of simultaneously acknowledging that gender inequality exists in general while denying that it exists in one’s immediate work environment.” And the article questions why organizations are not making more progress towards gender equity, while making recommendations to avoid the mismatch.
At NIH, we have and continue to focus not just on gender equity but on ensuring greater diversity in all aspects of the biomedical workforce. This means, that along with wo...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - January 22, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike conference Diversity gender equity R13 scientific workforce diversity Sexual Harassment Source Type: funding
Check Out NIH ’s New COVID-19 Research Website
We are pleased to announce that the new NIH COVID-19 website launched last week. The site provides a central location for trusted, up-to-date, accurate information about NIH research and our strategic role in COVID-19 research. The site complements information made available on our COVID-19: Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding webpage.
The new site includes information about key programs such as the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines public-private partnership and the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative to develop state-of-the-science diagnostic tests for COVID-1...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - January 19, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike coronavirus COVID-19 Source Type: funding
What You Read in 2020
Looking back on 2020 includes seeing how well we have done to capture your interest with our Open Mike blog posts. Did we hit the mark?
Here we analyze page views on the Open Mike blog. Similar to what we did for 2018, below we show the top ten blog posts from 2020 based on overall page views pulled from Google Analytics. We issued 43 blogs last year on many different subjects. Posts on topics that are directly related to grant funding were the ones that were viewed the most.
Rank
Title
Page Views
1
COVID-19 Funding and Funding Opportunities
51,295
2
COVID-19 Resources for Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding
...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - January 19, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike coronavirus COVID-19 Source Type: funding
Reflections on 2020, Looking Towards 2021
It probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyways, what a year 2020 was. Our principal focus throughout the year, of course, was on COVID-19 and its disruptions on NIH-supported research and the workforce. Its effect can still be felt, even many months in, and with various grant flexibilities we put into place.
Though the stress it has caused will be with us for some time longer, our response to this public health emergency was not the only story that will continue into 2021. Our work towards ensuring safe work environments free from harassment, encouraging dialogue on peer review integrity, protecting our nation...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - January 4, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike Biomedical Workforce COVID-19 reflection Source Type: funding
Case Study in Review Integrity: Sharing an Application Being Reviewed
A series to raise awareness, encourage dialog and inspire creative problem solving of the challenges in maintaining integrity in peer review
Sharing an application with anyone who has not been officially designated to participate in the peer review process is a big no-no. It undermines the integrity of peer review. It disregards the confidentiality that is required of peer reviewers, who specifically sign a confidentiality agreement before accessing the applications. And it is specifically prohibited by NIH peer review policy.
We have a case for you where this sharing occurred (based on a true story; details have been chan...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - December 18, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike case study Peer review Source Type: funding
Some Thoughts Following the NIH Inclusion Across the Lifespan 2 Workshop
“The [NIH Inclusion Across the Lifespan] policy, and the review and reporting requirements associated with it, should help ensure that children and older adults are not inappropriately excluded from clinical studies. The policy also has the potential to provide a more robust understanding of the full spectrum of participants recruited into clinical studies.”
Together with my NIH colleagues Drs. Marie Bernard and Janine Clayton, we made this point in a 2018 JAMA opinion piece following the inaugural NIH Inclusion Across the Lifespan workshop. Fast forward, we revisited this issue at the NIH’s Inclusion Across the Life...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - December 10, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike COVID 19 Inclusion inclusion across the lifespan Source Type: funding
Should We Keep Meeting This Way?
We examined roster composition carefully to see if reviewer demographics have changed during the pandemic. So far, we see little change. Interpretation is complicated by the fact that reviewers are dealing with two large changes at once – video format, which may make it easier to participate, and COVID, which likely makes it harder.
We are all still learning. “How to run better Zoom meetings” is a frequent topic of workshops, meetings, and staff conversations. Reviewers have reached out, for example, reminding us of the challenging home/work realities they are contending with. We understand that many reviewers must w...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - November 19, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Bruce Reed Tags: blog Open Mike coronavirus COVID-19 Peer review Source Type: funding
“All About Grants” Podcast – Alternatives to Animals
Your experimental designs are coming into focus. Sample sizes…power analyses…and treatment conditions, oh my! And, all throughout, perhaps laboratory animals are needed. But, are they? Can you actually replace them and still rigorously test the hypothesis? If not, maybe the protocol can be refined in such a way to reduce their overall numbers, while still ensuring their humane care and use?
Dr. Neera Gopee, NIH OLAW
Dr. Christine Livingston, NCATS
Considering alternatives to animals in your application is the topic of our next NIH All About Grants podcast. Drs. Neera Gopee with the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfa...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - November 18, 2020 Category: Research Authors: NIH Staff Tags: New Resources Alternatives to Animals laboratory animal podcast Source Type: funding
NIH Challenges Academia to Share Strategies to Strengthen Gender Diversity
Has your school made an important contribution to helping women become leaders in their field? Maybe your department made noticeable strides recently in diversifying the gender and race or ethnicity of its workforce? What about your institution’s response to reversing the “backward slide” experienced by women in biomedicine because of COVID-19?
Well, tell us about it! Your institution could improve leadership prospects for women in science—and win a prize.
On behalf of the NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers, the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health has launched a new challenge competition to pro...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - November 16, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike Challenge Competition gender equity scientific workforce diversity Source Type: funding
Introducing the Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Grant Program
Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.
Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., led the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases from 1995 until his passing in 2018. Dr. Katz was a talented physician scientist, NIH leader, and civil servant throughout his career who was profoundly dedicated to mentoring and training the next cadre of scientists. During his memorial service at NIH, you can see this dedication on full display. I, along with countless NIH colleagues, were blessed with Dr. Katz’s mentoring and sage advice. That is why, in his honor, we are pleased to announce the publication of Funding Opportunity Announcemen...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - November 9, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike funding opportunities funding opportunity announcement Source Type: funding
Continued Impact of COVID-19 on Biomedical Research
It’s been over eight months since the COVID-19 pandemic crisis struck, changing every facet of life as we knew it. The U.S. biomedical research enterprise was not spared, as lockdowns and severe restrictions on activities took hold across the country. At the time, we offered our perspectives on efforts we could take to cushion the shock. Since that time, much has happened. COVID-19 research has blossomed with impressive results including FDA approval of a therapeutic agent (remdesivir, which was found to have value in a large-scale NIH-funded trial), development of several candidate vaccines that have already made to piv...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - November 4, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike COVID 19 Source Type: funding
NIH Releases New Policy for Data Management and Sharing
Guest post by Carrie Wolinetz, Ph.D., NIH Associate Director for Science Policy, originally released on the Under the Poliscope blog
Carrie Wolinetz, Ph.D.,Associate Director for Science Policy, NIH
Today, nearly twenty years after the publication of the Final NIH Statement on Sharing Research Data in 2003, we have released a Final NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing. This represents the agency’s continued commitment to share and make broadly available the results of publicly funded biomedical research. We hope it will be a critical step in moving towards a culture change, in which data management and sharing is...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - October 29, 2020 Category: Research Authors: Carrie Wolinetz Tags: blog Open Mike data management Data sharing Source Type: funding
