Funding opportunities in integrative and systems (I&S) biology

1. Funding opportunities in integrative and systems (I&S) biology Gregory D. Fink, Ph.D. Michigan State University

2. Where do federal research and development dollars to universities go?

3. Summary of trends in government funding for research (FY 1990-2001)

4. Summary of trends in government funding for research (FY 2000-2002)

5. Summary of trends in NIH funding for biomedical research (FY 1995-2001) • NIH budget: $11.3 to $20.3 billion (+79.6%) • Funding for RO1s: $4.3 to $8.2 billion (+90.7%) • # RO1s funded: 20,415 to 27,127 (+32.9%) • Number of RO1 apps: 22,296 to 21,805 (-2.2%) • Number of new RO1s: 5,618 to 6, 817 (+21.3%) • RO1 success rate: 25.2% to 31.3% (+19.8%) • Ave size of RO1: $212.2K to $302.1K (+42.4%)

6. I&S biology research Total NIH support for biomedical research--trends (1968-2001) ?

7. What is the evidence that funding for I&S biology is decreased? • On April 19, 1996 the NHLBI hosts a Special Emphasis Panel on Integrative Research. Recommendations included: • Scientific review groups need greater awareness and sensitivity to I&S research • I&S research can be promoted by “coupled” NIH grants involving PIs with molecular and I&S expertise • Need training grants that focus on I&S research training • A training course in I&S research should be developed cooperatively by NIH, industry and professional societies.

8. What is the evidence that funding for I&S biology is decreased? • American Physiological Society • American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics • American Association of Anatomists • American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics • Society of Toxicology • Others

9. What is the evidence that training for I&S biology research is decreased? “Many can genotype, but few can phenotype” -- Dr. Sam Enna

10. How can NIH support for I&S research be identified and quantified? • Major differences in opinion about what constitutes I&S research • Investigators doing I&S research don’t usually say so explicitly • Much I&S research is done as part of larger projects with molecular / cellular emphasis • NIH has no mechanism to identify I&S research projects

11. Percentage of funded grants identified in CRISP using the phrase “whole animal”

12. Do MDs do more I&S research?Funding success rate versus PhDs

13. Is clinical research more I&S than basic research?

14. More PhDs do clinical research than do MDs Data from the year 2001

15. What factors might contribute to decreased funding for I&S biology? • Retirement of I&S researchers • Hiring practices • Study sections • Journal “impact factors” • Media • Paradigm fatigue?

16. Do NIH study sections really devalue I&S research? • “Innovation” as a specfic critique item • Quest for the “modern” • New technologies • Rapid publication • Animal use issues • New convert zeal

17. What factors might contribute to decreased funding for I&S biology? • Retirement of I&S researchers • Hiring practices • Study sections • Journal “impact factors” • Media • Paradigm fatigue?

19. What factors might contribute to decreased funding for I&S biology? • Retirement of I&S researchers • Hiring practices • Study sections • Journal “impact factors” • Media • Paradigm fatigue?

20. Conclusions • Widespread belief that I&S research funding has decreased over the last decade • Hard evidence is difficult to extract from existing databases • Perception affects research and training activities anyway • New emphasis on “translational” research