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Science for Good: Opportunities for Scientists in Voluntary Health Organizations

Science for Good: Opportunities for Scientists in Voluntary Health Organizations. Tamara Darsow, PhD Vice President, Research Programs American Diabetes Association. Discussion Outline. Personal Career Path American Diabetes Association – Vision, Mission and Organizational Structure

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Science for Good: Opportunities for Scientists in Voluntary Health Organizations

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  1. Science for Good: Opportunities for Scientists in Voluntary Health Organizations Tamara Darsow, PhD Vice President, Research Programs American Diabetes Association

  2. Discussion Outline • Personal Career Path • American Diabetes Association – Vision, Mission and Organizational Structure • How do Voluntary Health Associations (VHA) operate? • What can VHAs accomplish (and why)? • Research Programs and Opportunities • Programs and objectives • Grant opportunities • What about that academic career? • Lessons Learned

  3. From where I started….. • First Research Experience • Undergraduate NSF Center internshipDOE National laboratory • Basic research, microbiology, focus onenvironmental applications • Graduate Training • UC San Diego, Department of Biology • Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics • Basic research, yeast model system • Post-doctoral Training • Salk Institute-Molecular Neurobiology Laboratories • Basic research, animal models, disease relevance

  4. ….to a surprising destination • Biotech/Pharmaceutical • Amylin Pharmaceuticals-Medical Affairsand Strategic Relations • Launched two first in class medications for diabetes • Early discovery, clinical research, and commercialization of new therapies, focus on efficacy and safety in humans • Non-Profit Volunteer Health Association • American Diabetes Association • Research Policy, Strategy and Administration for large non-profit organization • Donor development and fundraising

  5. Voluntary Health Association • Founded in 1940 • Non-governmental, non-profit organization • ~$200M/year budget-funded primarily through public donations • Governed by volunteer Board of Directors & National Committees • Staff of ~800 full time employees, National home office in DC and ~80 local offices throughout the US • Professional membership of ~14,000 • Mission-“To prevent and cure diabetes, and improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes”

  6. OUR VISION: Life free of diabetesand all its burdens

  7. Research is at the Core of the ADA Mission

  8. Research Policy and Program Administration • Research Policy • Define program strategy, monitor portfolio balance, develop new programs and align grant mechanisms to strategy • Volunteer Research Policy Committee (15 KOLs) • Program Oversight • Currently manage three independent research programs • Administrative review, peer-review, funding decisions and ongoing post-award award management • Volunteer Research Grant Review Committees (~250 diabetes researchers)

  9. Research Policy and Program Administration • Program Measurement • Define metrics to determine the impact of program and the associated outcomes • Analyze and report outcomes, adjust strategies accordingly • Communication • Communicate with constituents and stakeholders-broad range of audiences including volunteers, researchers, policy makers, donors, and people with diabetes • Scientific, medical and business information • Development • Provide scientific and medical support to Research Foundation in income development activities • Supported by Research Foundation Board of Directors

  10. American Diabetes AssociationResearch Programs • Research advances are essential to help people living with diabetes today, and are the only way to ultimately cure diabetes • Since Program inception in 1952: • Nearly 4,500 research projects have been funded • More than $700 million has been invested in diabetes research • In 2014 alone, the Research Program: • Made $30 million available for research • Included more than 375 active research projects • Supported investigators and institutions in the United States, Canada and EU

  11. Research Program Objectives • Support high-quality academic science across the spectrum of diabetes research • Encourage new investigators to dedicate their careers to diabetes research • Support innovative research with the potential to have a significant impact for people with diabetes

  12. Research Funding Process • Researchers submit their original proposals • We receive ~1000 applications/year for research in all areas relevant to diabetes • Volunteer experts on the Research Grant Review Committee review proposals • Three diabetes experts review each grant-and then discuss top grants during an in-person meeting • Provide priority scores and written feedback for applicants • Volunteer Research Policy Committee reviews rankings and recommends funding • We support ~10% of the grants we receive each year • Supported projects are monitored for the life of the grant • Scientific data, publications, patents, career progression, subsequent funding

  13. Association Research Grant Opportunities Training Development Research Innovative Basic Science Innovative Clinical or Translational Science Junior Faculty Development Postdoctoral Fellowship Minority Postdoctoral Fellowship Minority Undergraduate Internship Pre-doctoral Post-doctoral Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor

  14. Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants • Award Description • Support for mentored training in topics and disciplines relevant to diabetes • Available to postdoctoral (MD, MD/PhD, PhD, DVM) researchers currently in training positions • Standard and Minority support mechanisms • Support • Up to 3 years • Salary of $42,000-$55,272/year (based on years of experience) • $5000/year research/training allowance • $5000/year fringe benefit allowance

  15. Junior Faculty Development Grants • Award Description • Support for early investigators establishing independence as diabetes researchers • Full time faculty with <10 years research experience following terminal degree • No previous or current R01 funding • Must dedicate 75% effort to research • Support • 2-4 years (depending on previous career development funding) • $138,000/year, salary and project support • $10,000/year student loan repayment

  16. Grant Portfolio Distribution

  17. Research Programs Accomplish Key Goals 98% remain in diabetes research 6 publications per award 82% of early career recipients receive promotions 85% receive subsequent federal funding

  18. PATHWAYTO STOP DIABETES A RADICAL NEW ROAD FOR RESEARCH

  19. An Epidemic with Costs that Are Out of Control 5 Years Ago Today 2050 1 in 13 Americans1Had Diabetes = 23.6M People 1 in 11Americans2Has Diabetes = 29.1M People 1 in 3Americans3Will Have Diabetes = 100M+ People $174 Billion/Year4 $245 Billion/Year5 Cost Catastrophic

  20. Diabetes Research: Vastly Underfunded vs. Its Impact Prevalence in United States9 NIH Funding10 NIH Funding per Affected Person 29.1M $5.27B $2,523.95 $2.89B 13.4M $1.01B $393.67 $34.60 1.1M Diabetes Diabetes Diabetes Yet, More People Die Today from Diabetesthan Breast Cancer and AIDS Combined

  21. A Generation of Potential Is Lost Young, Talented Researchers Grant Review System that Rewards Established Researchers in Current Field Substantial Education Debt Paucity of Funding for Diabetes Research Abandon Less Well Paid Research Careers Hard to Change Research Focus Low Dollars, Low Profile, Low Prestige And… The Average Age for First NIH Grant Is 42 Years Old!

  22. A New Generation ofGame-Changing Scientists PATHWAYTO STOP DIABETES 1 2 3 Attract Brilliant Minds at the Peak ofTheir Creativity Invest in People, Not Projects Provide Them with Freedom, Autonomy and Resources

  23. A NEW GENERATION OF BRILLIANT SCIENTISTS Funding …Awards of up to $1.625 Million Flexibility … The freedom to innovate, to explore, to blaze new trails Security …Five to seven years of support Mentoring … Guidance from distinguished scientists, business leaders and major donors Collaboration … Opportunities to advance research and careers through mentoring, symposia, speaking opportunities and technology Nomination & application materials available online at www.diabetes.org/pathway

  24. INITIATOR AWARD Purpose: Provide salary and research support for scientists during late stages of mentored training to support their transition to independence in diabetes research Eligibility: Currently in mentored training position (post-doctoral fellow, research fellowship) <7 years since terminal doctoral degree

  25. ACCELERATOR AWARD Purpose: Provide flexible, long-term salary and research support to early career researchers who are proposing innovative and ambitious diabetes-related research programs Eligibility: Early-career diabetes investigators May have independent funding through initial NIH-R01, but who have not applied for or received an R01 renewal or second R01

  26. PATHWAY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 11 Pathway grants awarded since 2013 Diverse group of investigators Balanced investments across disease state, research type and topic area Collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches Expertise from other fields applied to diabetes research 11 published manuscripts, >80 presentations, 5 patents One investigator named as a MIT technology review “35 innovators under 35”

  27. The Problem Is Unprecedented The Solution Is Unprecedented PATHWAYTO STOP DIABETES

  28. Challenges (and Strengths) • Challenges: • Volunteer health associations have complicated management structure • Both volunteer and staff leadership to navigate • Frequent turnover of volunteer leadership and associated changes in direction • Programs are completely dependent on fundraising • fundraising is everyone’s responsibility • VHAs are typically lean organizations • be ready to roll up your sleeves • Corporate environment • more business-oriented that you might expect

  29. Why I Love My Job (Most Days) • Benefits: • Exposure to broad range of research-always something interesting-and you have a front row seat • A lot of autonomy and agility, the ability to make decisions/ start initiatives that can have a big impact • Enormous network of volunteers, researchers, sponsors and donors • “Making a difference” is very rewarding

  30. Lessons Learned • It is OK if you don’t know exactly what you want in a career • Follow your instincts and you will figure it out • Your mentors are absolutely key to your success • Whether you like them or not-learn everything you can from them • The things you don’t like to do will eventually all catch up with you • Get over it-sooner than later-don’t let it limit your choices • Always have your eyes open for new opportunities • Don’t be afraid to try something new and work outside your comfort zone • Communication skills are critical for every job, period • If you do nothing else, learn to be an effective communicator

  31. Thank YOU! http://professional.diabetes.org/grants tdarsow@diabetes.org

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