NIGMS' Strategic Plan for Research and Career Development Comments
Comments to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences’ Strategic Plan for Biomedical Research Training and Career Development
- What constitutes "success" in biomedical research training from the perspectives of an individual trainee, an institution, and society?
On behalf of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), I thank the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for this opportunity to comment on the biomedical research training programs. AOTA, representing the interests of over 140,000 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and students of occupational therapy, is concerned about the research capacity of health care professionals, particularly in rehabilitation fields. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 7 out of 10 deaths result from chronic disease and the Medicare costs of managing chronic diseases is increasing rapidly. Occupational therapy practitioners frequently work with individuals who have a chronic disease and they utilize a variety of interventions to promote health, active engagement in daily activities, and participation of all individuals. Success in terms of biomedical training from a professional organization perspective means that we have scientists who conduct well-designed studies which answer research questions relevant to practice and policy. In occupational therapy, we particularly need evidence about the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions so that we can present the best options to clients and policy makers (society) and thus improve individuals’ daily functioning, performance, and health. Ultimately, rehabilitation therapies like occupational therapy strive to reduce the burden of disease by maximizing individuals’ independence and participation in society.
- What can NIGMS do to encourage an optimal balance of breadth and depth in research training?
NIGMS could consider the creation for doctoral program consortia to increase the breadth and depth to doctoral students and post-doctoral trainees around specific research areas (e.g., pediatric rehabilitation, fatigue management, etc.). Facilitating the development of these consortia and offering incentives would help emerging scientists to reach beyond their institutions for expertise related to their research questions, and hopefully foster interdisciplinary relationships. For example, a doctoral student at Institution A may take a course at Institution B or ask a faculty member at Institution B to serve on his/her dissertation committee.
- What can NIGMS do to encourage an appropriate balance between research productivity and successful outcomes for the mentor’s trainees?
NIGMS can encourage and facilitate more socialization among interdisciplinary researchers. If research can become a more social activity, it may increase research productivity. At times, research can become very isolating. When researchers have a forum to connect more regularly, with a diversity of scholars and clinicians, or contribute to case reviews, the initial project momentum is more likely to be maintained. If the process is strategically energized, then perhaps productivity and at least successful engagement in the mentor training will lead to successful outcomes for the mentor’s trainees.
- What can NIGMS do through its training programs to promote and encourage greater diversity in the biomedical research workforce?
NIGMS could identify and encourage students from diverse backgrounds when they are in high school because the electives taken in high school can significantly influence their college preparation and selection of majors. NIGMS could also partner with other organizations or institutes to offer more virtual and face to face summer science programs to middle school and high school student, such as games that utilize understanding of science (e.g., battle of the molecules, virtual human anatomy puzzles). The American Occupational Therapy Association is also concerned about the low percentages of diverse occupational therapy practitioners and is taking steps to recruit more individuals from diverse backgrounds into the profession.
- Recognizing that students have different career goals and interests, should NIGMS encourage greater flexibility in training, and if so, how?
NIGMS should consider advocating greater compensation for post-doctoral trainees. In occupational therapy, it is difficult to persuade researchers to continue their training by applying for a post-doctoral position when they can easily attain teaching positions that offer significantly higher salaries. Also, in our profession, we have more women than men so sometimes researchers’ education and training are affected by family care giving needs. While there is now an option of part-time research training support, greater flexibility, such as 50% effort for twice as many years should be explored. Flexibility in training may open pathways to recruit a reluctant researcher with great potential.
- What should NIGMS do to ensure that institutions monitor, measure, and continuously improve the quality of their training efforts?
Reward or recognize institutions whose students graduate and obtain research positions or successfully engage in research activities, collaborating with other disciplines.
- Do you have other comments or recommendations regarding NIGMS-sponsored training?
It would be helpful if NIGMS could sponsor training related to outcome measures so we could develop a consensus for the best standardized measures for particular conditions. For example, researchers from different disciplines (e.g., medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, psychologists) could determine which outcome measures are best for measuring the effect of interventions focused on alleviating or managing pain. These types of training activities would help prepare researchers to conduct comparative effectiveness studies. The American Occupational Therapy Association is grateful for this opportunity to comment. Please let us know if we can assist with any research capacity building efforts.
Comments were submitted to: http://public.nigms.nih.gov/2010TrainingSP/
on April 21, 2010.
