This book brings to light trends in the support of life scientists beginning their professional careers. In 1985, 3,040 scientists under the age of 36 applied for individual investigator (R01) grants from the National Institutes of Health, and 1,002 received awards, for a "success rate" of 33%. In 1993, 1,389 scientists under the age of 36 applied for R01 grants and 302 received awards, for a success rate of 21.7%. Even when R23/R29 grant awards (both intended for new investigators) are added to the R01 awards, the number of R01 plus R23 awards made in 1985 was 1,308, and in 1993, the number of R01 plus R29 was 527. These recent trends in the funding of young biomedical research scientists, and the fact that young nonbiomedical scientists historically have had a smaller base of support to draw upon when beginning their careers, raises serious questions about the future of life science research. It is the purpose of this volume to present data about the trends and examine their implications.

Contents

• To the Reader
• COMMITTEE ON THE FUNDING OF YOUNG INVESTIGATORS IN THE BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
• BOARD ON BIOLOGY
• COMMISSION ON LIFE SCIENCES
• The National Academies
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction: Newly Independent Investigators in the Life Sciences
• 2. Extramural Funding of Newly Independent Investigators in Biomedical Research
  • Overview of Federal Support of Life-Science Research
  • Federal Funding of Basic Biomedical Research
  • Nonfederal Funding and Mechanisms of Support of Life-Science Research
• 3. Extramural Funding of Newly Independent Investigators in Biological Science
  • Overview of Funding of the Biological Sciences
  • Federal Funding of Basic Biological Research
  • Nonfederal Funding of Basic Biological Research
• 4. The Future Supply of Newly Independent Life Scientists
  • Overview
  • Current Supply of Scientists
  • Underrepresented Minority Groups
• 5. Conclusions and Recommendations
  • General Conclusions
  • A Model for Grants to Newly Independent Investigators
  • Monitoring the Numbers of Scientists
  • Recommendations on Federal Extramural Funding of Newly Independent Investigators in the Life Sciences
  • Recommendations on Nonfederal Funding of Newly Independent Investigators in the Life Sciences
  • Recommendations on Support for Female Newly Independent Investigators in the Life Sciences
  • Recommendations on Support for Underrepresented Minority Groups in the Life Sciences
• Appendix: Additional Data
• Literature Cited

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competence and with regard for appropriate balance.

The report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.