Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation funding conversion to National Institutes of Health funding

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Luke G. F. Smith ◽  
E. Antonio Chiocca ◽  
Gregory J. Zipfel ◽  
Adam G. F. Smith ◽  
Michael W. Groff ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE The Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) provides research support for in-training and early career neurosurgeon-scientists. To define the impact of this funding, the authors assessed the success of NREF awardees in obtaining subsequent National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. METHODS NREF in-training (Research Fellowship [RF] for residents) and early career awards/awardees (Van Wagenen Fellowship [VW] and Young Clinician Investigator [YCI] award for neurosurgery faculty) were analyzed. NIH funding was defined by individual awardees using the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting tool (1985–2014). RESULTS Between 1985 and 2014, 207 unique awardees were supported by 218 NREF awards ($9.84 million [M] in funding), including 117 RF ($6.02 M), 32 VW ($1.68 M), and 69 YCI ($2.65 M) awards. Subspecialty funding included neuro-oncology (79 awards; 36% of RF, VW, and YCI awards), functional (53 awards; 24%), vascular (37 awards; 17%), spine (22 awards; 10%), pediatrics (18 awards; 8%), trauma/critical care (5 awards; 2%), and peripheral nerve (4 awards; 2%). These awardees went on to receive $353.90 M in NIH funding that resulted in an overall NREF/NIH funding ratio of 36.0:1 (in dollars). YCI awardees most frequently obtained later NIH funding (65%; $287.27 M), followed by VW (56%; $41.10 M) and RF (31%; $106.59 M) awardees. YCI awardees had the highest NREF/NIH funding ratio (108.6:1), followed by VW (24.4:1) and RF (17.7:1) awardees. Subspecialty awardees who went on to obtain NIH funding included vascular (19 awardees; 51% of vascular NREF awards), neuro-oncology (40 awardees; 51%), pediatrics (9 awardees; 50%), functional (25 awardees; 47%), peripheral nerve (1 awardees; 25%), trauma/critical care (2 awardees; 20%), and spine (2 awardees; 9%) awardees. Subspecialty NREF/NIH funding ratios were 56.2:1 for vascular, 53.0:1 for neuro-oncology, 47.6:1 for pediatrics, 34.1:1 for functional, 22.2:1 for trauma/critical care, 9.5:1 for peripheral nerve, and 0.4:1 for spine. Individuals with 2 NREF awards achieved a higher NREF/NIH funding ratio (83.3:1) compared to those with 1 award (29.1:1). CONCLUSIONS In-training and early career NREF grant awardees are an excellent investment, as a significant portion of these awardees go on to obtain NIH funding. Moreover, there is a potent multiplicative impact of NREF funding converted to NIH funding that is related to award type and subspecialty.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Russell R. Lonser ◽  
Luke G. F. Smith ◽  
Michael Tennekoon ◽  
Kavon P. Rezai-Zadeh ◽  
Jeffrey G. Ojemann ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVETo increase the number of independent National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funded neurosurgeons and to enhance neurosurgery research, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) developed two national comprehensive programs (R25 [established 2009] for residents/fellows and K12 [2013] for early-career neurosurgical faculty) in consultation with neurosurgical leaders and academic departments to support in-training and early-career neurosurgeons. The authors assessed the effectiveness of these NINDS-initiated programs to increase the number of independent NIH-funded neurosurgeon-scientists and grow NIH neurosurgery research funding.METHODSNIH funding data for faculty and clinical department funding were derived from the NIH, academic departments, and Blue Ridge Institute of Medical Research databases from 2006 to 2019.RESULTSBetween 2009 and 2019, the NINDS R25 funded 87 neurosurgical residents. Fifty-three (61%) have completed the award and training, and 39 (74%) are in academic practice. Compared to neurosurgeons who did not receive R25 funding, R25 awardees were twice as successful (64% vs 31%) in obtaining K-series awards and received the K-series award in a significantly shorter period of time after training (25.2 ± 10.1 months vs 53.9 ± 23.0 months; p < 0.004). Between 2013 and 2019, the NINDS K12 has supported 19 neurosurgeons. Thirteen (68%) have finished their K12 support and all (100%) have applied for federal funding. Eleven (85%) have obtained major individual NIH grant support. Since the establishment of these two programs, the number of unique neurosurgeons supported by either individual (R01 or DP-series) or collaborative (U- or P-series) NIH grants increased from 36 to 82 (a 2.3-fold increase). Overall, NIH funding to clinical neurological surgery departments between 2006 and 2019 increased from $66.9 million to $157.3 million (a 2.2-fold increase).CONCLUSIONSTargeted research education and career development programs initiated by the NINDS led to a rapid and dramatic increase in the number of NIH-funded neurosurgeon-scientists and total NIH neurosurgery department funding.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Miller Juve ◽  
Jeffrey R. Kirsch ◽  
Christopher Swide

Abstract Background Innovation is important for the development and advancement of any medical specialty. Leaders in anesthesiology have emphasized the need for more training in critical care and additional research to advance our specialty. Intervention To help address this need, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) developed an innovative training program that combines a critical care medicine (CCM) or research fellowship with traditional clinical anesthesia training. This article outlines the program structure, challenges, and successes of this innovative approach to training anesthesiology clinicians and scientists. Findings Since the program began in 2006, we have filled all available positions and currently have 9 scholars in the anesthesiology/CCM track and 3 in the anesthesiology/research track at the postgraduate year-2 to postgraduate year-5 levels. Our first class of scholars graduated in the summer of 2010. The Oregon Scholars Program (OSP) scholars and faculty have confronted challenges, including the transition from resident in the operating rooms to fellow in the critical care units. In 2007, our residents acknowledged the OSP/CCM scholars' expertise in CCM and have looked to them as teachers and advocates for their education during their CCM rotations. In July 2007, OHSU received a National Institutes of Health T32 training grant to support the research component of the OSP. OSP scholars' research productivity has resulted in 11 publications, 3 abstracts, 3 presentations, 3 research grants, and 1 resident research award. Several other anesthesiology programs have recently instituted similar programs to address the need for anesthesiologists trained as intensivists and clinician-scientists.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pragati Katiyar ◽  
Catherine Nagy ◽  
Samir Sauma ◽  
Marie A Bernard

Abstract Since 2015, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), has experienced significant increases in funding for Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). This analysis assesses the impact of these funds on expanding the AD/ADRD workforce. NIA administered 860 awards to 695 AD/ADRD R01 awardees during fiscal year 2015–2018. Twenty-nine percent of awardees were new or early-stage investigators, while 38% were new to the AD/ADRD research field (NTF). Among these NTFs, 59% were established investigators, that is, experts with NIH funding in another discipline but new to AD/ADRD research. Awards were further analyzed to determine the focus of their research based on International Alzheimer’s Disease Research Portfolio (IADRP) categories. Forty-six percent were focused on Molecular Pathogenesis and Physiology. Other IADRP categories, including Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring and Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, represented 5%–15% of awards. Significantly, NTF investigators received 50%, 42%, and 70% of the total grants awarded in Population Studies, Dementia Care, and Brain Aging, respectively, suggesting that NTF investigators are filling research gaps. While these results suggest that enhanced funding is associated with recruitment of new talent, opportunities for further growth remain, particularly related to care, caregiving, and health disparities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 865-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arman Jahangiri ◽  
Patrick M. Flanigan ◽  
Maxine Arnush ◽  
Ankush Chandra ◽  
Jonathan W. Rick ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVENeurosurgeons play an important role in advancing medicine through research, the funding of which is historically linked to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The authors defined variables associated with neurosurgical NIH funding, prevalence of funded topics by neurosurgical subspecialty, and temporal trends in NIH neurosurgical funding.METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective review of NIH-funded American Association of Neurological Surgeons members using NIH RePORTER (http://report.nih.gov/) for the years 1991–2015.RESULTSThe authors followed 6515 neurosurgeons from 1991 to 2015, including 6107 (94%) non–MD-PhD physicians and 408 (6%) MD-PhDs. NIH grants were awarded to 393 (6%) neurosurgeons, with 23.2% of all first-time grants awarded to the top 5 funded institutions. The average total funded grant-years per funded neurosurgeon was 12.5 (range 1–85 grant-years). A higher percentage of MD-PhDs were NIH funded than MDs (22% [n = 91] vs 5% [n = 297], p < 0.0001). The most common grants awarded were R01 (128, 33%), K08 (69, 18%), F32 (60, 15%), M01 (50, 13%), and R21 (39, 10%). F32 and K08 recipients were 9-fold (18% vs 2%, p < 0.001) and 19-fold (38% vs 2%, p < 0.001) more likely to procure an R01 and procured R01 funding earlier in their careers (F32: 7 vs 12 years after residency, p = 0.03; K08: 9 vs 12 years, p = 0.01). Each year, the number of neurosurgeons with active grants linearly increased by 2.2 (R2 = 0.81, p < 0.001), whereas the number of total active grants run by neurosurgeons increased at nearly twice the rate (4.0 grants/year) (R2 = 0.91, p < 0.001). Of NIH-funded neurosurgical grants, 33 (9%) transitioned to funded clinical trial(s). Funded neurosurgical subspecialties included neuro-oncology (33%), functional/epilepsy (32%), cerebrovascular (17%), trauma (10%), and spine (6%). Finally, the authors modeled trends in the number of active training grants and found a linear increase in active R01s (R2 = 0.95, p < 0.001); however, both F32 (R2 = 0.36, p = 0.01) and K08 (R2 = 0.67, p < 0.001) funding had a significant parabolic rise and fall centered around 2003.CONCLUSIONSThe authors observed an upward trend in R01s awarded to neurosurgeons during the last quarter century. However, their findings of decreased K08 and F32 training grant funding to neurosurgeons and the impact of these training grants on the ultimate success and time to success for neurosurgeons seeking R01 funding suggests that this upward trend in R01 funding for neurosurgeons will be difficult to maintain. The authors’ work underscores the importance of continued selection and mentorship of neurosurgeons capable of impacting patient care through research, including the MD-PhDs, who are noted to be more represented among NIH-funded neurosurgeons.


2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 802-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor A. Wilson ◽  
Rebekah G. Langston ◽  
Ka Hin Wong ◽  
Analiz Rodriguez

OBJECTIVEThe American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) provides ongoing competitive research fellowships for residents and young investigators. The authors sought to determine the characteristics and career tracks of award recipients.METHODSThe authors analyzed characteristics and academic productivity parameters of NREF resident and young investigator awardees in the United States and Canada from 1983 to 2017. Data were extracted from the NREF database and online resources (Web of Science, NIH reporter).RESULTSIn total, 224 research grants were awarded to 31 women (14%) and 193 men (86%) from 1983 to 2017. Neuro-oncology (36%) was the most common research category. Sixty percent of awardees were in training and most resident award winners were in postgraduate year 5 (37%). Forty-nine percent of all awardees had an additional postgraduate degree (PhD 39%, Master’s 10%) with a significantly higher number of PhD recipients being from Canada in comparison to any US region (p = 0.024). The Northeastern and Southeastern United States were the regions with the highest and lowest numbers of award recipients, respectively. More than one-third (40%) of awardees came from institutions that have a National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Research Education Grant (NINDS R25) for neurosurgical training. Awardees from NINDS R25–funded programs were significantly more likely to go on to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (40.4% vs 26.1%; p = 0.024). The majority of recipients (72%) who were no longer in training pursued fellowships, with a significant likelihood that fellowship subspecialty correlated with NREF research category (p < 0.001). Seventy-nine percent of winners entered academic neurosurgery practice, with 18% obtaining the position of chair. The median h-index among NREF winners was 11. NIH funding was obtained by 71 awardees (32%) with 36 (18%) being a principal investigator on an R01 grant from the NIH Research Project Grant Program.CONCLUSIONSThe majority of AANS/NREF research award recipients enter academics as fellowship-trained neurosurgeons, with approximately one-third obtaining NIH funding. Analysis of this unique cohort allows for identification of characteristics of academic success.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
D. Ryan Ormond ◽  
Mohab Abozeid ◽  
Shekar Kurpad ◽  
Stephen J. Haines

OBJECTIVEWilliam P. Van Wagenen pursued a research fellowship in Europe early in his career under the recommendation of Harvey Cushing. Later, Van Wagenen would be instrumental in the establishment of the William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship, a postgraduate fellowship for neurosurgeons from the AANS that requires study outside of a fellow’s country of residency training with plans to return to academic practice.METHODSSince 1968, 54 Van Wagenen Fellowships have been awarded, sending 54 fellows from 31 institutions to 13 different countries. The academic productivity of fellows was studied to determine the academic “return on investment” of the fellowship.RESULTSAlmost all fellows have spent some time in academic neurosurgery (94%), with the vast majority remaining in academics for their entire career (87%); 52% of fellows have received NIH funding, and 55% have been promoted to professor. The numbers are even more striking for the first half of Van Wagenen Fellows (who received the fellowship from its inception in 1968 to 1994) with at least 25 years of career development who remained in academics: 65% received NIH funding, 86% were promoted to professor, and 62% became chairs of academic departments. The Hirsch index of fellows, defined as h papers from an individual with at least h citations, is higher than the national mean and median values for academic neurosurgeons at every academic rank. Fellows have served on national committees and as AANS and CNS presidents and have given back financially to the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) to fund future research activities of neurosurgical residents and young faculty.CONCLUSIONSThe Van Wagenen Fellowship will continue to provide young neurosurgeons with opportunities to pursue novel research and network with peers internationally and to motivate young neurosurgeons to transform neurosurgery. The legacy of Cushing and Van Wagenen continues today through the Van Wagenen Fellowship, a legacy that will only continue to grow.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-154
Author(s):  
Katja Koelkebeck ◽  
Maja Pantovic Stefanovic ◽  
Dorota Frydecka ◽  
Claudia Palumbo ◽  
Olivier Andlauer ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo understand and identify factors that promote and prevent research participation among early career psychiatrists (ECPs), in order to understand what would encourage more ECPs to pursue a research career.MethodsWe conducted an electronic search of databases (PubMed and the Cochrane library) using the keywords ‘doctors’, ‘trainees’, ‘residents’, ‘physicians’ and ‘psychiatric trainees’ as well as ‘research’ (MeSH) and ‘publishing’ (MeSH). This search was complemented by a secondary hand search.ResultsWe identified 524 articles, of which 16 fulfilled inclusion criteria for this review. The main barriers included lack of dedicated time for research, lack of mentoring and lack of funding. The main facilitators were opportunities to receive mentorship and access to research funding.ConclusionsAction is needed to counteract the lack of ECPs interested in a career in research. Specific programs encouraging ECPs to pursue research careers and having access to mentors could help increase the current numbers of researching clinicians in the field.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Mistry ◽  
B Woolner ◽  
A John

Abstract Introduction Open abdominal surgery confers potentially greater risk of surgical site infections, and local evidence suggests use of drains can reduce this. Our objectives were: Assessing local rates and risk factors of infections and if use of drains can reduce the rates of infections. Method Retrospectively looking from 01/01/2018 to 31/12/2018, at patients following laparotomy or open cholecystectomy. Data collection on demographics, smoking/alcohol status, heart, respiratory or renal disease or diabetes, steroid use and CEPOD status, as well as use of drain and the outcome of infection using inpatient and online patient records. Results 84 patients included, 25 had drains inserted. There were 13 documented cases of surgical site infection, all of whom had no drain post-op. Other parameters shown to be most prevalent in the patients with a surgical site infection include being current/ex-smoker (8/13), having heart disease (9/13), and elective procedures. Conclusions Aiming to reduce the risk of surgical site infections can improve morbidity and potentially mortality outcomes. Our audit data showed that there appears to be a benefit of inserting intra-abdominal or subcutaneous drains. We will create a standard operating procedure of all patient to receive drains post-op and then re-audit to assess the impact this has on infection rates.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e042140
Author(s):  
Vanessa J Apea ◽  
Yize I Wan ◽  
Rageshri Dhairyawan ◽  
Zudin A Puthucheary ◽  
Rupert M Pearse ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo describe outcomes within different ethnic groups of a cohort of hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. To quantify and describe the impact of a number of prognostic factors, including frailty and inflammatory markers.SettingFive acute National Health Service Hospitals in east London.DesignProspectively defined observational study using registry data.Participants1737 patients aged 16 years or over admitted to hospital with confirmed COVID-19 infection between 1 January and 13 May 2020.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was 30-day mortality from time of first hospital admission with COVID-19 diagnosis during or prior to admission. Secondary outcomes were 90-day mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU and hospital length of stay and type and duration of organ support. Multivariable survival analyses were adjusted for potential confounders.Results1737 were included in our analysis of whom 511 had died by day 30 (29%). 538 (31%) were from Asian, 340 (20%) black and 707 (40%) white backgrounds. Compared with white patients, those from minority ethnic backgrounds were younger, with differing comorbidity profiles and less frailty. Asian and black patients were more likely to be admitted to ICU and to receive invasive ventilation (OR 1.54, (95% CI 1.06 to 2.23); p=0.023 and OR 1.80 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.71); p=0.005, respectively). After adjustment for age and sex, patients from Asian (HR 1.49 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.86); p<0.001) and black (HR 1.30 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.65); p=0.036) backgrounds were more likely to die. These findings persisted across a range of risk factor-adjusted analyses accounting for major comorbidities, obesity, smoking, frailty and ABO blood group.ConclusionsPatients from Asian and black backgrounds had higher mortality from COVID-19 infection despite controlling for all previously identified confounders and frailty. Higher rates of invasive ventilation indicate greater acute disease severity. Our analyses suggest that patients of Asian and black backgrounds suffered disproportionate rates of premature death from COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Polina Trachuk ◽  
Vagish Hemmige ◽  
Ruth Eisenberg ◽  
Kelsie Cowman ◽  
Victor Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Infection is a leading cause of admission to intensive care units (ICU), with critically ill patients often receiving empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics. Nevertheless, a dedicated infectious diseases (ID) consultation and stewardship team is not routinely established. An ID-Critical Care Medicine (ID-CCM) pilot program was designed at a 400-bed tertiary care hospital in which an ID attending was assigned to participate in daily rounds with the ICU team, as well as provide ID consultation on select patients. We sought to evaluate the impact of this dedicated ID program on antibiotic utilization and clinical outcomes in patients admitted to the ICU. Method In this single site retrospective study, we analyzed antibiotic utilization and clinical outcomes in patients admitted to an ICU during post-intervention period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 and compared it to antibiotic utilization in the same ICUs during the pre-intervention period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Results Our data showed a statistically significant reduction in usage of most frequently prescribed antibiotics including vancomycin, piperacillin-tazobactam and cefepime during the intervention period. When compared to pre-intervention period there was no difference in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay and re-admission. Conclusion With this multidisciplinary intervention, we saw a decrease in the use of the most frequently prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics without a negative impact on clinical outcomes. Our study shows that the implementation of an ID-CCM service is a feasible way to promote antibiotic stewardship in the ICU and can be used as a strategy to reduce unnecessary patient exposure to broad-spectrum agents.


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