Projects

Bridges to Independence: Fostering the Independence of New Investigators in Biomedical Research

A rising median age at which PhDs receive their first research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is among the factors forcing academic biomedical researchers to spend longer periods of time before they can set their own research directions and establish their independence. The fear that promising prospective scientists will choose other career paths has raised concerns about the future of biomedical research in the United States. At the request of NIH, the National Academies conducted a study on ways to address these issues. The report recommends that NIH make fostering independence of biomedical researchers an agencywide goal, and that it take steps to provide postdocs and early-career investigators with more financial support for their own research, improve postdoc mentoring and establish programs for new investigators and staff scientists among other mechanisms.

Read or purchase a copy of the report

Download PDF summary of report

Membership of the study committee

Presentations and audio from June 16, 2004, public workshop

Download presentation about report (in PDF format)


The report was released on March 18, 2005

• Press release
• Listen to the briefing (in RealAudio format)
• See presentation slides (in PDF format)

Additional information about the study process from National Academies Current Projects System: through November 2004 and since November 2004

For more information, contact Study Director Adam P. Fagen, Ph.D., at afagen@nas.edu or 202-334-1374.