■ Y%6G?. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN BOOKSTACKS I ill DOC. HE20.3038: B52/PT.1-4 y 1 U THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH \ A REPORT FROM \ THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BETHESDA. MARYLAND 0OOKSTACKS ROCJJ.MEiN.lS FILE BOX, THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH « REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BETHESDA MARYLAND Biomedical Research Perspective The Biomedical Research Support Grant Program is one example of how your Federal tax dollars are spent on bio- medical research. This is the first of a four-part series. As early as 1960, adminis- trators and scientists recog- nized that in the course of re- search, expenses not covered by project grants arise with frustrating regularity. f v< "/ m The Biomedical Research Support Grant Program of NIH's Division of Research Re- sources evolved in 1962 to help this situation. Dr. Francis J. Kendrick, program chief, says its mission is to strengthen, balance and stabilize the nation's biomedi- cal research programs through funds for research needs not adequately covered by other types of Public Health Service grants. The program officially began by Congressional decree 18 years ago and it has expanded to include schools of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy and other health-related fields, as well as academic and nonacademic health research institutions. Marion A. Phinney, Editor NIH News Branch Building 31, Room 2B-63 Bethesda, MD 20205 Phone (301) 496-2535 NIH is an operating agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Our objectives are to im- prove the quality of biomedi- cal research while enhancing its productivity and decreasing its costs. One way we do this is by testing the validity of new ideas through pilot re- search," says Dr. Kendrick. Testing the validity of new ideas — or exploratory work — is the sort that doesn't require a large support staff or a lot of materials. These studies are directed at preliminary ques- tions, the answers to which will determine if the research is worth being addressed in regular projects. When the pilot project is completed, the investigator will know whether the research is worth more effort and money; he or she will know what types of technical support, equip- ment and supplies will be neces- sary; and it can be estimated how long the research will take. These assessments are very important in developing a re- search project. Without them, the investigator cannot say precisely how the project is going to proceed, and review- ers of the application have very little on which to base their evaluation. Separating less promising and unfeasible rersearch ideas from those that have high promise and significance saves investi- gators' time and effort and en- sures that better and more pro- ductive research will be con- ducted. "And there is a more subtle angle as well," says Dr. Ken- drick. "Simply having the funds to do pilot research encour- ages innovation and creativity, which are really the bedrock of good research." 805-DRR-880. DEF031T0RY JUL^o UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAIV^'qN &52/FT. 1-4 1 J THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BETHESOA. MARYLAND THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH J REPORT [BUM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BETHESDA. MARYLAND Biomedical Research Perspective Second of a four-part series In the past, gallstones often did not respond to medical treatment, and major surgery was commonly necessary. But it was known that there are some compounds that can dis- solve these stones. A young investigator wanted to study the effects of one such compound called chenic acid, which is a natural component of bile acids. To do so, both basic and clinical research came into play. BRSG supplied pilot support for the study. Results showed that after six months of treatment, the gall- stones of half the study pa- tients were reduced in size. In some patients stones disap- appeared completely and no surgery was needed. This pilot study led to a research project in which the National Cooperative Gall- stone Study recruited 1,000 gallstone patients at 10 major medical centers to test chenic acid. As a result, this com- pound has demonstrated prom- ise for nonsurgical therapy of gallstones, which may help about half a million Americans avoid surgery each year and could alter the suffering of an- other 16 to 20 million who are prone to gallstone attacks. When priorities change or a lack of investigators in import- ant areas develop, BRSG funds sometimes are used to redirect the research. For example, the program has supported meritorious proj- ects in an important but ne- glected area — the behavioral and biomedical sciences related to aging. Of 52 new active re- search grants funded by the National Institute on Aging in 1976, the groundworrk for 11 of these were laid with BRSG funds. NIH is an operating agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Regulai projects that receive BRSG support usually are funded only partially by the BRSG program. Typically these funds pay for costs not included in project grants ad- ministered by the categorical institutes of NIH. Funds have been used to supplement other sources of support in the study of perio- dontosis, a severly destructive disease leading to rapid loss of tooth-supporting bone in adol- escents. Scientists demonstrated that the disease was caused by a previouly unidentified bac- terium, and that it could be controlled by antibiotic ther- apy. BRSG funds accelerated the research to such an extent that in a short time a dramatic change occurred in the knowl- edge concerning this previous- ly untreatable disease. 806-DRR-880. THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH A REPORT PROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BEIHESDA MARYLAND THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH » BIPOfil (ROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES Of HEALTH BfiHtsD* mum Biomedical Research Perspective Third of a four-part series The ability to distribute needed funds quickly and effi- ciently was a major selling point of the BRSG program for Congress in the early six- ties. This capability still exists. BRSG awards are made to institutions once each year. When an urgent need arises the program director, who is in charge of the grant at the in- stitution, can allocate the re- quired funds on very short notice. In the event that a key piece of equipment breaks down, funds for repair or re- placement can be made avail- able to the investigator on the same day the breakdown oc- curs. Another use for these funds is to fill in when grant support for a project is temporarily interrupted. For example, a continuation award is approved, but the awarding unit is not able to fund the project im- mediately. Another type of de- lay in continuation of funding occurred when the principal investigator of a project moved from one institution to an- other. In providing funds to keep the project going, an im- portant study into the trans- mission of hepatitis B virus was continued until funding from one of the NIH institutes was received. This almost immediate re- sponse allows investigators to take advantage of unexpected opportunities as well. An inves- tigator might use the funds to redirect the research, if col- laboration on some important point is suddenly necessary. Funds can also be used to ex- pand the skills of an investi- gator to deal with an immedi- ate need. If a new technique is required to complete a project, for example, an investigator can apply for support to pay ex- penses associated with the training. When such needs arise, de- cisions on who will receive sup- port and how much will be given are determined locally by the program director at each institution. To assist the program direc- tor in making decisions on how to disburse the grant, advice is provided by both scientific and administrative personnel at the institution. It is a requirement that such advice be provided. NIH is an operating agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Institutions use BRSG funds to cover the costs of getting research started for new in- vestigators, as well as to pro- vide research opportunities for minorities and women. These activities help to enhance the quality of research, since new- ly trained investigators bring in new ideas. By providing a smooth tran- sition into research through re- cruitment or salary support, the institution is kept up to par in research capability and gains researchers just entering their most productive years. 807-DRR-880. f£f/n m JU UTHE SEARCH FOR HEALTH Yl A REPORT FROM V THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BETHESOA. MARYLAND THE SEARCH FOR U HEALTH A RIPORI FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES Of HEALTH beimesd* mmyuw Biomedical Research Perspective Third of a four-part series The ability to distribute needed funds quickly and effi- ciently was a major selling point of the BRSG program for Congress in the early six- ties. This capability still exists. BRSG awards are made to institutions once each year. When an urgent need arises the program director, who is in charge of the grant at the in- stitution, can allocate the re- quired funds on very short notice. In the event that a key piece of equipment breaks down, funds for repair or re- placement can be made avail- able to the investigator on the same day the breakdown oc- curs. Another use for these funds is to fill in when grant support for a project is temporarily interrupted. For example, a continuation award is approved, but the awarding unit is not able to fund the project im- mediately. Another type of de- lay in continuation of funding occurred when the principal investigator of a project moved from one institution to an- other. In providing funds to keep the project going, an im- portant study into the trans- mission of hepatitis B virus was continued until funding from one of the N1H institutes was received. This almost immediate re- sponse allows investigators to take advantage of unexpected opportunities as well. An inves- tigator might use the funds to redirect the research, if col- laboration on some important point is suddenly necessary. Funds can also be used to ex- pand the skills of an investi- gator to deal with an immedi- ate need. If a new technique is required to complete a project, for example, an investigator can apply for support to pay ex- penses associated with the training. When such needs arise, de- cisions on who will receive sup- port and how much will be given are determined locally by the program director at each institution. To assist the program direc- tor in making decisions on how to disburse the grant, advice is provided by both scientific and administrative personnel at the institution. It is a requirement that such advice be provided. NIH is an operating agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Institutions use BRSG funds to cover the costs of getting research started for new in- vestigators, as well as to pro- vide research opportunities for minorities and women. These activities help to enhance the quality of research, since new- ly trained investigators bring in new ideas. By providing a smooth tran- sition into research through re- cruitment or salary support, the institution is kept up to par in research capability and gains researchers just entering their most productive years. 807-DRR-880. ■••■■'■■'■•• H ||S| THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH A REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BETHESDA. MARYLAND THE SEARCH FOR HEALTH I Df PORT FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OE HEALTH BETHESOA M«RVI«ND Biomedical Research Perspective Last of a four-part series When an investigator has need for a sophisticated piece of equipment but it is too ex- pensive to justify its use by only one investigator, such in- struments are made available on a shared basis. For example, one Biomedi- cal Research Support Grant was used to purchase an auto- matic gamma counter. The equipment was needed to de- velop a mass screening program to detect thyroid-hormone de- ficiency in newborns. Early detection would allow physicians to prevent perma- nent mental retardation. But the equipment could not be justified for use in only one project. By making the instru- ment available to other re- searchers, many projects were benefited, with a high degree of efficiency in the use of BRSG funds. A significant result is that a method was developed to measure thyroid-stimulating hormone rapidly and accurate- ly. Eight infants with thyroid deficiency were detected and treatment was started at an early age. All infants treated have shown normal growth and mental development. A four- year grant of over $200,000 has since been made from the Maternal and Child Health Program of the Department of Health and Human Services to continue the studies. Reducing costs and increas- ing productivity are BRSG program objectives as well as improving research. Costs are cut by the use of pilot research. Just reducing the number of applications that have to undergo national peer review reduces the over- head for research. Productivity also increases because research projects with proved worth have a better chance of being funded. Also the investigators know what the research will require and how best to conduct it. NIH is an operating agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Support of new investigators provides them with research experience until they have established themselves as inde- pendent investigators. They bring new ideas and new skills that increase the quality and productivity of research. Providing interim funds to keep a project going until funds are available from a project grant prevents the loss of personnel, which sometimes happens when a project grant is interrupted. It avoids the cost associated with reassembling a research team, and, of course, it increases productivity. The needs for support from the BRSG program have been demonstrated throughout its 18-year history. Those needs will continue as long as bio- medical research continues. 808-DRR-880.