Cross-disease spillover from research funding: Evidence from four diseases.

There is widespread appreciation for the role of research in addressing health problems. However, there is limited evidence on the extent to which research can be targeted to specific diseases. Analyses highlighting a concentration of research funding towards certain diseases have prompted growing scrutiny over the allocation of research funding. In this paper, we show that research funding targeted to a disease often results in publications relating to other diseases. Using data from the world's largest biomedical research funders, we estimated the frequency and direction of this cross-disease spillover by examining 337,573 grant-publication pairs for four diseases. We found the majority of our grant-publication pairs were cross-disease spillovers. We also found some variation between "rich" and "poor" diseases, in terms of the frequency and direction of cross-disease spillover. These differences are likely to be related to characteristics of the diseases themselves, as well as features of the research environment. One implication of frequent cross-disease spillover is that although more investment in areas of research such as neglected diseases is necessary, it may not be sufficient to improve the alignment between research funding and health needs.

Repercusión científica de las ayudas de la Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas: Publicaciones derivadas e impacto científico / Financed research from Government Delegation grants for the National Plan on Drugs: Research assessment and scientific impact

Los trastornos adictivos son un grave problema de salud al que se destinan gran cantidad de recursos de investigación. El propósito de este trabajo es analizar la evolución e impacto científico de las publicaciones derivadas de las ayudas a proyectos de investigación financiados por el Plan Nacional Sobre Drogas (PNSD). La relación de ayudas concedidas fue proporcionada por el PNSD. Las publicaciones derivadas se obtuvieron preguntando a los investigadores principales de las ayudas y buscando en Web of Science y Scopus. Se calcularon indicadores bibliométricos y tendencias evolutivas de la producción científica por proyecto. Por término medio, el PNSD concedió 15 ayudas anuales a proyectos de investigación, con un importe anual cercano al millón de euros (944.200,64€) y un importe medio por ayuda de algo más de 60.000€, siendo mayor en la investigación básica y en alcohol. El 71,9% de las ayudas tuvieron publicaciones derivadas y casi la mitad produjeron entre una y tres publicaciones, siendo la investigación básica la más prolífica. La revista extranjera en la que más artículos se publicaron fue Psychopharmacology (50) y entre las españolas destacó Adicciones (28). Se identificó un alto índice de coautoría y de colaboración internacional. La mayoría de los proyectos financiados por el PNSD produjeron artículos de investigación y muchos de ellos en revistas del primer y segundo cuartil del Journal Citation Reports. Los resultados de este estudio han permitido conocer la repercusión científica de las ayudas a proyectos de investigación del PNSD y puede contribuir a determinar futuras prioridades de financiación. (AU)

Addictive disorders are a serious health problem to which large amounts of research resources are devoted. This study aims to analyze the evolution and scientific impact of the publications derived from the funding of research projects by the Spanish National Plan on Drugs (PNSD). The list of grants awarded was provided by the PNSD. Derived publications were obtained by asking the principal investigators of the grants and searching in the Web of Science and Scopus. Bibliometric indicators and evolutive trends of scientific production per project were calculated. On average, the PNSD conferred 15 annual grants to research projects, with an annual amount close to one million euros (€944,200.64) and an average amount per grant of just over €60,000, being higher in basic research and in alcohol. 71,9% of the grants had derived publications and almost half of them produced between one and three publications, with basic research being the most prolific. The international journal in which most articles were published was Psychopharmacology (50) and among Spanish journals, Adicciones stood out (28). A high level of co-authorship and international collaboration was identified. Most of the PNSD-funded projects produced research articles, many of them in journals belonging to the first and second quartiles of the Journal Citation Reports. The results of this study have revealed the scientific impact of the PNSD research projects funding and may contribute to determining future funding priorities. (AU)

Large Pediatric Randomized Clinical Trials in ClinicalTrials.gov.

BACKGROUND: Large, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are essential in answering pivotal questions in child health. METHODS: We created a bird's eye view of all large, noncluster, nonvaccine pediatric RCTs with ≥1000 participants registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (last search January 9, 2020). We analyzed the funding sources, countries, outcomes, publication status, and correlation with the pediatric global burden of disease (GBD) for eligible trials. RESULTS: We identified 247 large, nonvaccine, noncluster pediatric RCTs. Only 17 mega-trials with ≥5000 participants existed. Industry funding was involved in only 52 (21%) and exclusively funded 47 (19%) trials. Participants were from high-income countries (HICs) in 100 (40%) trials, from lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) in 122 (49%) trials, and from both HICs and LMICs in 19 (8%) trials; 6 trials did not report participants' country location. Of trials conducted in LMIC, 43% of investigators were from HICs. Of non-LMIC participants trials (HIC or HIC and LMIC), 39% were multicountry trials versus 11% of exclusively LMIC participants trials. Few trials (18%; 44 of 247) targeted mortality as an outcome. 35% (58 of 164) of the trials completed ≥12 months were unpublished at the time of our assessment. The number of trials per disease category correlated well with pediatric GBD overall (ρ = 0.76) and in LMICs (ρ = 0.69), but not in HICs (ρ = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Incentivization of investigator collaborations across diverse country settings, timely publication of results of large pediatric RCTs, and alignment with the pediatric GBD are of pivotal importance to ultimately improve child health globally.

Association between author conflicts of interest and industry-sponsorship with the favorability of outcomes of systematic reviews focusing on treatments of erectile dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Authors' conflicts of interest and industry sponsorship have been shown to influence study outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether author conflicts of interest and industry sponsorship influenced the nature of results and conclusions of systematic reviews focusing on treatment interventions for erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed and Embase for systematic reviews and meta-analyses focusing on erectile dysfunction treatments published between September 1, 2016, and June 2, 2020. Authors' conflicts of interest were collected from the systematic reviews' disclosure statements. These disclosures were verified using the information provided by the Open Payments, Dollars for Profs, Google Patents, and US Patent and Trademark Office databases and from previously published disclosure statements. RESULTS: Our study included 24 systematic reviews authored by 138 authors. Nineteen authors (13.8%) were found to have conflicts of interest (disclosed, undisclosed, or both). No authors completely disclosed all conflicts. Nine reviews (37.5%) contained at least one author with conflicts of interest; of which eight reported narrative results favoring the treatment group, and seven reported conclusions favoring the treatment group. Of the 15 (62.5%) reviews without a conflicted author, 11 reported results favoring the treatment group, and 12 reported conclusions favoring the treatment group. DISCUSSION: The results and conclusions of systematic reviews for erectile dysfunction treatments did not appear to be influenced by authors who reported conflicts of interest. However, our search algorithm relied on the US-based Open Payments database and a large percentage of reviews in our study were produced by authors with international affiliations. Our study results underscore the difficulties in conducting such analyses. CONCLUSION: Although we found that undisclosed conflicts of interest (COI) were problematic among systematic reviews of erectile dysfunction treatment, only 14% of authors in our sample possessed them and these COI did not appear to influence the favorability of systematic review outcomes.

Research Funding, Income, and Career Satisfaction Among Clinician-Scientists in Ophthalmology in the United States.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize clinician-scientists in ophthalmology and identify factors associated with successful research funding, income, and career satisfaction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A survey was conducted of clinician-scientists in ophthalmology at US academic institutions between April 17, 2019, and May 19, 2019. Collected information including 1) demographic data; 2) amount, type, and source of startup funding; first extramural grant; and first R01-equivalent independent grant; 3) starting and current salaries; and 4) Likert-scale measurements of career satisfaction were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS: Ninety-eight clinician-scientists in ophthalmology were surveyed across different ages (mean: 48 ± 11 years), research categories, institutional types, geographic regions, and academic ranks. Median startup funding ranged from $50-99k, and median starting salaries ranged from $150-199k. A majority of investigators (67%) received their first extramural award from the National Eye Institute, mainly through K-award mechanisms (82%). The median time to receiving their first independent grant was 8 years, mainly through an R01 award (70%). Greater institutional startup support (P = .027) and earlier extramural grant success (P = .022) were associated with earlier independent funding. Male investigators (P = .001) and MD degreed participants (P = .008) were associated with higher current salaries but not starting salaries. Overall career satisfaction increased with career duration (P = .011) but not with earlier independent funding (P = .746) or higher income (P = .300). CONCLUSIONS: Success in research funding by clinician-scientists in ophthalmology may be linked to institutional support and earlier acquisition of extramural grants but does not impact academic salaries. Nevertheless, career satisfaction among clinician-scientists improves with time, which is not necessarily influenced by research or financial success.

Contemporary Trends and End-Results of National Institutes of Health Grant Funding to Departments of Urology in the United States: A 10-year Analysis.

PURPOSE: We explored the patterns and distribution of National Institutes of Health grant funding for urological research in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Institutes of Health RePORTER database was queried for all grants awarded to urology departments between 2010 and 2019. Information regarding the value of the grant, funded institution, successful publication of the research, and the category of urological subspecialty were collected. Data on principal investigators were extracted from publicly available information. RESULTS: There were 509 grants awarded to Urology between 2010 and 2019 for a total value of $640,873,867, and a median per-project value of $675,484 (IQR 344,170-1,369,385). Over the study period, total funding decreased by 15.6% and was lower compared to other surgical subspecialties. Most grants were awarded by the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (85%) to Western or North Central institutions (52.5%), and had principal investigators specialized in urologic oncology (56.4%), followed by general urologists (21.5%). Female principal investigators led 21.6% of Urology grants and were more likely PhD basic scientists than males (64.4% vs 38.2%, p=0.001). In total, 10,404 publications linked to the 509 grants were produced, of which 28.5% were published in journals with an impact factor ≥10. CONCLUSIONS: Urology is underrepresented in National Institutes of Health grant funding compared to other surgical fields. During the past decade there was a further decrease in the total budget of National Institutes of Health grants to Urology.

The impact of gender on scientific writing: An observational study of grant proposals.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in the language used in grant applications submitted to a Southern Brazil Research Support Foundation (FAPERGS) according to the gender, career stage, and the number of publications of applicants. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This observational study also evaluated the relationship between gender, career stage, curriculum, and writing characteristics. Summaries of all research proposals in the biomedical field of FAPERGS during the years of 2013 and 2014 were evaluated according to six language patterns (Positive emotions, Negative emotions, Analytic thinking, Clout, Authenticity, and Emotional tone) defined by the LIWC software. Applicant's gender, career stage, and the number of publications were also collected. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-four (344) grant proposals met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. No statistical differences were observed in the language pattern used by different gender applicants. In the language used by successful and unsuccessful applicants, we only found a small difference for clout (score 54.5 for not funded and 56.5 for funded grants). However, the principal investigators of successful applications had a significantly higher number of papers published (mean number of papers: 104 versus 58.5). CONCLUSIONS: Gender bias appears to be a more complex problem than just the type of language used; the way society is organized causes several gender biases that may be reflected throughout the women's career.

Influence of Department Leadership on Scholarly Productivity and Research Funding in Academic Urology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the academic achievement of Department Chairperson (DC) and Research Director (RD), when present, is associated with increased scholarly productivity and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding of faculty members in academic urology departments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified the DC, RD and faculty members of 145 academic urology departments. The scholarly productivity and NIH funding for each individual faculty member was assessed from 2018 to 2019 using an h-index extrapolated from the Scopus database and the NIH RePORTER tool, respectively. The Spearman correlation coefficient was employed to define the correlation of these parameters. Hypothesis testing was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: After excluding 13 departments due to missing faculty listing, our final sample included 132 departments and 2227 faculty members. In 2018, the NIH provided $55,243,658 in urology research grants to 24.2% of departments and 4.0% of faculty members. Of departments with NIH funding, 68.8% employed a RD. DC and RD h-index were positively correlated with departmental h-index. DC h-index positively correlated with department NIH funding. Moreover, NIH funding was significantly higher for departments with a RD vs those without a RD ($1,268,028 vs $62,941, P < .001); interestingly, NIH funding was higher for departments employing unfunded RDs vs those without a RD ($2,079,948 vs $579,055, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Academic success of a DC and RD was associated with urology departmental scholarly productivity and NIH funding. The presence of a RD, funded or unfunded, was associated with increased departmental NIH funding.

Racial inequity in grant funding from the US National Institutes of Health.

Biomedical science and federal funding for scientific research are not immune to the systemic racism that pervades American society. A groundbreaking analysis of NIH grant success revealed in 2011 that grant applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health in the US by African-American or Black Principal Investigators (PIs) are less likely to be funded than applications submitted by white PIs, and efforts to narrow this funding gap have not been successful. A follow-up study in 2019 showed that this has not changed. Here, we review those original reports, as well as the response of the NIH to these issues, which we argue has been inadequate. We also make recommendations on how the NIH can address racial disparities in grant funding and call on scientists to advocate for equity in federal grant funding.

National Institutes of Health Support for Clinical Emergency Care Research, 2015 to 2018.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: I determine the most recent data on National Institutes of Health (NIH) support for clinical emergency care research. METHODS: A search of the NIH category of emergency care from 2015 to 2018 was conducted, using a clinical focus and excluding animal and bench research projects, as well as career development grants. RESULTS: During the study period, the number of new emergency care projects submitted to NIH increased from 373 in 2015 to 434 in 2018. A total of 403 new applications were funded for $161.9 million, with an overall success rate of 24%. The total amount of support for both new and existing projects during the 4-year study period was $263 million. The number of funded R01 grants increased from 17 in 2015 to 32 in 2018, with an overall success rate of 21%. There were fewer emergency care grant submissions than those for other similar-sized disciplines. CONCLUSION: During the 4-year study period, emergency care research increased, but the number of grant submissions remains low.

Uncovering Disparities in Scholarly Productivity among Junior Surgical Society Grant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing the number of women and ethnic minority groups in surgery, the academic advancement of such individuals within surgical fields lags behind Caucasian men. We sought to identify gender and ethnic inequalities in the receipt of surgical society research grants for young faculty investigators and compare the scholarly productivity of these groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional and retrospective study, the gender and race of surgical society grant recipients were determined from surgical society Web sites. Surgical society grants aimed at providing research grants for junior faculty investigators were analyzed. Using the Scopus database, each recipient's scholarly productivity was determined by means of h-index, a standardized measure of the quantity and impact of an individual's published articles. We generated descriptive statistics to compare the gender, race, and h-index of grant recipients in the years 2006-2008 and 2016-2018. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2008, there were 68 research grant recipients. Of these recipients, 79% were men and 21% were women. The racial breakdown was 54% Caucasian men, 22% Asian men, 1.4% African American men, 1.4% Hispanic men, 12% Caucasian women, 7% Asian Women, and 1.4% African American women. The average h-index of the male and female recipients is 25 (±14) and 24 (±14), respectively (P = 0.81). Between 2016 and 2018, there were 113 research grant recipients. Of these recipients, 66% were men and 34% were women. The racial breakdown was 47% Caucasian men, 16% Asian men, 3.5% African American men, 1% Hispanic men, 26% Caucasian women, 3.5% Asian women, and 3.5% African American women. The average h-index of the male and female recipients is 12 (±8) and 9 (±6), respectively (P = 0.046). Caucasian women had the only statistically significant change in the proportion of grant recipients from 2006-2008 to 2016-2018, with an increase from 12% to 26% (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Most surgical society research grants for young investigators continue to be awarded to Caucasian men, with Caucasian women earning a distant second in the 2016-2018 cohort. Ethnic minorities continue to be awarded less research grants than Caucasian recipients. Overall, the average h-index of women was less than men. This study highlights the persistent need for surgical societies to consider gender and ethnic disparities when awarding junior investigator grants, including barriers minority groups may face in achieving the same h-index as Caucasian men.

Words of Advice: choosing the right lab for your post-doctoral fellowship.

For most researchers, the time they spend as a postdoc stands out as one of challenge, but also enormous personal and professional growth. This Words of Advice is intended to guide the choice of postdoctoral position to help make the venture a success and to launch the first chapter of a happy and fulfilling professional life.