TY - JOUR
T1 - A positive return on investment
T2 - Research funding by the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE)
AU - Jones, David R.
AU - MacK, Michael J.
AU - Patterson, G. Alexander
AU - Cohn, Lawrence H.
N1 - Funding Information:
One of the primary purposes for awarding research fellowships to general surgery residents is not only to instruct them in the scientific method, but also to introduce them to academic thoracic surgery. The results of our study show that 96% of resident grant awardees practice in an academic center, with nearly 50% having a faculty appointment. Over 75% of those who have a faculty appointment have their own laboratory and 32% have been successful in obtaining NIH funding, including R01, K08, and other awards. Perhaps more important, 77% of these fellowship awardees plan to apply to the NIH for funding in the future.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Objectives: The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE) was formed in 1991 with the primary goals of generating new knowledge and nurturing the development of surgeon-scientists. The purpose of this article is to determine how effective the TSFRE has been in achieving these goals. Methods: A survey instrument was sent electronically to all former and current TSFRE research award recipients. Major themes included the benefits on TSFRE award recipients with respect to career choices of thoracic surgery, progress toward research independence, and the ability to leverage TSFRE funds to more substantive National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards. Success rates for NIH funding were confirmed using NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools. Results: The total completed survey response rate was 70% (75/107). The response rates for each group were as follows: resident 74% (28/38), faculty 85% (29/34), Braunwald 50% (9/18), and TSFRE/NIH K-award 65% (11/17). The funding rate for all grants was 14% (90/619). For resident research awardees, 81% (34/42) are cardiothoracic surgeons or are thoracic surgery residents. The conversion rate for existing TSFRE/NIH co-sponsored K-awards to R01 grants is 40% at 5 years compared with a 20% K to R conversion rate for all NIH K-award recipients. K to R conversion rates for junior faculty grant awardees without a prior K-award is 44%, which is much higher than NIH rates for all new investigator R01 awards. Conclusions: The return on investment for TSFRE funding for surgeon-scientists is resoundingly positive with respect to promoting careers in cardiothoracic surgery and to obtaining subsequent NIH funding for thoracic surgeon investigators.
AB - Objectives: The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education (TSFRE) was formed in 1991 with the primary goals of generating new knowledge and nurturing the development of surgeon-scientists. The purpose of this article is to determine how effective the TSFRE has been in achieving these goals. Methods: A survey instrument was sent electronically to all former and current TSFRE research award recipients. Major themes included the benefits on TSFRE award recipients with respect to career choices of thoracic surgery, progress toward research independence, and the ability to leverage TSFRE funds to more substantive National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards. Success rates for NIH funding were confirmed using NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools. Results: The total completed survey response rate was 70% (75/107). The response rates for each group were as follows: resident 74% (28/38), faculty 85% (29/34), Braunwald 50% (9/18), and TSFRE/NIH K-award 65% (11/17). The funding rate for all grants was 14% (90/619). For resident research awardees, 81% (34/42) are cardiothoracic surgeons or are thoracic surgery residents. The conversion rate for existing TSFRE/NIH co-sponsored K-awards to R01 grants is 40% at 5 years compared with a 20% K to R conversion rate for all NIH K-award recipients. K to R conversion rates for junior faculty grant awardees without a prior K-award is 44%, which is much higher than NIH rates for all new investigator R01 awards. Conclusions: The return on investment for TSFRE funding for surgeon-scientists is resoundingly positive with respect to promoting careers in cardiothoracic surgery and to obtaining subsequent NIH funding for thoracic surgeon investigators.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79954472618&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2011.03.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2011.03.010
M3 - Editorial
C2 - 21497233
AN - SCOPUS:79954472618
SN - 0022-5223
VL - 141
SP - 1103
EP - 1106
JO - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
JF - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
IS - 5
ER -