Silvio O. Conte Digestive Disease Research Core Centers—Connecting People, Creating Opportunities, Developing Careers

TY - JOUR

T1 - Silvio O. Conte Digestive Disease Research Core Centers—Connecting People, Creating Opportunities, Developing Careers

AU - Sandler, Robert S.

AU - Davidson, Nicholas O.

AU - Monga, Satdarshan P.

AU - Rockey, Don C.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding This research was supported by National Institutes of Health , National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grants P30 DK034987 to Robert S. Sandler, P30 DK52574 to Nicholas O. Davidson, P30 DK120531 to Satdarshan P. Monga, and P30DK123704 to Don C. Rockey. Funding Information: The Silvio O. Conte Digestive Research Core Center (DDRCC) program is an initiative funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The program is named after long-serving Massachusetts Congressman Silvio O. Conte, who sponsored legislation to establish the centers that are designed to bring together basic and clinical investigators to enhance research related to digestive and liver diseases and their complications. Funding Information: Most institutions provide funds to support centers through equipment grants, salary support, faculty recruitment, and matching funds for the pilot program, thereby amplifying the investment by the NIH. Perhaps the most important impact of the centers program is the creation of a collaborative community of scholars dedicated to digestive disease research. Although that impact has no objective metric, it is clear that it is considerable. Funding Information: Pilot grants are provided to investigators in 3 categories: (1) new investigators, (2) established nondigestive disease investigators proposing a digestive disease project, and (3) established digestive disease investigators proposing a project that constitutes a significant departure from ongoing research. All centers assign higher priority to new investigators to help young scientists at a vulnerable period in their careers. On average, 80% of pilot and feasibility grants across all centers are awarded to new investigators. All applications are rigorously peer reviewed. The process of developing the application and receiving feedback are both important career development activities. The return on investment (measured by subsequent funded grants) from pilot and feasibility support by DDRCCs is exceptional, with a high rate of retention of awardees in digestive disease research. The success of these pilot and feasibility programs reflects both the quality of applicants as well as financial and educational support provided by DDRCCs.

PY - 2021/10

Y1 - 2021/10

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111274877&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.054

DO - 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.054

M3 - Article

C2 - 34175277

AN - SCOPUS:85111274877

SN - 0016-5085

VL - 161

SP - 1085

EP - 1089

JO - Gastroenterology

JF - Gastroenterology

IS - 4

ER -