A Healthy NIH Intramural Program Structural Change or Administrative Remedies? Report of a Study (1988) / Chapter Skim
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CHAPTER 2 SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE OF NIH INTRAMURAL PROGRAM
CHAPTER 2 SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE OF NIH INTRAMURAL PROGRAM
Pages 33-46
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From page 33... ...
Since the concepts of scientific excellence and creativity are difficult to define, let alone measure precisely, the committee looked at a variety of indicators of excellence, including: ○ important discoveries by scientists in the NIH intramural research program, ○ bibliometric studies, ○ the number of NIH-trained or NIH-employed scientists receiving prestigious awards and memberships, ○ replenishment of the scientific staff with young talent. The intramural research program quality control mechanisms, while not direct indicators of excellence, can be used as process measures.
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Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. -- Development of new vaccines against important bacterial infections of infants and children, including Hemophilus influenzae type B, pertussis, and typhoid.
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BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF PUBLICATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS The term "bibliometrics" refers to the quantitative analysis of papers in research journals and of the citations received by these papers in subsequent journal articles. The extent to which published papers are cited by authors of subsequent papers is arguably the best single estimate of the quality of this published research output over extended time periods.
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Findings from Bibliometric Analysis* Although the number of papers contributed to the biomedical sciences literature by the intramural research program increased during each four-year period between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, the proportion of papers by intramural scientists declined slightly.
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. 24.1 19.1 Scientists 1973-1976 1973-1976 1.9 1.6 23.4 18.9 1977-1980 1977-1980 SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE OF NIH INTRAMURAL PROGRAM Most Hi^ily Cited 10 Percent of All Papers 24.9 21.6 1.8 2.0 1981-1984 1981-1984 Intraitiural Scientists to Papers Authored by Academic Average Citations Per Paper: Ratio of Papers Authored by Percent of Papers Authored by Intramural Scientists in the 37
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This is revealed when the data are subdivided by journal classification into the many separate clinical and basic biomedical disciplines in which NIH intramural scientists publish. When intramural research activities are viewed from the perspective of individual disciplines, several patterns of change emerge.
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The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) , which elects scientists aged late thirties to early forties, fills 5–15 percent of its places with NIH scientists.
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The committee concluded that by focusing on improving the intramural program's capacity to continue to attract scientists in these categories, it will help ensure the quality of future postdoctoral cohorts. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE CURRENT PROGRAM The mechanisms used by the intramural program to ensure quality are considered to be particularly important.
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the intramural research laboratories conducted by the boards of scientific counselors, and the process through which scientists are selected for tenure in the NIH intramural program. A brief description of the current system and its recent history follows.
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An entity conducting peer review of intramural research is to provide the institute's advisory council with a written description of the research, the results of the review and the recommendations of the reviewing entity. The conference agreement authorizes, but does not require, the advisory council to make recommendations to the institute director regarding intramural activities conducted by the institute (Health Research Extension Act, 1985)
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The laboratory chief makes the decision about recommending the fellow for tenure. The successful candidate must pass review by the laboratory branch chiefs of his institute, the board of scientific counselors, the scientific directors of all the institutes, who vote by secret ballot, and finally the NIH Deputy Director for Intramural Research.
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As far as the committee was able to determine, using a variety of indirect measures, the intramural program has maintained its scientific stature. However, as is indicated later in this report, there are actions the NIH intramural program can take to improve its performance.
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1988. The Nation's Commitment to Health Through Biomedical Research -- The NIH, the NIH Intramural Research Program and the Pursuit of Scientific Excellence.
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