Conclusions
Has the CBCRP encouraged high quality new investigators to submit
proposals addressing important questions of relevance to breast cancer?
The quality of new investigator scholars funded by the CBCRP during the
first five grant cycles can be assessed in part by publications, presentations,
and patents produced as a result of the research and by the additional funds
for breast cancer research obtained by the scholars (see Outcomes of the
CBCRP Funded New Investigator Research). The results of this study indicate
New Investigator Award recipients have been moderately productive. Some
respondents have published numerous papers, some have papers still under
revision, and yet others have not published any papers at all. Similarly,
some respondents have subsequently obtained large grants at least partially
based on their CBCRP funded New Investigator Award, some have funds currently
pending, while others have not obtained any further funding. This disparity
may indicate that it is too early to determine the appropriate level of
productivity because only three years on average have elapsed since the
new investigators completed their work.
Has the award helped to develop the careers of grant recipients?
When we asked respondents to identify the best outcome that occurred because
of the research they conducted with the new investigator funds, most respondents
credited the award with specific career gains such as establishing themselves
as independent researchers, facilitating the transition into a faculty position/adjunct
research position, allowing them to publish papers and obtain subsequent
funding, and learning enough about breast cancer to pursue further research.
We also found that the award provided opportunities in breast cancer research
that would not have been available without the CBCRP's support. Respondents
stated that they could not find any other funding agencies that would invest
in their idea without extensive preliminary data, and others stated that
without this funding opportunity they would been restricted in studying
what their sponsors were interested in and would not have developed their
own research programs. These data suggest that the award has helped provide
significant career development opportunities for new investigators (see
Impact of CBCRP New investigator Award on Career).
Have new researchers been recruited into the breast cancer field?
The main purpose of the New Investigator Award is to provide career development
opportunities for newly independent investigators; however, a lesser goal
of the award is to recruit new investigators into the field of breast cancer
research. Data from this study show that the CBCRP recruited 35% of respondents
from other fields, all of whom have stayed in breast cancer research.
Have new researchers remained in the breast cancer field?
The CBCRP anticipates that with the provision of career gains, a significant
number of award recipients will chose to remain in breast cancer research.
The study found that thirteen (65%) respondents were already in breast cancer
research before they received the New Investigator Award; however, 69% of
respondents stated they would not be involved in breast cancer research
today had they not received the CBCRP New Investigator Award. Additionally,
respondents identified significant career gains as the reason why they have
remained in the field, suggesting that the award provides significant benefits
that facilitate both recruitment and retention of researchers into breast
cancer research.
Has the CBCRP helped to fund promising new avenues of breast cancer
research?
The study found that 65% of respondents have published at least one paper,
38 papers have been published in total, and 1,234 succeeding studies have
cited these papers. Additionally, respondents reported presenting at least
43 oral presentations, filing two patents, and obtaining over $6 million
for breast cancer research based on the work funded by the CBCRP. These
figures indicate that new areas of research were created and built upon
by CBCRP funded new investigators.
Has more research been devoted to breast cancer by talented researchers?
While this is difficult to measure, particularly in a descriptive study,
subsequent grants awarded to new investigators at least partially based
on their work can be used as a proxy to determine whether more research
has been devoted to breast cancer. The study found that while CBCRP has
invested over $8 million in New Investigator Awards, over $6 million in
subsequent grants have been obtained by respondents for breast cancer research.
This suggests that the award provided an opportunity for some new investigators
to initiate significant research programs.
Recommendations
Based on the results of this study, the CBCRP should:
1. PROVIDE AN ANNUAL GATHERING
As stated earlier, many respondents felt it would be beneficial for new
investigators if the CBCRP would host an annual meeting to assemble senior
researchers, experts in breast cancer, faculty, and new investigators. The
event would encourage networking with people who have complementary skills,
as well as help new investigators develop connections with mentors that
will foster support and encouragement.
2. INCREASE DIALOGUE WITH GRANTEES
The CBCRP should be more proactive and increase the dialogue between CBCRP
research administrators and new investigators. Increased consultation between
the two parties can ensure proper grant management and personnel supervision,
and provide support at a critical time in scientists' careers.
3. CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE AWARDS
Given the limitations of a small sample size of respondents, we recommend
evaluating the New Investigator Awards approximately every five years, or
when there is a group of 30 or 40 new investigators who qualify for an evaluation
study. This timeframe would provide a reasonable sample size, and enough
time to assess whether the careers of new investigators have been enhanced
and whether they have stayed in the field of breast cancer.
Acknowledgments
The authors of this study would like to thank the respondents who agreed
to participate in the study and who took time from their busy schedules
and dynamic careers to consider their past experiences as a CBCRP new investigator.
Thank you for your willingness to participate. Your comments on how to improve
the CBCRP and keep supporting and encouraging more investigators into the
field of breast cancer were both thoughtful and practical. The results of
this study will help improve the New Investigator Award program. Additionally,
we would like to thank the following people for their contributions to this
study:
- Sandy Walsh, B.S. (MdT), CBCRP Council Member, who helped fine tune the
survey and edit the report.
- Katherine McKenzie, Ph.D., CBCRP Research Administrator, for providing
advice and support for the study.
