For 60 years, the US National Institutes of Health R01 research grant mechanism has aimed at funding the highest-quality science to address the important contemporary issues.
That began to change in 2008, after NIH Director Elias Zerhouni issued the goal to “Fund the best science, by the best scientists…” 1 As a result, new guidelines, requirements, and considerations have been introduced. Unfortunately, these changes are antithetical and counterproductive to achieving Dr. Zerhouni’s stated goal.
The new process has transformed the R01 mechanism into a channel that provides funds for the training and development of new and early-stage investigators (ESIs).
New directives require that “NIH will support New Investigator R01 awards at success rates comparable to those for established investigators submitting new R01 applications.” 2 Even recipients of several already-existing NIH training and development grant programs qualify as ...
