Digital Vision
In April 2003, the UK's Medical Research Council established a task force to assess possible future research models for the council's National Institute of Medical Research. "We've been looking ... for any hard data that helps us look at the relative merits of different models," says MRC task force secretary David Smith, "and we're not finding it." While the council gathered lots of anecdotal material, Smith continues, "I don't think it obviously leads to any clear conclusion.
No wonder. Judging the merits of one type research model over another – and hence the research's scientific impact – is no small feat, even though such data might be desirable to help form important decisions regarding the distribution of limited resources.
The judging is tough because common denominators are scarce. Different types of models abound, including: government-funded facilities, such as the National Institutes of Health and Max-Planck-Gesellschaft; research universities, including ...
