Program Lead/Presenter: Sangeeta Bhargava Ph.D., Program Director, Collaborative Clinical Research Program
Collaborators: Ed Clayton Ph.D. and Neeraj Agarwal Ph.D.
Council Date: June 7, 2024
Goal:
The goal of this initiative is to support postdoctoral and other candidates in non-independent positions or newly independent early-stage investigators of exceptional creativity who propose novel, original, and insightful research concepts with the potential to produce a major impact, test scientific paradigms, or advance key concepts on broad, important problems in biomedical research of priority to NEI. The aim is to facilitate the advancement of talented postdoctoral fellows into independent positions and to support newly independent investigators.
Rationale:
A primary objective of NEI’s mission has been to recruit, inspire, and train talented individuals to expand and strengthen the vision workforce.
A recent analysis of the NEI F32 program revealed that there has been a precipitous drop in postdoctoral applications. This trend bears resemblance to observed growing concerns across the US about the postdoctoral training system and recruiting postdoctoral candidates. Recently, NIH established an Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) working group to explore the status of the postdoctoral training system, identify and understand critical factors and issues relating to the perceived decline in the number of postdoctoral scholars, and provide recommendations that address those factors. The working group developed recommendations based on guiding principles to improve the effectiveness of postdoctoral training and professional development, with the goal of benefiting both the individuals undergoing training and the broader scientific community.
Incorporating the recommendations provided by the ACD working group, the purpose of the NEI New Innovator program is two-fold: research-focused, and person-focused. This program will provide support for creative, novel, high-impact research concepts that may be risky or at a stage too early to fare well in the traditional peer review process. Through this program, NEI wants to encourage shorter post-doctoral fellowships and provide the opportunity for creative scientists to start their independent careers earlier.
Objectives and Scope:
The objective of this initiative is to increase opportunities for post-doctoral fellows, non-independent, or newly independent investigators who also have early-stage investigator status to propose highly innovative research projects with the potential for unusually high impact in the mission of NEI.
Features of this initiative include:
- The program will be available to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens working in U.S. based institutions.
- Applicants for this award must have a research or clinical doctorate (including PhD, MD, OD, DVM, ScD, PharmD, or equivalent doctoral degree), or a combined research and clinical doctoral degree.
- Applicants will be encouraged to emphasize innovation and creativity.
- The application review process will emphasize the individual’s creativity, the innovativeness of the research approaches, and the potential of the project, if successful, to have a significant impact on research priorities of the NEI the mission.
- Applicants proposing unexpected convergence of disciplines, new scientific directions, or the use of novel methodologies will be encouraged.
The NEI acknowledges the importance of opportunities in biomedical research and aims to attract talented researchers.