A survey shows an expansion of research enterprise in academic health centers

A survey shows an expansion of research enterprise in academic health centers

A recent survey reported that ninety-five percent of the nation's Academic Health Centers (AHCs) are expanding their research horizons by recruiting new faculty for specific research. This survey, marking trends in the research enterprise of AHCs, was conducted by the Washington, DC-based Association of Academic Health Centers. Other interesting findings were that the most commonly reported areas of new faculty recruitment are genetics, genomics and proteomics, with 15% of AHCs recruiting in one of those areas. Other areas of faculty recruitment are structural, computational and cell biology (14%), neuroscience (13%), cancer (13%) and cardiovascular disease (8%). Other areas receiving multiple affirmative responses in faculty expansion included geriatrics, public health epidemiology, immunology and bioinformatics. The widespread expansion of research among the 75 AHCs responding to the survey is further illustrated by the fact that 81% indicated they were increasing their research budgets.

This survey also noted an expansion of research support offices at AHCs. It found that 95% of respondents are increasing support for activities related to the AHC's institutional review boards. Increased staff and budget for research offices are common (89% and 88%, respectively), as are the creation of new administrative research positions (79%) and expanded support for patenting (76%). The survey also reported evidence of the growing connection between AHCs and business: just over half of the respondents (51%) report the establishment of a research park to nurture industry partnerships and aid technology transfer. In addition, 63% of AHCs say they either have established or are developing business incubators to advance early-stage research and start-up companies.

This survey was authored by AAHC VP for Programs Elaine Rubin and Program Associate Lisa Lindeman.

Source: Washington Fax, January 7, 2002