>> THOSE AROUND THE TABLE WITH
US AND I KNOW IT IS
EARLY-MORNING BUT ALSO TAKE
THE TIME TO.
-- AND THEN TOMORROW FROM NINE
TO ABOUT 2:30 P.M. EARN
EASTERN TIME.
WE WILL RECORD BOTH MEETINGS.
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WILL
BE VERY FULL.
IT IS A VERY, VERY FULL AGENDA
AND WE WILL DO OUR VERY BEST
TO STAY ON TIME SO I HAVE
ASKED THE ACTING PRINCIPLE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR TO KEEP US ON
TIME AND BEQUEATH --
>> I FEEL VERY EMPOWERED.
[LAUGHTER]
SO JUST A REMINDER, THE
MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE
PRESS.
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE IN A HYBRID
FORMAT WHERE IT IS THE WEBCAST
FOR SOME OF US -- AND SOME OF
US ARE IN THE ROOM.
THE MATERIALS WILL BE POSTED
TO THE WEBSITE SHORTLY AFTER
THE MEETING AND THIS MEETING
WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER ON NOVEMBER 22, 2022.
OF NOTE WE DID RECEIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT WHICH MEMBERS GO
REVIEW ON THE FILE SIGHT AND
THE LINK I THINK WE SENT
EARLIER THIS MORNING.
DIRECTORS AND PRESENTERS ARE
USING A HYBRID FORMAT HERE AND
ON ZOOM FOR THE ACTIVITIES THE
NEXT TWO DAYS SO WE'RE ASKING
FOLKS TO KIND OF FACILITATE
THE DISCUSSION SO RAISE YOUR
HAND VIRTUALLY BOTH THOSE HERE
IN THE ROOM AND ONLINE.
IF YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR HAND
IN THE ROOM, THAT IS FINE TOO
BUT WE'LL TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF
THE ORDER BY USING THE VIRTUAL
HAND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IF
YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR WANT TO
MAKE A COMMENT.
SO WHEN A MEMBER WISHES TO
MAKE COMMENT, WE ASK YOU TURN
ON YOUR VIDEO AND MIC IF YOU
CAN SO WE CAN SEE YOU AND YOUR
SMILING FACES BECAUSE WE ARE
RECORDING THIS AND IT WILL BE
HELPFUL FOR THE RECORDING.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
WE HAVE IN ADDITION TO MEMBERS
OF THE ACD COMMITTEE, MEMBERS
OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM AND WHEN
THEY ARE EITHER MAKING A
COMMENT OR PRESENTING, THEY
WILL COME TO THE TABLE TO HAVE
THEIR NAME CARDS SO YOU KNOW
WHO THEY ARE SO THEY CAN BE
IDENTIFIED AND SO FORTH.
SO THE AGENDA, I DON'T KNOW IF
WE CAN DISPLAY THE AGENDA ON
SCREEN?
IT IS PACKED.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
SO WE BEGIN WITH THE
DIRECTOR'S REPORT AND THAT
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A
PRESENTATION BY THE INAUGURAL
ARPA-H DIRECTOR AND WE HAVE
ALLOTTED QUITE A BIT OF TIME
FOR DISCUSSION SO YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE WITH
RENEE.
A BIT OF A SPECIAL TREAT, AS
WE SPEAK HERE, THERE IS A
GATES NIH WORKSHOP GOING ON ON
ANOTHER PART OF THE CAMPUS AND
MR. GATES WILL BE WITH US TILL
11: 15 AND HAVE BRIEF
COMMENTS FOR ACD AND THEN YOU
WILL ENGAGE IN SOME DIALOGUE
FOR SURE.
WE WILL HAVE A BREAK FOR LUNCH
OR WHAT PASSES FOR LUNCH
DEPENDING ON WHAT ARRANGEMENTS
YOU MADE AND AGAIN, WE WILL BE
VERY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE TONY
FAUCI WITH US IN WHAT WILL BE
HIS LAST ACD MEETING AS NID
DIRECTOR.
I SUSPECT SOMEHOW HE WILL BE
BACK IN OTHER WAYS BUT
CERTAINLY HIS LAST MEETING AS
AID.
AT 1:30 P.M. WE WILL TALK
ABOUT PEER REVIS CRITERIA.
THAT WAS INTRODUCED TO YOU IN
THE NOVEMBER SPECIAL MEETING
WE HAD, THE TELECONFERENCE.
A BREAK AND THEN HOWARD, ACD
MEMBER AND LYRID JORGENSON WHO
IS DIRECTOR OF POLICY WILL
PROPOSE A NEW WORKING GROUP
FOR THE ACD ON NOVEL
ALTERNATIVE METHODS AND I AM
SURE THAT WILL GENERATE A
GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION AND
IT ACTUALLY COMES AS AN
OFFSHOOT OF THE PRIOR WORKING
GROUP THAT WE CON SCRIPTED
BARBARA WORKING WITH US ON SO
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
FOLLOWING THE BREAK, THERE
WILL BE ANOTHER PROPOSEDACD
WORKING GROUP, THIS ONE ON
POST-DOCS THAT MEMBERS WILL BE
ENGAGED IN.
AND THIS CAME AS A RESULT OF
SHELLY REACHING OUT TO ME AND
SAYING -- SAYING WHAT ABOUT
POST-DOCS AND AS IT TURNS OUT,
TWO OTHER PEOPLE THAT SAME DAY
SAID THE SAME THING TO ME.
SO SOLD.
SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT.
AND THEN WE WILL ADJOURN.
SECOND DAY MEETING, THE ACCESS
WORKING GROUP WILL REPORT.
WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION
FROM GARY GIBBONS ABOUT THE
NIH RECOVER EFFORT RELATED TO
PAST COV2 SARS INFECTION, THIS
IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NIH TO
ADDRESS THIS.
A BREAK AND THEN SUPPORT OF
OPEN DATA WITH A NUMBER OF NIH
COLLEAGUES WHO WILL PRESENT.
THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN
UPDATE FROM THE ACD WORKING
GROUP ON DIVERSITY AND THIS
WILL BE A DISABILITY SUBGROUP
REPORT AND I UNDERSTAND A
COUPLE OF ACD MEMBERS WERE
ASKED TO REVIEW THE REPORT AND
THEY WILL LEAD THE DISCUSSION
ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
A LUNCH BREAK, THEN A UPDATE
ON UNITE AND THEN FINALLY SOME
CLOSING COMMENTS AND WE WILL
ADJOURN.
SO IT IS A PACKED AGENDA.
OKAY, IF WE COULD PULL THAT
DOWN AND GO TO THE SLIDES,
PLEASE?
SO MANY TOPICS, ALL OF WHICH I
HOPE WILL BE FAIRLY QUICK.
WE WILL START AS WE TYPICALLY
DO WITH APPOINTMENTS AND
DEPARTURES.
SO WE'RE REALLY SAD TO BE
SAYING GOODBYE TO FIVE MEMBERS
OF THE ACD WHO HAVE COME TO
THE END OF THEIR TENURE AND
WILL BE ROTATING OFF AFTER
THIS MEETING.
WENDY CHAPMAN, REBEKA DR EZEK,
CHRISTINA JOHNSON, DEENA
KATABI AND JUDITH KIM BELL.
I KNOW KRISTINA WAS UNABLE TO
JOIN US TODAY BUT WILL JOIN
TOMORROW.
I KNOW EVERYONE ELSE IS HERE
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
INCREDIBLE DEVOTION TO THIS
COMMITTEE AND FOR THE MANY,
MANY CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE MADE.
I WANT TO OFFER A SPECIAL
THANKS TO SHELLY AND ROBERTA
AND BARBARA WALSH WHO IN A
MOMENT OF -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO SAY.
[LAUGHTER]
WELL, OKAY, I WILL USE THAT.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IN A MOMENT OF GREAT
GENEROSITY, AGREED TO STAY ON
FOR A LITTLE LONGER TO HELP
WITH SOME ONGOING WORK.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NOTABLE
PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPARTING THIS
YEAR.
I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED Dr.
FAUCI, OF COURSE, WHO WILL BE
ENDING HIS TENURE AS DIRECTOR
OF THE NAID AT THE END OF THE
MONTH AND YOU CAN GIVE HIM THE
BUSINESS LATER ON WHEN HE
JOINS US.
WE'LL BE IN GOOD HANDS DURING
THE I WANT INTERIM PERIOD AS
WE DO A SEARCH FOR THE NEXT
DIRECTOR OF NAID.
HUGH AUCHINCLOSS WHO HAS BEEN
THE DEPUTY FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS WILL BE THE ACTING
DIRECTOR AND IS WELL-SUITED TO
STEP INTO THAT ROLE.
ANOTHER BITTERSWEET
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE ARE
HAVING TO SAY THAT ANDREA
NORRIS WILL ALSO BE RETIRING
AT THE END OF THE YEAR,
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR
TECHNOLOGY AND NIHCO AND HAS
REALLY BROUGHT NIH
INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE MODERN
AGE AND WE'RE EXTREMELY
GRATEFUL TO HER.
SUSA IS ON LOAN FROM MEDICINE
SO A GREAT THANKS TO PATTY
BRENNAN, DIRECTOR OF THE NLM.
YESTERDAY WE ANNOUNCED Dr.
ROGER GLASS WILL BE STEPPING
DOWN AS DIRECTOR AT THE
INTERNATIONAL CENTER AND HE IS
THE LONGEST-SERVING DIRECTOR
OF FOGARTY.
HE WILL REMAIN IN AN EMERITUS
CAPACITY AND WE ARE FORTUNATE
THE CURRENT DEPUTY AT FOGARTY
INTERNATIONAL CENTER WILL STEP
IN, KIMAR SELECTED TO STEP IN
THAT ACTING ROLE -- PETER
KILMARX.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND
INITIATIVES, DP CPS I, ONE OF
THE LARGEST DIVISIONS WITHIN
THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, WE
HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS,
JAMES ANDERSON AND ARE
FORTUNATE THAT BOB HAS COME
BACK TO US AND IS WITH US THIS
MORNING TO SERVE AS ACTING
DIRECTOR FOR DPSCI AND WILL BE
LAUNCHING A SEARCH FOR THE
ROLE SHORTLY.
GRATITUDE FOR HIS OVER 50
YEARS OF LEADERSHIP AT NIH.
WE WILL BE SAYING FAREWELL TO
JOHN GALLIN WHO IS CHIEF
SCIENTIFIC OFFICER AT NIH
CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER WHERE
HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR.
BETSY WILL BE STEPPING DOWN
AND -- WILDER -- WHO HAS BEEN
DIRECTOR OF THE STRATEGIC
COORDINATION FOR YEARS.
OKAY, SO NOW THAT IS THE END
OF THOSE LEAVING, WE HAVE
JONITRUTTER WHO HAS BEEN NAMED
TO THE DIRECTORSHIP OF
NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING
TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES AND
WE'RE DELIGHTED JONI IS IN
THIS ROLE.
AND THEN THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
FOR INTRAMURAL RESEARCH,
NINA SCHOR, WE ARE DELIGHTED
TO HAVE HER IN THAT PERMANENT
CAPACITY NOW.
WE HAVE RECENTLY WELCOMED THE
NEW DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL
CANCER INSTITUTE.
AS YOU KNOW, N CI IS THE
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT AND
THE ONLY ONE APART FROM THE
PERMANENT NIH DIRECTOR -- OH
YES, AND ARPA-H, CORRECT.
THERE ARE NOW THREE
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS,
THANK YOU.
SO IN THIS INSTANCE, Dr.
MONICA BERTAGNOLLI IS THE NEW
DIRECTOR AND HAS HIT THE
GROUND RUNNING.
WE WILL ALL STRUGGLE TO KEEP
UP WITH HER BECAUSE SHE IS
REALLY MOVING FAST BECAUSE OF
THE IMPERATIVE OF, IN PART,
THE CANCER MOONSHOT WHICH IS
THE PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE
AND ALSO THERE IS A LOT GOING
ON AT THE NCI AS YOU MIGHT
IMAGINE SO WE WELCOME HER.
AND AS I MENTIONED A LITTLE
WHILE AGO, THIS IS REALLY THE
INAUGURAL DIRECTOR OF ARPA-H
AND SHE WILL BE PROVIDING US
AN UPDATE LATER THIS MORNING
AND THEN FOUR
MEMBERS HERE AT THE NIH SO
WE'RE REALLY DELIGHTED FOR ALL
OF THESE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
THEIR COME ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
A FEW SPECIAL EVENTS.
YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT ALL THE
PICTURES AND SO FORTH BUT HERE
I AM, GREETING ADMIRAL RACHEL
LEVINE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
HEALTH, THIRD PERSON FROM THE
LEFT AND SHE VISITED THE
CLINICAL CENTER AND GAVE A
GREAT KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE
NIH PRIDE EVENT SO THAT WAS
REALLY WONDERFUL TO HOST HER
HERE TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF
THE INSTITUTE DIRECTORS OF DC.
WE ALSO HAD THE HONOR OF
HOSTING SENATOR ROY BLOUNT OF
MISSOURI AT THE DEDICATION
CEREMONY AT THE NEW ROY BLOUNT
CENTER RELATED TO ALZHEIMER'S
DISEASE AND RELATED RESEARCH
CENTER.
I THINK YOU ALL KNOW SENATOR
BLOUNT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME
CHAMPION FOR NIH IN GENERAL
BUT ALSO RESEARCH RELATED TO
EXPANDED DEMENTIA RESEARCH AND
DESIGNED TO BE A FOCAL POINT
AND CATALYST IN THIS FIELD.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HOST
SECRETARY BASERA WHO IS DEAD
CENTER IN THE PHOTO ALONG WITH
SENATORS BEN CARDIN AND CHRIS
VAN HOLLAND, MARYLAND
DELEGATION AND REPRESENTATIVE
DAVID TROEN IN WHOSE DISTRICT
THE NATIONAL CANCER SITE
CENTER IS LOCATED.
AND WE HAD SOME REALLY
OUTSTANDING PRESENTATIONS BY
THE NCI STAFF AT FREDERICK AND
WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE CANCER
MOONSHOT.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A
QUICK UPDATE ABOUT EARLY STAGE
INVESTIGATORS BECAUSE THIS IS
ONE OF THE METRICS THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WATCHING VERY, VERY
CLOSELY.
AND I MUST SAY OVER THE YEARS
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS
REALLY, YOU KNOW, URGED US TO
CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, THESE
EFFORTS.
AND SO THE LATEST DATA ARE
LISTED HERE AND WE'RE VERY
PROUD THAT THE FINAL TALLY FOR
2022 WAS AN ALL-TIME RECORD OF
1589 EARLY STAGE INVESTIGATOR
APPLICANTS WERE FUNDED FOR
THEIR FIRST R1 OR EQUIVALENT
AWARD.
AND SO AS YOU SEE, WE KEEP
GOING UP AND WE ARE GOING TO
WORK HARD AT MAINTAINING -- IT
IS ONE PIECE OF WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO DO BUT AN IMPORTANT
PIECE SO WE WANTED TO DRAW
YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS SORT OF
BASELINE.
WE WANTED AT LEAST 1100 BUT
ABLE TO EXCEED THAT VIRTUALLY
EVERY YEAR SO I AM REALLY
VERY, VERY PLEASED THE CENTER
HAS STEPPED UP AND HELPED US.
SOME OF YOU KNOW ERA BECAUSE
OF COURSE GRANT APPLICATIONS
AND SO FORTH.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE
KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR MANY, MANY
THINGS AT NIH.
IT'S A VERY COMPLEX,
INTEGRATED SYSTEM THAT WE TRY
AND MAKE AS USER-FRIENDLY AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE FRONT
END NATURE OF WHAT IT DOES IN
TERMS OF OUR EXTRAMURAL
ACTIVITIES.
WE ARE ENHANCING IT EVEN
FURTHER BY BEGINNING TO
POPULATE INFORMATION RELATED
TO CONTRACTS SO AS THE SLIDEEN
-- SLIDE ENUMERATES, CONTRACT
AWARDS REPRESENT ONLY
8 PERCENT OF OUR MONEY AND
UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE A
GOOD WINDOW INTO OUR AWARDS
PROGRAM.
YOU CAN GO IN FOR GRANTS AND
FIND ANYTHING YOU WANT BUT
CAN'T YET DO THAT FOR
CONTRACTS SO LATER THIS YEAR,
WE WILL ALLOW CONTRACT
AWARDEES TO UPLOAD INFORMATION
ON THE SCIENCE THEY ARE DOING
INTO ERA COMMENTS SO THIS WILL
ALLOW CONTRACT AWARDEES TO
ACCURATELY CHARACTERIZE WHAT
THEY ARE DOING, IMPROVE
TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC
ABOUT OUR CONTRACT DATA AND
AGAIN COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT
WE DO WITH GRANTS.
AND IT WILL REPLACE A VERY
ARDUOUS MANUAL PROCESS THAT
OUR STAFF NOW USES TO UPLOAD
SOME INFORMATION.
SO WE VIEW THIS AS A REALLY
IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN
ENHANCING THE TRANSPARENCY OF
WHAT THE AGENCY IS DOING AND
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO
ROLLING THIS OUT LATER THIS
YEAR.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP
ABOUT THAT.
SO JUST A VERY BRIEF UPDATE ON
THE PROGRESS OF THE NIH-WIDE
DEIA STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WE
PRESENTED TO YOU DURING THE
JUNE MEETING.
SO YOU MAY RECALL THAT THIS
PLAN WILL ARTICULATE THE
VISION THAT NIH HAS FOR
STRENGTHENING DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND
ACCESSIBILITY AND WILL CAPTURE
ACTIVITIES THAT THE NIH
WORKFORCE HAS TO UNDERTAKE TO
IMPLEMENT, TO MEET THE VISION
OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
NOW, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS
WE'VE HARMONIZED THE NIH
STRATEGIC PLAN FRAMEWORK WITH
THE NIH DEIA PRIORITIES THAT
ARE ORGANIZED AROUND THE NEEDS
AND CHALLENGES IN THREE AREAS,
AND WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING A
FIVE-PHASED APPROACH TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGIC
PLAN AND THE FIRST PHASE, WE
INVOLVE A NUMBER OF OFFICES
WITHIN NIH TO LEAD PLANNING
EFFORTS.
IN THE SECOND PHASE, THE
WORKING GROUP DEVELOPED SORT
OF A STRAW MODEL STRATEGIC
PLAN FRAMEWORK.
THE THIRD PHASE EXISTED OF
GATHERING INPUT BOTH HERE AT
THE NIH AND ALSO THE PUBLIC.
THIS INCLUDEK A WEBINAR, RFI
SEEKING FEEDBACK, AN NIH DATA
CALLED INVENTORY, THE OVER
1700NIH/DEIA ACTIVITIES.
THE FOURTH PHASE, THE WORKING
GROUP FURTHER REFINED THE
NETWORK AND THEN SELECTED A
SHORT LIST OF ACTIVITIES TO
ILLUSTRATE ASPECTS OF THE PLAN
AND THEN THEY FINISHED THE
DRAFTING.
AND SO WE ARE NOW IN THE FIFTH
PHASE WHICH INVOLVES REVIEW
AND APPROVAL FOR THE PLAN.
SO WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF
INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AS I
MENTIONED, EXTENSIVE INTERNAL
ENGAGEMENT -- WORKING GROUP, [
INDISCERNIBLE ] MEETINGS,
INVENTORY CALLS, RFI AND SO
FORTH AND THEN THE EXTERNAL
COMMUNITY GAVE US FEEDBACK VIA
RFI AND WEBINAR.
AND OF COURSE WE APPRECIATE
ALL THE INPUT WE HAVE
RECEIVED.
THE PLAN HAS NOW BEEN REVIEWED
BY THE INSTITUTE CENTER AND
NIH LEADERSHIP AND WE'LL BE
WORKING TOWARDS A SORT OF
FINAL APPROVAL, FINAL SIGNOFF.
YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE DRAFT
PLAN, AND I KNOW THIS TOOK A
LOT OF TIME AND I APPRECIATE
THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO
THIS, AND SO WE ARE PLANNING
FOR A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PLAN.
AND BOTH OF WHO YOU HAVE DONE
THESE THINGS AT YOUR HOME
INSTITUTIONS KNOW THE PLAN IS
JUST THE FIRST PART.
THE REAL WORK NOW COMES TO HOW
YOU ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT
THINGS AND WE ARE UNDERWAY IN
TERMS OF OUR WORKING THROUGH
THAT.
SO AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO PROVIDED
INPUT, AND TO ALL OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE EXTRAMURAL AND
INTRAMURAL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE
PEOPLE WERE ENGAGED AND WE'RE
VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE
EVERYBODY GET INVOLVED IN
THIS.
IT A COUPLE OF UPDATES ON SOME
INITIATIVES AND AT LEAST TO
GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF WHAT'S
GOING ON.
SO ONE INITIATIVE WHICH IS
ENTITLED THE EATING, SLEEPING
AND CONSOLING FOR NEONATAL
OPIOID WITHDRAWAL STUDY IS A
CONSORTIUM THAT WAS FUNDED BY
THE HEAL INITIATIVE AT NIH BUT
IT WAS CONDUCTED IN
COLLABORATION WITH NICHD'S
NEONATAL RESEARCH NETWORK AND
ARE IDEA STATES PEDIATRIC
CLINICAL TRIAL NETWORK.
SO VARIOUS ENTITIES AT NIH
CAME TOGETHER.
THE STATES HIGHLIGHTED IN
WHATEVER COLOR THAT IS,
DARKENED COLOR, REPRESENT THE
SITES AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE,
MANY OF THEM ARE NOT THE
TYPICAL PLACES THAT WE DO
TRIALS.
A VERY GOOD REPRESENTATION FOR
EXAMPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
COUNTRY.
IN ANY EVENT, THE -- AND I
KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THIS BUT WHEN AN NEONATE
IS EXPOSED TO OPIOIDS, YOU CAN
PRECIPITATE THE OPIOID
WITHDRAWA L SYNDROME OR NOWS.
THE NEWBORNS ARE IRRITABLE,
DON'T SLEEP WELL AND
UNFORTUNATELY SPEND MANY DAYS
HOSPITALIZED AND THERE ARE
INSTANCES WHERE THERE IS
SUFFICIENT SYMPTOMOTOLOGY
CLINIC IANS WILL TREAT WITH
REPLACEMENT OPIOIDS.
WHAT WE FOUND IN SURVEY WORK
WAS THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL
VARIATION IN HOW NOWS CASES
WERE MANAGED AND SO -- AND
THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION
FOR THESE INFANTS, THE
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS FOR THESE
BABIES THAT INCLUDE A NUMBER
OF PRESENTATIONS, TREMOR,
EXCESSIVE CRYING,
IRRITABILITY, POOR SLEEP
CYCLE, DIFFICULTIES WITH
BREATHING, THIS CAN BE QUITE
SERIOUS.
AND SO THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS
STUDY WAS TO SEE IF THERE IS A
BETTER WAY OF APPROACHING
THIS, AND THEY DID A STUDY TO
SEE IF A SIMPLER APPROACH OF
INSURING GOOD EATING, SLEEPING
AND CONSOLING WOULD BE AS
EFFECTIVE AS FARM --
PHARMACOLOGIC CARE SO THIS
INVOLVES HOLDING AND SWADDLING
AND ROCKING THE BABY, QUITE A
BIT OF CARETAKER INVOLVEMENT.
SO THE WORK WAS DONE ACROSS
TWO PEDIATRIC CLINICAL TRIAL
NETWORKS, WAS A RANDOM
INTERVENTION SO AND IT HAS LED
TO A WHOLE CHANGE IN THE WAY
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO
TREAT THIS NOW.
AND SO -- AND WHAT'S
REMARKABLE IS THE NURSES IN
THE FRONT LINES OF ALL OF
THIS, ABOUT 5000 NURSES WERE
TRAINED TO PARTICIPATE AND
THREE EARLY STAGE
INVESTIGATORS LED THE STUDY
WHICH IS REALLY A WONDERFUL
THING.
THE APPROACH SUBSTANTIALLY
DECREASED THE TIME TILL THE
INFANTS WERE READY TORE
DISCHARGE, SUBSTANTIALLY
DECREASED THE NEED FOR
PHARMOCOLOGICAL TREATMENT, DID
NOT AFFECT SAFETY OUTCOMES
THROUGH THREE MONTHS OF AGE
AND NOW PROVIDES STRONG
SUPPORT FOR STANDARD CARE.
THERE WILL BE A NATIONAL
MEETING AND FOLLOW UP FOR
FAMILY WELL-BEING AND CHILD
NEURO DEVELOPMENT.
SO I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE
WHERE WE HAVE PULLED IN A
VARIETY OF EQUITIES HERE TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND IT WILL
VERY LIKELY LEAD TO MAKE THIS
A NEW STANDARD OF CARE.
SO WE'RE REALLY VERY PLEASED
WITH IT.
ANOTHER EFFORT THAT I JUST
WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION
TO IS THE AIM AHEAD EFFORT,
AND THIS IS ABOUT CREATING BE
A AIML CONSORTIUM TO ADVANCE
HEALTH EQUITY AND RESEARCHER
DIVERSITY.
THIS WAS LAUNCHED A LITTLE
OVER A YEAR AGO AND BASICALLY
THE IDEA IS TO ENSURE THAT
BENEFITS OF AI AND ML ARE MORE
SPREAD ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES AND TO DO THAT, THIS
PROGRAM WILL ENHANCE THE DATA
BEING USED TO TRAIN THE
ALGORITHMS AND AS IMPORTANT,
ENSURE THAT THE LEADERS ARE
FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN
POSING THE QUESTIONS,
ANALYZING THE DATA AND SO
FORTH.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT AI IS
VERY POWERFUL BUT IF YOU TRAIN
WITH A BIASED DATA SET, AI
WILL SIMPLY AMPLIFY THE BIAS
AND YOU ARE WORSE OFF THAN
WHEN YOU STARTED SO THIS IS
ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS THIS.
AND WE HAVE REALLY MADE SOME
GREAT PROGRESS SO FAR AND
AGAIN, THIS IS ONLY A LITTLE
BIT OVER A YEAR OLD, 22
RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS,
LEADERSHIP FELLOW SHIPS, A
SERIES OF TRAINING PRACTICUM
AWITH REGARDS MADE TO ENHANCE
COMPETENCIES IN AI/ML,
GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM
INSTITUTIONS, AND THEN THERE
IS THE AIM AHEAD VIRTUAL
PLATFORM THAT INTERSECTS AI/ML
HEALTH EQUITY AND A NUMBER OF
WEBINARS AND SYMPOSIA
INCLUDING AI FOR HEALTH EQUITY
EFFORT.
AND SO THIS SHOWS YOU WHERE
ALL THE EQUITIES OF ALL THIS
PROGRAM ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED
AND IT REALLY IS A NATIONAL
PROGRAM.
I MEAN NOT EVERY STATE IS
INVOLVED BUT WE HAVE A PRETTY
GOOD REPRESENTATION IN MANY
STATES AT LEAST.
AND OVER TIME, WE HOPE TO GROW
THIS OUT EVEN FURTHER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRINT IS
TOO SMALL TO READ BUT IT IS IN
YOUR SLIDE DECKS THAT YOU
RECEIVED.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE BUT
TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES, ONE PROJECT LED BY
THE NATIONAL RESEARCH
INSTITUTE THAT USES MACHINE
LEARNING TO ENHANCE THE KIDNEY
TRANSPLANT INDEX BY EXPANDING
THE UNDERLYING DATA TO INCLUDE
NOVEL AND COMMUNITY LEVEL
VARIABLES TO MULTIETHNIC
POPULATIONS.
ANOTHER PROJECT BY Dr.
ALEXANDER STOKES AT UNIVERSITY
OF HAWAII USES ML TO ADDRESS
UNDER DIAGNOSES AND UNDER
REPRESENTATION OF PERSONS AND
THEN ANOTHER ONE OUT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
IRVINE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO-DENVER
TO USE ML TO PREDICT CARDIO
METABOLOMIC RISKS OF NATIVE
AMERICAN ADULTS WITH DIABETES.
THIS IS JUST A SAMPLING AS
THESE PROJECTS ARE ALL OF THAT
SAME TYPE.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO
GRIFF BRIEF UPDATE ON THE
"ALL OF US" PROGRAM WHICH WE
HAVE TALKED TO THE COUNCIL
ABOUT.
AS OF DECEMBER 5TH, A COUPLE
DAYS AGO, 559,000 PARTICIPANTS
AND CLIMBING.
IT IS REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE.
WE HAVE ASSEMBLED OVER 339,000
ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS.
OF THE GROUP THAT HAVE SIGNED
UP, OVER 393,000 HAVE
COMPLETED THE INITIAL STEPS OF
THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE OVER 400,000
BIOSAMPLES.
YOU KNOW, COVID THREW US A
CURVE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE BUT
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, RECOVERED
AND ARE WORKING NOW TO DEVELOP
ONE OF THE LARGEST AND RICHEST
DATA SETS BROADLY AVAILABLE.
AND WE ARE ALREADY USING THIS
RESOURCE TO INTERROGATE
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND WHAT IS
PARTICULARLY HEARTENING --
WELL, BEFORE I GET TO THAT,
GENOMIC RESULTS ARE NOW
BEGINNING TO BE RETURNED FOR
PILOT TESTING.
THIS IS YOU OPT IN, PROVIDE A
BLOOD OR IN SOME CASES SALIVA
SAMPLE, SEQUENCING IS DONE AND
THEN YOU OPT IN WHETHER OR NOT
YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE
RESULTS.
A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
IS THAT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
HAVE SOME RISK MARKER NOTED,
THIS IS SUPPORTED WITH
DISCUSSION WITH GENETIC
COUNSELORS SO THAT THE
INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDS WHAT
THIS MEANS AND AS YOU KNOW,
SOME OF THESE THINGS CAN BE
PRETTY COMPLICATED.
AND PEOPLE ARE ALSO ABLE TO
VIEW THEIR GENETIC ANCESTRY IF
THEY ARE INTERESTED.
ALL OF THIS IS OPT-IN IF THEY
WANT, IF THEY WANT THE
INFORMATION.
AND THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN
EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE
MATERIALS THAT ARE MADE
AVAILABLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF MUTATIONS ARE
NOTED, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
SHARE THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR
TOGETHER WITH SOME INFORMATION
ABOUT WHAT POTENTIAL RISKS
THAT MAY ENTAIL.
SO WHAT IS VERY HEARTENING
ABOUT THIS ENTIRE PROGRAM IS
IT IS LIKELY THE MOST
ETHICALLY RACIALLY ENRICHED
COHORT THAT NIH HAS EVER
ASSEMBLED, PARTICULARLY
SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE AND AS
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PIE
GRAPH, IT IS CURRENTLY, YOU
KNOW, WHITE PARTICIPANTS ARE
THE MINORITY WHEN YOU COMPARE
THE ENTIRE FILE AND CAREER
LEVELS RANGE THE GAMUT.
MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE PARTING
INCLUDING 28HBCUS AND 36
HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS
AND WE WILL CONTINUE THIS TO
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN
ETHICALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE
COHORT.
ALL THE OTHER COHORTS THAT
HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED ARE
LARGELY EUROPEAN IN NATURE AND
SO THIS IS REALLY ENRICHING
OUR UNDERSTANDING AND WILL
CONTINUE TO DO SO.
OKAY, SO NOW I WILL STOP
SPEAKING FOR A WHILE WHICH I
AM SURE YOU ARE THRILLED ABOUT
AND I AM GOING TO ASK
MR. SHAPIRO TO COME TO THE
TABLE TO GIVE US A BUDGET
UPDATE.
NEAL IS OUR BUDGET OFFICER.
[ OFF MIC ]
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, NEXT
SLIDE.
GOOD TO GET SOME INSTRUCTIONS.
[LAUGHTER]
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY,
BUDGET-WISE, AT THE BEGINNING,
EARLY IN FISCAL 2023.
IT STARTED ON OCTOBER 1.
AS IS COMMON, WOULD HE DID NOT
RECEIVE OUR FINAL APPROPRIATE
BY THAT POINT SO WE ARE
CURRENTLY UNDER A CONTINUING
RESOLUTION.
IT LASTS UNTIL THE 16TH, NEXT
FRIDAY.
AND BASED ON WHERE WE
UNDERSTAND CONGRESS IS IN
TERMS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON A
HOPEFULLY FULL YEAR
APPROPRIATION, IT LOOKS LIKE
THEY WILL NEED AT LEAST
SEVERAL MORE WEEKS SO PROBABLY
EARLY JANUARY WOULD BE THE
SOONEST THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO SEE A COMPLETED BILL AND AS
A RESULT, THE LIKELIHOOD IS
THAT THEY WILL PASS ANOTHER
CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND THEN
HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
FINISH THE JOB BY THEN.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING UNDER THE
SAME FUNDING LEVEL WE HAD IN
'22, PRORATED BASED ON THE
PERIOD.
AND WHILE CONGRESS IS WORKING
ON THAT, AND ADRIAN WILL TELL
YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THE OTHER THINGS GOING ON
RIGHT NOW, IT COULD
POTENTIALLY INCLUDE BOTH AN A
APPROPRIATION OMNIBUS AND
POTENTIALLY SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATIONS SUCH AS ONES WE
HAVE HAD IN THE PAST FOR
COVID-19.
LAST POINT HERE IS ON THE TYPE
1 DIABETES MANDATORY FUNDS,
THAT IS NOT PART OF THE A
APPROPRIATION BUT DONE
SEPARATELY.
IT WAS REAUTHORIZED FOR THREE
YEARS FOR 21 TO 23 AND SO
BEYOND THAT YEAR, IT WILL NEED
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION TO
CONTINUE INTO 2024 BUT THE
FUNDS HAVE ALREADY COME.
OKAY, SO A LITTLE RUNDOWN ON
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE OUR
LAST A TV MEETING IN TERMS OF
APPROPRIATIONS IN CONGRESS.
FIRST IN THE HOUSE, OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO GET
THROUGH THEIR MARKUP AS WELL
AS THE FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP
IN JUNE.
IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A
CONSOLIDATED BILL SO CONGRESS
TOOK SEVERAL DIFFERENT
SUBCOMMITTEE BILLS, COMBINED
THEM INTO ONE.
WE SOMETIMES CALL THAT A MINI
BUS RATHER THAN AN OMNIBUS.
THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND
OUR BILL WAS INCLUDED SO THERE
WAS FLOOR ACTION IN THE VOTE
ON THAT LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR, WE WERE NOT PART OF
THAT BILL SO WHAT WE HAVE,
WHAT CONGRESS IS WORKING OFF
IS WHAT WAS APPROVED BY THE
FULL COMMITTEE.
THE INCREASE OVER 2022 WAS
$2.5 BILLION NOT INCLUDING
ARPA-H AND THAT INCLUDED
ACROSS WILL THE BOARD AN
INCREASE OF 3.2%.
ARPA-H WAS FUNDED AT
2.75 BILLION, EXCITED ABOUT
THAT, AN INCREASE OVER FY202
BUT WAS APPROPRIATED IN HHS
BUT OUTSIDE NIH.
SO THE ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION
HAD IT IN HHS BUT WITH THE
AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER TO NIH
WHICH THE DEPARTMENT THEN DID
BUT APPARENTLY IT HAS BEEN
OPERATING WITHIN NIH BUT THAT
IS STILL AN ISSUE THAT THE
HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE YET TO
AGREE ON.
NEXT AND AS I NOTED BEFORE, IT
IS WITHIN NIH IN THE SENATE
MARK ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT
INCREASE THE FUNDING, THE
$1 BILLION AND AS THE LAST TWO
YEARS, THE SENATE DID NOT GET
THROUGH THE SUBCOMMITTEE OR
FULL COMMITTEE MARKUPS.
SO THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
RELEASED THEIR RECOMMENDED
BILL UNDER REPORT LANGUAGE
INCLUDING A 2.5 INCREASE FOR
NIH, ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE
OF 3.1 PERCENT AS WELL AS
SEVERAL RESEARCH AREAS SO THE
HOUSE HAD MORE SUPPORT THAN
THE SENATE DID.
THE OTHER THING THAT WAS
INCLUDED WAS THE $16.000000000
OF EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL
FUNDING TO HHS FOR COVID-19
WHICH CAN THEN BE DISTRIBUTED
TO COMPONENTS OF HHS INCLUDING
NIH WHICH HAS SEEN A FAIR
SOURCE OF THE COVID-19 FUNDED.
SO THIS IS LAYING OUT THE
NUMBERS SO YOU CAN SORT OF SEE
WHAT THE BIDDING WAS BETWEEN
THE ADMINISTRATION, HOUSE AND
SENATE.
ONE THING I EXPLAINED BACK IN
JUNE BUT WILL DO SO AGAIN,
BETWEEN THE 2022 ENACTED AND
2023 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, THOSE
TWO WERE BASED ON DIFFERENT
STARTING POINTS.
CONGRESS DIDN'T PASS THE BILL
IN TIME FOR IT TO BE USED AS A
BASELINE FOR THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET SO THAT WAS WORKING OFF
A 2022 CR LEVEL, SORT OF WHAT
WE'RE DOING NOW WITH 2022,
THAT WAS THE 2021 LEVEL BEING
APPLIED IN EARLY 2022 AND AT
THAT TIME, IT WAS
$42.09 BOULLION -- BILLION.
SO IT WAS PROPOSING ABOUT THE
SAME INCREASE IN THE SAME
RANGE AS THE HOUSE AND SENATE
PROVIDED IN THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET BUT FROM DIFFERENT
STARTING POINTS.
SO FORTUNATELY EVEN THOUGH
THERE WASN'T THAT MUCH
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AND WHAT
CONGRESS ENACTED, IN THEIR
APPROPRIATIONS ACTION THEY
STARTED FROM A NEW POINT WHICH
ADDED $2.5 BILLION AS WELL AND
THEN THE ARPA-H NUMBERS AS I
SHOWED YOU BEFORE.
THE OTHER PART OF THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WAS A
$12.5 BILLION PANDEMIC
PREPAREDNESS PROPOSAL THAT WAS
MOVING BEYOND COVID-19 TO
PREPARE FOR OTHER PANDEMICS
IN THE FUTURE, THAT HAS NOT
BEEN APPROVED BY CONGRESS SO
IT HAS BEEN MORE DEALING WITH
CURRENT VERSIONS OF COVID-19
AND POTENTIAL NEW STRAINS TO
PREPARE FOR THOSE.
SO CURRENTLY THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS PENDING FOR
HHS, A $9 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL
REQUEST THAT IS NOT BROKEN OUT
BY COMPONENTS LIKE NIH BUT IT
INCLUDES ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
FOR VACCINES AND THERAPEUTICS
AND WELL AS ADDITIONAL FUNDING
THAT COULD GO TOWARDS
CONTINUING THE RECOVER
INITIATIVE FOR LONG-COVID.
BOTH OF THOSE, YOU WILL BE
HEARING ABOUT LATER TODAY AND
TOMORROW SO I WON'T GO INTO
TOO MUCH DETAIL.
NEXT?
AND THIS IS JUST TO GIVE YOU
AN IDEA OF SOME -- THIS IS
JUST A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE
TARGETED INCREASES THAT WERE
IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, THE
HOUSE AND THE SENATE MARK.
WANTED TO SHOW THAT IN MANY
CASES THE HOUSE AND SENATE
HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE
PRIORITIES NIH HAS EXPRESSED.
SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSED OVER AND OVER, VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE
PROGRESS ON.
THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR SEVERAL OF THESE
IN 2022 AS WELL, FOR OPIOIDS,
HEALTH DISPARITIES, BUILDINGS
AND FACILITIES.
NUTRITION SCIENCE WAS A NEW
REQUEST FOR '23 SO GLAD THAT
IS GETTING SUPPORT FROM
CONGRESS.
ALSO WANTED TO NOTE
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE FUNDING
HAS BEEN RAMPED UP A GREAT
DEAL BY CONGRESS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS YEAR THE HOUSE WANTED TO
CONTINUE RAMPING UP
ALZHEIMER'S FUNDING, THE
SENATE DID NOT SO THAT IS A
CHANGE FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, A
LITTLE DIFFERENCE ON OPINION
THERE HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED
WITH ALZHEIMER'S.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO AJ.
>> HELLO.
SO I GET THE VERY FUN JOB
TRYING TO EXPLAIN CONGRESS AND
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
NEXT SLIDE, GO AHEAD.
LET'S JUMP IN.
SO NORMALLY I WOULD SPEND THE
ENTIRE TIME TALKING ABOUT LAME
DUCK AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN BUT
NO ONE ACTUALLY KNOWS.
THERE IS A LONG LIST OF THINGS
THAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT,
THAT THEY WANT TO GET DONE IN
THE NEXT 20 DAYS, NOT CLEAR
WHAT AND HOW AND WHEN.
THE APPROPRIATION GOVERNMENT
FUNDING DOES EXPIRE
DECEMBER 16TH.
THAT IS NEXT WEEK.
AT THE MOMENT, WHAT'S
HAPPENING IS THAT THE -- THEY
CAN'T AGREE ON TOP LINE
FIGURES FOR GOVERNMENT
SPENDING ACROSS THE BOARD.
THERE HAS BEEN AN AGREEMENT ON
DEFENSE SPENDING IN LINE WITH
WHAT HAS COME OUT OF THE
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
ACT WHICH IS JUST AN
AUTHORIZATION, DOESN'T HAVE
THE MONEY.
A APPROPRIATIONS BILL CARRIES
THE MONEY BUT THEY CAN'T AGREE
ON EVERYTHING ELSE, THE
NONDEFENSE SPENDING.
REPUBLICANS ARE ARGUING
BECAUSE OF THE RECONCILIATION
BILLS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH,
THAT WAS THE BIG INCREASE SO
THEY WANT TO KEEP NONDEFENSE
LOWER IN THE GENERAL
GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL AND
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN
$25 BILLION AT STAKE RIGHT NOW
ACROSS THE NONDEFENSE AGENCIES
OF WHICH WE ARE ONE.
THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION, AND
WE'LL GET INTO WHAT THE
LEADERSHIP HAS BUT LEADERSHIP
BATTLES ARE IMPACTING THE FACT
WE CAN'T GET A LOT OF THESE
AGREEMENTS COMING TOGETHER.
THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING IN
THE LAME DUCK TO DECIDE WHO IS
GOING TO CONTROL BOTH HOUSES
AND THAT IS IMPACTING THIS.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
ACT IS HUNG UP OVER ISSUES
AROUND COVID, VACCINE
MANDATES, SEXUAL HARASSMENT,
OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES.
WE CARE ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT
OFTEN CARRIES POLICIES THAT
IMPACT US.
ONE THAT IS IN THE DRAFT THAT
WE HAVE SEEN IS INTERNATIONAL
PREPAREDNESS FOR PANDEMIC.
THERE IS SOME PROVISIONS
RELATED TO INCREASING THE
GOVERNMENT'S POSTURE TOWARD
GLOBAL COOPERATION.
THERE IS ALSO A SECTION ON
PFAS CHEMICALS, THE FOREVER
CHEMICALS.
SO THERE IS SOME MONEY THERE
FOR HHS TO DO SOME STUDY ON
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS.
THERE IS ALSO A BRAIN HEALTH
INITIATIVE TO STUDY AND
IMPROVE THE COGNITIVE HEALTH
OF THE FORCES.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
HEALTH RELATED PROVISIONS AND
GOVERNMENT PROVISIONS WE'RE
WATCHING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF HEALTH
BILLS THAT ARE SORT OF
FLOATING OUT THERE.
THE PREVENT ACT WHICH IS
PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AGAIN,
THE ARPA-A AUTHORIZATION, THE
TECHNICAL FIXES THAT PEOPLE
WANT TO DO TO THE FDA USER
FEES AFTER THIS PAST YEAR, ALL
OF THESE THINGS HAVE
NEGOTIATING AROUND CONGRESS
BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW YOU
GET THEM TO THE FINISH LINE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO WHY ARE WE IN THIS
SITUATION?
WELL, WE HAD AN ELECTION.
I WILL NOT TALK A LOT ABOUT
THE ELECTION.
IT HAS BEEN IN YOUR NEWSPAPER
AD NAUSEAU THE PAST FEW WEEKS
SO NOT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE
BUT THIS IS REALLY
INTERESTING.
WHEN INCUMBENTS RAN, THEY WON
ACROSS THE BOARD SO THIS IS
REALLY A SIGNAL, I THOUGHT OF
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
ELECTORATE.
NEXT SLIDE.
[ HEAVY SIGH ]
A NEW CONGRESS.
HOW CONGRESS WORKS ON A VERY
BASIC LEVEL IS THAT IT
ENTIRELY REMAKES ITSELF EVERY
TWO YEARS.
ALL THE RULES GET THROWN OUT,
ALL THE STRUCTURES GET THROWN
OUT, THEY VOTE ON EVERYTHING.
SO ANYTHING IS ON THE TABLE,
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.
THEY VOTE ON NEW LEADERS,
ABSOLUTELY EVERY STRUCTURE,
WHAT COMMITTEES THEY WILL
HAVE, HOW MANY MEMBERS WILL BE
ON THOSE COMMITTEES.
WE THINK OF THESE THINGS AS
ENDURING BECAUSE THEY OFTEN
MOVE FORWARD JUST LIKE THE
PREVIOUS YEAR, BUT IT IS ALL
ON THE TABLE.
RULES TO WATCH.
WE THINK IN THE HOUSE THERE
WILL BE SOME CONVERSATION
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL
CONTINUE THE PROXY VOTING.
A LOT OF MEMBERS LIKE TO BE
ABLE TO VOTE FROM CALIFORNIA
OR OTHER PLACES.
TERM LIMITS, DEBATE ON
EARMARKS, WILL WE HAVE THEM,
AND A RULE CHANGE FOR HOW TO
REMOVE THE SPEAKER.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SEE FROM
SOME OF THE MORE EXTREME
FACTIONS IN THE CONGRESS.
THERE WILL BE SOME INTERESTING
AND VERY PASSIONATE DEBATE, I
PREDICT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
MAJORITY SIDE MATTERS.
THE MARGINS KEEP GETTING
SLIMMER.
THERE IS A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY
IN THE HOUSE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A ONE-SEAT
MAJORITY, THESE CAUCUSES, WE
CAN THINK OF THEM LIKE
FACTIONS, IT IS ALMOST LIKE
THEY ARE REPUBLICANS AND SAY
THEY HAVE A MAJORITY BUT WHAT
THEY HAVE IS REALLY A SORT OF
COALITION GOVERNMENT AND THAT
IS WHAT YOU SEE ON BOTH SIDES.
THEY ARE COALITIONS THAT AGREE
TO WORK TOGETHER UNDER AN
UMBRELLA AND MOVE FORWARD ON
POLICIES BUT YOU WILL HEAR A
LOT ABOUT THIS OVER THE NEXT
TWO YEARS BECAUSE THESE GROUPS
WILL BE PUSHING FOR DIFFERENT
POLICIES, DIFFERENT POSTURES,
DIFFERENT POWER.
IN THE MAJORITY, WE HAVE A
SPECIAL ELECTION, A RUNOFF
THIS WEEK, THEY GAINED ONE
SEAT.
WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS
FOR THE SENATE IS THAT
COMMITTEES, SO IN THE HOUSE
YOU HAVE 535 MEMBERS, YOU
CAN'T HAVE A TIE.
IN THE SENATE YOU HAVE 100
MEMBERS, YOU CAN HAVE A TIE.
IN THE LAST CONGRESS, WE HAD A
50/50 SENATE WHICH MEANT THEY
SHARED POWER HE EQUALLY.
IT MEANT NO PARTY COULD SHARE
A SUBPOENA.
IT MEANT THE MONEY, THE
MEMBERS WERE SPLIT EQUALLY.
IN THE CASE OF A TIE IN
COMMITTEE, NOTHING WENT
FORWARD SO THIS ONE SEAT
MAJORITY MATTERS A LOT FOR HOW
THE SENATE WILL FUNCTION.
IT IS STILL REALLY TIGHT AND
YOU STILL NEED 60 VOTES TO DO
ANYTHING.
I LIKE TO TELL MY IC DIRECTORS
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE
ARE 218 IN THE HOUSE, YOU NEED
60 VOTES IN THE SENATE.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO IN THE HOUSE ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE A BIG GENERATIONAL
SHIFT.
NANCY PELOSI STEPPED DOWN,
SIDNEY HOYER STEPPED DOWN.
THERE ARE STILL MEMBERS OF THE
CAUCUS WHICH WILL BE NICE FOR
THE LEADERSHIP TO RELY ON THEM
BUT THERE WILL BE A BIG SHIFT.
AND SOME OF THE JUNIOR MEMBERS
ARE SAYING A LOT OF SENIOR
MEMBERS HAVE LEADERSHIP POSTS
AND SENIOR COMMITTEE POSTS.
LET'S BREAK THAT UP A LITTLE
BIT.
SO THAT IS A DISCUSSION THAT
IS VERY PROMINENT IN THE
SENATE DEMOCRATS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
POSTS.
SO KEVIN McCARTH Y IS
RUNNING FOR SPEAKER.
HE HAS A ONE-SEAT MAJORITY AND
FIVE MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS
HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT VOTE
FOR HIM.
THE GOOD NEWS FOR KEVIN
McCARTHY IS THEY HAVEN'T
SAID THEY WILL VOTE FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE EITHER.
THERE IS NOBODY WAITING IN THE
WINGS.
SO A LOT OF THE POSTURING
AROUND APPROPRIATIONS HAVE TO
DO WITH HIS KEEPING HIS
COALITION TOGETHER.
IF HE WINS ONE VOTE ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE, HE BECOMES
SPEAKER.
IT IS A MAJORITY VOTE.
BUT I THINK KEVIN McCARTHY
IS GOING TO GET THE NOD.
NEXT SLIDE?
THE SENATE, PRETTY STABLE ON
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
THIS TEAM HAS BEEN TOGETHER
FOR A WHILE AND THEY ARE
PRETTY USED TO WORKING
TOGETHER.
SO THAT WILL BE A HELP TO
KEVIN McCARTHY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP SO WHEN
WE MOVED ON THE HEALTH POLICY
PANEL IN THE SENATE FROM TOM
HARKIN TO PATTY MURRAY, FROM
LAMAR ALEXANDER TO RICHARD
BURKE, THEY WERE VERY STABLE
AND ALIGN.
MOVING FROM PATTY MURRAY, THEY
ARE NOT IN THE SAME PLACE SO
WE ARE WATCHING FROM THE NEW
MEMBERS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO
WITH THE NEW GAVEL.
BERNIE SANDERS WILL FOCUSES ON
UNIVERSAL HEALTH, LOWERING
COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
INCREASING ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION AND PROTECTING
WORKERS RIGHTS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU CAN SEE
THE AGENDA.
I THINK WE WILL HAVE A NOMINEE
AND ALL THOSE NOMINATIONS GO
THROUGH HEALTH SO WE DO EXPECT
TO WORK WITH THE HEALTH COMMIT
PRETTY CLOSELY.
HOUSE LEADERS, THIS HAS BEEN
IN THE NEWS A LOT HAS SAID
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FOCUS ON
OVERSIGHT.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
JIM JORDAN IS THE EXPECTED
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, HE SEEMS
PRESS COY ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY
HE WANTS TO FOCUS ON.
THE SECRETARY OF THE HOUSE
OVERSIGHT, WANTS TO WATCH THE
MONEY, SEE WHERE THE MONEY
WENT.
NEXT SLIDE.
ROGERS, THE NEW EXPECTED TO BE
CHAIRWOMAN OF THE HOUSE ENERGY
AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE HAS
SAID THREE THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THE
NEXT THREE THINGS.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?
WELL, WE HAVE HAD A RECORD
NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS NOT JUST
IN THIS PAST ELECTION BUT THE
ELECTION BEFORE THAT AND THE
ELECTION BEFORE THAT SO THE
VAST MAJORITY OF MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS PARTICULARLY IN THE
HOUSE REALLY ONLY KNOW NIH
FROM COVID.
THEY KNOW OUR VACCINE, KNOW US
WELL IN TERMS OF COVID BUT
DON'T KNOW ALL THE VAST
AMOUNTS OF RESEARCH WE DO AND
HOW WE WORK WITH THEIR
CONSTITUENTS, HOW WE PLAY OUT
IN THEIR DISTRICTS OTHER THAN
COVID.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO
DEVELOP MORE CHAMPIONS.
AS THE CONVERSATION GETS
BROADER THAN COVID, WE'RE
GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO CARRY WATER FOR US
AND THIRD, WE'RE ALWAYS ON
LOOKOUT FOR A NOMINEE AND
WORKING WITH HHS TO GET THAT
PERSON TO CONFIRMATION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU.
I GUESS WE'LL HOLD QUESTIONS
JUST FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE I
JUST WANT TO SPEND LITERALLY A
COUPLE OF MINUTES TALKING TO
YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LEADING
THROUGH TURBULENT TIMES, OKAY?
EVERY SINGLE DAY, SOMEBODY
ASKS ME HOW AM I DOING.
AND I DON'T THINK THEY ARE
MAKING A COMMENTARY ABOUT MY
HEALTH AND SO FORTH.
YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU DOING IN
TERMS OF THE CURRENT ROLE I AM
PLAYING.
AND I TELL PEOPLE DEPENDING ON
THE TIME OF DAY, I AM HANGING
IN, DOING OKAY OR I AM DOING
FINE.
AND I WANT TO REASSURE THE ACD
THAT I AM REALLY DOING FINE
AND THE REASON I AM DOING FINE
IS I HAVE A REMARKABLE TEAM OF
PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.
PRINCIPLE DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE WHO ARE SITTING
AROUND THE TABLE AND AROUND
THE ROOM, IT IS REALLY A
REMARKABLE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS
THEY, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO DO
THEIR GREAT WORK, NIH IS GOING
TO BE JUST FINE.
WE HAVE 27 DIRECTORS,
WORLD-CLASS EXPERTS IN EVERY
SINGLE TOPIC YOU CAN THINK OF,
LITERALLY FROM A TO Z.
THEY ARE AN EXTRAORDINARY
GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WORK SO
CLOSELY WITH US.
AND THEN THERE IS JUST THE
FOLKS HERE AT NIH WHO, YOU
KNOW, HAVE CONTINUED TO STEP
UP, WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT
WHATEVER IS THROWN AT THEM,
THEY ARE GOING TO DELIVER
WHATEVER IS NECESSARY.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN
ADDITION TO THE COVID
RESPONSE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY
FOCUSES ON THE COVID RESPONSE
SO I UNDERSTAND WHY BUT IF YOU
THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS
THAT THE TEAM HAS ACCOMPLISHED
IN ADDITION TO THE COVID
RESPONSE, IT IS REALLY QUITE
REMARKABLE.
SO WE DO NOT YET HAVE A
NOMINEE.
YOUR CRYSTAL BALL IS AS GOOD
AS MY CRYSTAL BALL, PROBABLY
NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS ADRIAN'S
CRYSTAL BALL BUT PERHAPS A
LITTLE MORE REFINED THAN
CERTAINLY MINE.
BUT YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY AT SOME
POINT, WE WILL HAVE A
PERMANENT DIRECTOR BUT UNTIL
THAT TIME, UNDERSTAND THAT IT
THE INSTITUTION IS IN GREAT
SHAPE.
AND IT IS IN GREAT SHAPE
BECAUSE OF THE REMARKABLE
EFFORT OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT I
HAVE MENTIONED AND THOSE THAT
TIME DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO
MENTION.
SO WE ARE FINE.
WE ARE MOVING AHEAD WITHOUT
SEARCHES, WE ARE MOVING AHEAD
WITH APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THE
SCIENCE CAN'T WAIT, OUR
PATIENTS CAN'T WAIT AND AS I
TELL EVERYBODY, I COME IN IN
THE MORNING, IF THE KEY STILL
FITS IN THE LOCK, I SIT DOWN
AND DO MY WORK.
ONE DAY I WILL COME IN, THE
KEY WON'T FIT AND I WILL GO
AND DO SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT
IS FINE.
BUT UNTIL THAT TIME, YOU KNOW,
I JUST WANT TO THANK TARA, THE
AMAZING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
THE AMAZING STAFF THAT WE HAVE
WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE
DIRECTOR, ALL THE
SUBDIRECTORS, YOU KNOW, THE
WHOLE TEAM.
BECAUSE AGAIN, I KNOW
EVERYBODY IS FOCUSED ON COVID
BUT THINK OF ALL THE OTHER
THINGS WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.
AND IT REALLY IS A COLLECTIVE
LEAD.
SO WITH THAT, I KNOW WE'RE 8
MINUTES OVER SO I AM EATING
INTO YOUR BREAK AND I
APOLOGIZE BUT LET ME OPEN IT
UP IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS THAT MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE HAVE AND IF YOU
COULD USE YOUR EITHER REAL
HAND OR VIRTUAL HAND, TARA CAN
NAVIGATE AS TO WHO GOES FIRST.
>> YEAH, SO IT HAS BEEN A YEAR
SINCE FRANCIS COLLINS STEPPED
DOWN AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
SOME CLARITY ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON.
>> I FEEL THINGS ARE MORE ART
THAN SCIENCE AND I THINK
THEY -- THERE HAS BEEN A WAR
IN UKRAINE, A LOT GOING ON,
THE PRESIDENT HAS A LOT ON HIS
PLATE SO I DON'T -- I HAVE A
CRYSTAL BALL BUT I DON'T HAVE
A MAP, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> SO CAN YOU SAY FOR EXAMPLE
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
ASKED AND TURNED IT DOWN?
>> NO, WE'RE NOT PRIVY TO
THAT.
>> NO, BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE
IS SOMETHING BROKEN IN THE
SYSTEM BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE
PRESIDENT WORKING ON UKRAINE
THAT IS HOLDING THINGS UP.
>> I MEAN UKRAINE, THIS
PRESIDENT CARES A LOT ABOUT
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE AND I DO
THINK THAT DECISIONS AND
APPOINTMENTS AT THAT LEVEL DO
GO VERY HIGH IN THE WHITE
HOUSE AND I THINK THIS WHITE
HOUSE HAS HAD ENORMOUS
CHALLENGES AROUND THE WORLD
AND ALSO AT HOME.
I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN A
TURBULENT TIME ON A NUMBER OF
FRONTS.
IT IS NOT AN EXCUSE BUT IT IS
A REALITY.
>> LET ME REMIND YOU THAT
DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN
ELIAS AND FRANCIS, THERE WAS A
SIMILAR GAP.
IT WAS A SIMILAR GAP.
--
[OFF MIC ]
>> YEAH, SO WE'RE NOT QUITE AT
A YEAR YET, NOT QUITE AT A
YEAR.
YOU KNOW TWO WEEKS FROM NOW OR
NEXT WEEK WE ARE AT A YEAR,
WHENEVER IT IS, SO I THINK
PEOPLE NEED TO PUT THAT INTO
THEIR --
>> SO LET ME JUST SAY THANK
YOU LARRY AND THANK YOU FOR
THE ENTIRE STAFF AND EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE FOR HOLDING ON FOR
TWO YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS AND
MAYBE EVEN LONGER SO THANK
YOU.
>> NO, WE'RE NOT PROJECTING
TWO YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS
DURING THE CURRENT
CIRCUMSTANCE.
I JUST BRING THAT UP TO SHOW
THAT IT IS NOT THAT UNUSUAL.
AND I MUST SAY WITHOUT ANY
KNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE I HAVE ZERO
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT, I DO KNOW
BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE
PRESIDENT DIRECTLY ABOUT NIH
AND HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT NIH
AND HE IS, YOU KNOW,
PASSIONATE ABOUT ARPA-A,
PASSIONATE ABOUT THE NCI
MOONSHOT.
SO I SUSPECT THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT HE WILL HAVE --
>> BUT AM I RIGHT IN THINKING
FRANCIS IS IN CHARGE OF THE
PERSON IN THE SEARCH?
>> THERE ARE MANY STREAMS OF
INFORMATION GATHERING SO DON'T
ASSUME ANYTHING.
>> OKAY, IS THAT ON?
YES, I WANT TO ADD MY THANKS
TO LARRY AND TARA.
IT IS CONTINUING SEAMLESSLY,
IT SEEMS, SEEMS TO BE, SO
THAT'S GREAT.
I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY
CONGRATULATE ON THE REPORT ON
THE ESI NUMBERS.
THAT'S AMAZING.
AND IT IS SO GREAT TO HEAR
THAT AND I AM WONDERING, IT IS
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT IN THE
WEEDS BUT I AM WONDERING IS
THERE GOING TO BE FOLLOW UP ON
WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM NEXT?
BECAUSE I THINK WEARING MY HAT
NOW IN THIS NEW WORKING GROUP,
THE YOUNGER PEOPLE COMING UP
ARE LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS
TO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE ARE
THEY GOING TO GET JOBS AND
THEN AFTER THEY GET JOBS, IF
THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL, ARE THEY
GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AND WE ALL HEAR
THAT IT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF
YOU WANT TO CALL IT A VALLEY
OF DEATH RIGHT AFTER EARLY
STAGE, I WONDER IF YOU COULD
SPEAK TO THAT.
>> YEAH, SO I KNOW MIKE LAUR
HAS JOINED US VIRTUALLY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT
QUESTION PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU, SHELLEY THAT
QUESTION IS ABSOLUTELY
SPOT-ON.
THERE HAS BEEN -- WE
PREVIOUSLY LOOKED AT WHAT TOPS
INVESTIGATORS WHEN THEY GET
FUNDID BY NIH THE FIRST TIME,
HOW LONG THEY STAY IN THE
SYSTEM, THE LOSS RATE AT
VARIOUS POINTS SO THAT IS
SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO
PAY ATTENTION TO AND WILL STAY
VERY CLOSE IN TOUCH.
THE SECOND THING IS WE HAVE
ANOTHER CATEGORY OF PEOPLE WE
PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO
AND THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL
AT-RISK INVESTIGATORS.
THESE ARE INVESTIGATORS WHO
HAVE SUBMIT AS LEAST ONE
MERITORIOUS PROPOSAL AND IF
THEY DON'T GET FUNDED THIS
YEAR, WE WILL LOSE ALL FUNDING
AS OF NEXT YEAR AND SO THIS IS
A GROUP THAT WE ARE DRAWING
ATTENTION TO OR DRAWING
ATTENTION TO THE IC ELECTORATE
AND AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, MANY
ARE EARLY STAGE INVESTIGATORS
WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST
GRANT AND RIGHT NOW ARE LIVING
OFF OF ONE GRANT SO THOSE ARE
SOME OF THE -- THE QUESTION IS
SPOT-ON AND THOSE ARE SOME OF
THE EFFORTS WE HAVE UNDERWAY.
>> GOOD, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS, MIKE.
OTHER COMMENTS OR WITH
QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE?
YES?
[ OFF MIC ]
>> COULD YOU TURN YOUR
MICROPHONE ON?
>> YEAH, SORRY, THIS IS A
FOLLOW UP ON THE SI MATTER.
FIRST OF ALL, THE QUESTION,
THE NUMBERS GOING UP LOOKS
GREAT BUT THE AMOUNT PER
GRANT, ARE WE ALSO KEEPING
TRACK OF THAT?
AND ARE THESE OF THE SIZE THAT
CAN RELY PROPEL AN EARLY
INVESTIGATOR?
>> SO MIKE IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE?
>> WE HAVE DONE SOME INDEPTH
ANALYSIS ON THE COST PER
BRANT, TOTAL COST PER GRANT.
ACTUALLY WE HAVE A PREGRANT
ARCHIVE AND A PAPER CURRENTLY
IN REVIEW.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS AFTER
ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION OVER
THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO, REAL
COSTS, REAL DOLLARS REMAINED
ABOUT THE SAME, MAYBE HAS GONE
UP A LITTLE BIT.
THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE
COMPOSITION OF GRANTS OVER
TIME.
WE ALSO ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS
THAN WHERE WE WERE AT THE TIME
OF THE DO PPLING AND I CAN PUT
A LINK IN.
>> THANKS.
SO WE'RE AT TIME BASICALLY,
10:14 A.M. ON MY COMPUTER,
10:15 A.M. IN THE ROOM.
THIS IS THE TIME WE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE COMING BACK
FROM THE BREAK SO WHY DON'T WE
TAKE LIKE A TWO TO THREE
MINUTE BREAK, TRY TO BE BACK
HERE BY 10: 18 AND THEN WE
WILL GET STARTED WITH RENEE'S PRESENTATION
>>> OKAY, I THINK EVERYONE IS
BACK AND GETTING SETTLED.
MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT MISSING
ANYONE.
OKAY, SO THE NEXT PRESENTATION
WILL BE FROM Dr. RENEE, NAG
AL DIRECTOR NEEDLESS TO SAY OF
ARPA-H.
IF YOU RECALL RECALL, ARPA-H
WAS CREATED INCLUDING LANGUAGE
AND RESOURCES IN THE FY22
OMNIBUS IN MARCH SO I THINK
THE UPDATE WAS PROVIDED AT THE
JUNE MEETING BUT THAT WAS
PRIOR TO RENEE BEING APPOINTED
IN HER POSITION SO WE'RE
REALLY GLAD TO HAVE HER HERE
TODAY, WORKING TIRELESSLY TO
CONTINUE TO BUILD UP THE
ORGANIZATION AND OUTLINE SOME
OF THE PROGRESS SHE HAS MADE.
>> NOTE: WEGRZYN.
>> THANKS TARA AND LARRY FOR
HELPING US GET THE
ORGANIZATION STARTED.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW WE CALL TARA
OUR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR HER
WORK AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED
TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE BUILDING
BUT KNOWING IT HAD A GREAT
FOUNDATION BEFORE I GOT THERE
JUST EIGHT WEEKS AGO.
SUBMISSION OF AR PA-H IS TO
ACCELERATE A BETTER HEALTH
OUTCOME FOR EVERYONE.
TARA TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THE
HISTORY.
PRESIDENT BIDEN WHEN HE CAME
INTO OFFICE HAD THIS VISION TO
LAUNCH ARPA-H, AN ORGANIZATION
MODELED AFTER THE BUSINESS
MODEL OF DARPA BUT TO PURSUE
IDEAS THAT BREAK THE MODEL ON
HOW WE NORMALLY SUPPORT
FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH.
SO THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE
FUNDING ECOSYSTEM AND I WILL
TALK A LITTLE ABOUT OUR
STRUCTURE AND WHERE WE SIT.
SO WITH THOSE FAMILIAR WITH
THE ORIGINAL ARPA OR DARPA, IT
WAS LAUNCHED IN RESPECT TO
SPUTNIK.
THE UNITED STATES WAS VERY
SURPRISED WITH THAT TECHNOLOGY
AND WANTED TO BE ABLE TO
CREATE AND PREVENT POWERFUL
BIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND LIVING
IN AN ERA OF COMPLEX
TECHNOLOGIES WITH MASSIVE
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DISRUPTIONS AND NOT ONLY TO
STUDY THESE FACTORS BUT TO
SOLVE THEM, WORKING TO SOLVE
SOME OF THE TOUGHEST
CHALLENGES IN HEALTH AND I
WILL WALK THROUGH HOW WE LOOK
AT PROJECTS TO WORK ON AND
MOVING FORWARD.
SO TO THINK ABOUT THE TYPES OF
PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES WE
WANT TO FACE, I WOULD LIKE TO
START WITH A LITTLE IMAGINE
STATEMENT, IMAGINE IF
THERAPIES COULD BE BUILT AND
ASSEMBLED ON DEMAND.
SO NOT TO BE FOCUSED ON ANY
SINGLE DISEASE BUT WHAT ARE
THE PLATFORMS THAT COULD BE
BUILT TO BROADLY ADVANCE
BRINGING BETTER HEALTHCARE
FORWARD.
WHAT IF MRIS COULD BE
DELIVERED IN THE COMFORT OF
YOUR OWN HOME?
THIS WAS INSPIRED BY THE
ACTING DEPUTY WHO HAS A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE WITH MRIS AND WOW,
WHAT YOU COULD DO AT HOME TO
CHANGE AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE
THEY ARE AT AND BRINGING IN AN
EQUITABLE WAY HEALTHCARE TO
FOLKS.
AND THEN WHAT IS A CANCER
VACCINE COST THE SAME AS A CUP
OF COFFEE?
JUST LAST WEEK ANOTHER GENE
THERAPY CAME OUT AT THREE AND
A HALF MILLION FOR A SINGLE
DOSE.
WE COULD DO A LOT BETTER AND
ARPA-H CAN HELP GET US THERE.
JUST A NOTE ON THE
ORGANIZATION, WHERE WE SIT,
AND I INTERESTINGLY REPORT
DIRECTLY TO SECRETARY BACERA,
HE IS MY BOSS BUT I TELL MY
TEAM WE ARE A BILLION DOLLAR
STARTUP AND CAN HIT THE GROUND
FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEMS WE
WANT TO SOLVE BECAUSE WE CAN
LEAN ON THE NIH INFORMATION
WITH IT AND ALSO ACCESS TO
SUBJECT MATTER, TO BE THERE AS
A RESOURCE TO MAKE SURE THE
CHALLENGES WE ARE WORKING ON
MAKES THE MOST SENSE AND
COULDN'T OTHERWISE BE FUNDED
AT NIH OR ELSEWHERE.
SO WE WON'T HAVE ANY INTERNAL
RESEARCH LABS, EXCLUSIVELY
EXTRAMURAL AND DISEASE
AGNOSTIC.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM MANAGER
DRIVING IDEAS FORWARD AND VERY
LEAN AND NIMBLE IN THE
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE.
THERE IS REALLY TWO SIDES OF
THE HOUSE HERE.
THE BUSINESS TEAM MEMBERS AND
BY THAT I MEAN THE CONTRACTING
TEAM, LEGISLATIVE TEAM, FOLKS
LIKE MYSELF WHO ARE HERE TO
MAKE SURE PROGRAM MANAGERS CAN
FOCUS ON SOLVING THAT PROBLEM.
SO WE ARE GOING TO WORRY ABOUT
SUPPORTING THEIR BUDGETS AND
CONTRACTING AND WE ARE GOING
TO WORRY ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC
PROBLEMS.
THEY CAN PURSUE THAT VERY HIGH
RISK, HIGH CONSEQUENCE
RESEARCH.
SO THE WAY THE MODEL WORKS, IT
STARTS WITH A PROGRAM MANAGER
WHO IS AN EXPERT IN THEIR
FIELD, GREAT DOER AND
COLLABORATOR BUT THEY ALSO
COME AND BRING THAT CHALLENGE.
SO MY FOCUS IN RECRUITING IS
NOT ONLY FINDING AMAZING STAFF
BUT STAFF WHO HAVE THAT
CRYSTAL CLEAR AND WELL FORMED
PROBLEM IN HEALTH THEY WANT TO
SOLVE SO IT IS THE MAGIC
COMBINATION OF THE TWO THAT
ARE REQUIRED TO BRING SOMEBODY
IN TO ARPA-H, TAKE SOME TIME
TO FORM LATE THE PROGRAM AND
THAT TAKES ENGAGEMENT WITH
PROBABLY ABOUT A HUNDRED
EXPERTS IN THE FIELD THEY ARE
WORKING IN AND WORKING TOWARDS
BUT STAKEHOLDERS WHO WILL
REALLY BE IMPORTANT IN
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THE LAUNCH FOR SOLICITATION
FOR PROPOSALS AND THEN
BRINGING IN DIFFERENT TEAMS
EACH WITH A DIFFERENT SOLUTION
THEY WANT TO PURSUE AND SOLVE
AS A BIG PROBLEM IN HEALTH.
BECAUSE IT IS A VERY HIGH RISK
ENVIRONMENT AND HIGH RISK
PROGRAMS THAT WE'LL PURSUE,
THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT IS VERY
ACTIVE.
SO IT THINK ABOUT THEY ARE
WORKING TOWARDS THIS GOAL, IT
IS NOT FOR BASIC FUNDAMENTAL
RESEARCH, IT IS REALLY SOLVING
A PROBLEM.
SO ON A WEEKLY, SOMETIMES
DAILY, MONTHLY, THEY WILL BE
CHECKING IN WITH THE TEAM TO
SEE IF WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS
FOR THOSE GOALS AND IF NOT,
THE PROJECT CAN BE TERMINATED.
SO THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT
PART OF THE MANAGER'S JOB TO
MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMETHING IS
NOT WORKING, PIVOT THOSE
RESOURCES TO ANOTHER PROJECT.
SO HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE BIG
RISKS WILL PAY OFF AND WE WILL
HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL AND LAST BUT NOT
LEAST, THE MOST REALLY
IMPORTANT PART P-F -- OF AR PA
MODEL IS TO GRAD THE RISK AND
OTHER PLACES, INDUSTRY, VERY
IMPORTANT TO TRANSITION AND
BRING THIS INTO THE REAL
WORLD.
SO SUCCESS AT ARPA-H IS NOT
MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF
PAPERS YOU HAVE BUT CAN IT
ACTUALLY SURVIVE IN THE WILD,
IS HOW WE TALK ABOUT IT
IN-HOUSE.
SO WHEN THE PROGRAM MANAGER
COMES IN, THEY WILL BE HERE
ONLY A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WE HAVE HAD TO KEEP OF A
PROGRAM MANAGER FLYWHEEL AND
AS THEY BRING IN AN IDEA, THEY
WILL PROBABLY ONE TWO TO FOUR
PROGRAMS.
I WAS AT DARPA AND RAN FOUR
PROGRAMS IN THE FOUR AND A
HALF YEARS I WAS THERE SO I
STARTED ON DAY 1 AND T-MINUS 1
DAY FROM DEPARTING, SOMEONE
ELSE TOOK THAT PROGRAM OVER.
SO ONE YEAR FROM NOW WHEN WE
HAVE THE NEXT UPDATE, YOU WILL
HEAR ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO
PROGRAMS WE ARE GOING TO BE
FUNDING.
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, YOU WILL
HEAR ABOUT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT
PORTFOLIO BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS
ARE FINISHED, NEW PROGRAM
MANAGER IS MOVING FORWARD SO
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE
FACILITATOR AT NCI THAT WORKED
ON SOMETHING TEN YEARS AGO AND
ARE STILL WORKING ON IT NOW.
SO THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT.
IT IS NOT MEANT TO REPLACE BUT
BE A CATALYST TO ACCELERATE
INNOVATION IN HEALTH.
IT IS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS,
AMERICAN PEOPLE, HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS, INFORMATION GROUPS,
ACADEMIA INDUSTRY AND THEN OUR
STAKEHOLDERS.
A PROGRAM LIFE CYCLE, SO THIS
WILL BE THE FORMULA THAT
PROGRAMS ARE BORN AND GROW AT
ARPA-H.
THE INITIAL DESIGN, THEY HAVE
TO BE ARPA-HARD PROGRAMS AND
CAN'T EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE IN
THE ECOSYSTEM.
THEY ARE HIGH RISK WHICH I
WILL WALK YOU THROUGH ON THE
NEXT SLIDE AND THIS IS MAKING
SURE THE PROGRAM IS AMBITIOUS.
WE HAVE GOOD METRICS FOR THIS
AND THIS IS SOMETHING SOMEBODY
WANTS TO BUY AND USE ON THE
OTHER SIDE.
ONCE THEY ARE ACCOUNTED, THE
PM WILL FIND THE BEST
PERFORMERS IN THE INDUSTRY AND
ACADEMICS TO SOLVE IT, REALLY
BUILD A NEW COALITION SO EVEN
IF THE PROGRAM LEAVES ARPA-H,
THEY CAN START NEW COMMUNITIES
THAT WILL LONG OUTLAST ARPA-H
AS A PROGRAM.
THINK OF THE PROGRAM MANAGER
AS CEO.
THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE
RISKS.
WE WILL ALL OWN PART OF ARPA-H
AS TAXPAYERS SO MAKING SURE WE
ARE DILIGENT AND HAVE BEST USE
OF THOSE FUNDS SO IT IS READY
TO PIVOT ON THE BACK END THE
RESOURCES IF NEEDED.
SO LEARN AND GROW, AND
COMMERCIALIZING AND
TRANSITIONING OUT OF ARPA-H
INTO THE FOLLOW-ON FUNDER.
WE HOPE THAT WE WILL SPIT OUT
A LOT OF COMPANIES, TOO SO
THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR
ECOSYSTEM.
WE HAVE THIS WHOLE OFFICE WE
WILL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT TO
ASSIST SOME OF THOSE TEAMS TO
GET TO THAT POINT.
WHILE I WON'T BE DICTATING ANY
SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, WE WANTED
TO INDICATE OUT TO FUTURE
PROGRAMS TO MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS AND OTHERS SOME OF
THE PROGRAMS WE THINK ARE
RIGHT FOR FUNDING AND GOOD
LEVERS IN HEALTH WHERE
INVESTMENT COULD CHANGE THE
STATE-OF-THE-ART.
SO FIRST IS HEALTH SCIENCE
FUTURES AND ARE WHEN SOMEONE
ASKS ME WHAT DISEASES IS
ARPA-H WORKING ON, I SAY
ACTUALLY WE'RE DEVELOPING THE
TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY AND PLATFORM
RECOGNIZED AS THE HOLY TRINITY
SO IF A CELL MANAGER HAS A
PROGRAM, THEY MAY SELECT
PERFORMERS WHEN THEY HAVE THE
FUNDING.
SCALABLE SOLUTIONS ARE MEANT
TO REACH EVERYONE QUICKLY.
THERE ARE INCREDIBLE THAT HAVE
PROOF OF CONCEPT ALREADY BUT
MANY HAVE DIFFICULTY MAKING IT
TO THE LAST MILE.
HOW DO YOU HAVE SCALE IN TERMS
OF YOUR PANEL COST EFFECTIVE
BUT ALSO HOW DO YOU GET A
BILLION DOSES OF SOMETHING
REALLY QUICKLY AND SO THESE
ARE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT,
GEOGRAPHY, DISTRIBUTION, OTHER
ECONOMIES OF SCALE WILL BE
INVESTMENTS IN THIS AREA.
PROACTIVE HEALTH.
KEEPING PATIENTS FROM BECOMING
PATIENTS IN THE FIRST PLACE OR
IF THEY ARE A PATIENT,
PROLONGING THEIR BEST LIFE
THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN
DIAGNOSTICS, PREVENTION BUT
ALSO BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE.
TALKING IN OUR PIPELINE THINGS
WE THINK WILL MAKE AN IMPACT
IN THAT REGARD.
AND THE LAST STRUCTURE IS
RESILIENT SYSTEMS IS MORE OF A
SYSTEM-LEVEL TYPE OF FOCUSES
AREA WHERE SOME PEOPLE ON THE
TEAM LIKE TO CALL THIS THE
SILO BREAKING MISSION FOR US
WHERE IF YOU THINK OF
SOMETHING LIKE RAD X WHERE
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT IN
DIAGNOSTICS, THIS COULD
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
INTEGRATE THOSE, HAVE A DATA
LAYER AND BE ABLE TO REPORT
OUT TO DECISION MAKERS.
JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE
OF INVESTMENTS THAT COULD COME
FROM AN AREA LIKE THIS.
SO MY BIGGEST JOB, MY TOP, TOP
PRIORITY IS HIRING THOSE
PROGRAM MANAGERS.
CONGRESS HAS GIVEN US A
BILLION DOLLARS TO START AND I
CAN'T SPEND THIS FUND UNLESS
WE HAVE PROGRAM MANAGERS
IN-HOUSE AND WATCHING THOSE
PROGRAMS.
SO THE POSITION IS TIMEBOUND,
THREE TO SIX YEARS, THREE YEAR
BASE RENEWABLE FOR UP TO SIX
YEARS AND I HAVE DIRECT HIRING
AUTHORITY.
SO COMPETITIVE SALARY AND YOU
CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND THAT
STARTS THE CONVERSATION, WE
GET FEEDBACK VERY QUICKLY TO
START TO DEVELOP SOME OF THE
CONCEPTS AND THEN IF WE DEEM
THE PERSON AND THE IDEA WORTHY
OF ARPA-H, WE HOPE TO START TO
BRING THEM IN AND START
WORKING ON THE PROGRAMS.
AND THEN BUILDING THE FULL
BUSINESS TEAM AND SO WHEN THEY
JOIN THERE IS A WHOLE TEAM
THERE TO SUPPORT THEM MOVING
FORWARD.
AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THE FOLKS
HERE TO THINK ABOUT THE ONE OR
TWO PEOPLE IN THEIR NETWORK
THAT MIGHT MAKE EXCELLENT
PROGRAM MANAGERS.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK WHAT MAKES A
GOOD PROGRAM MANAGER SO THEY
ARE UNCOMMON PEOPLE WITH
COMMON TRAITS, THEY ARE NOT
AFRAID TO FAIL, THEY HAVE
TECHNICAL HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY.
REMEMBER, THESE FOLKS HAVE TO
BE ABLE TO LOOK AT AN EFFORT
AND SAY IS IT WORKING OR NOT
AND STOP THAT EFFORT AND PUT
OFF THOSE RESOURCES IF NEEDED.
THEY ARE GREATER COLLABORATORS
WITH A GREAT TRACK RECORD, NO
SILO ONE SOLUTION BUT TEAM
WORK THAT GETS THIS DONE AND
THEY ARE VERY DRIVEN.
THEY HAVE HERE ONLY FOR THREE
YEARS, THEY ARRIVE AND THE
BRIDGE IS ALREADY BURNING DOWN
SO THEY ARE QUICKLY MOVING
FORWARD.
AND THEY MIGHT BE A PROBLEM
SOLVER, TINKERER, SEE WHAT
SURVIVES IN THE WORLD, THEY
COULD BE EARLY IN THEIR
CAREER, UNBIASED, UNJADED.
STATUS QUO, SOME MID-CAREER
WHO JUST IS FRUSTRATED WITH
THE SPEED OF HOW THINGS WORK
OR NOBODY HAS SEEN A CLARITY
OF VISION TO PULL TOGETHER A
SOLUTION OR SOMEBODY LATE
CAREER.
I WORKED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL
WHO CAME TO DARPA THREE TIMES
BECAUSE HE KEPT SEEING THESE
PROBLEMS AND WOULD JUMP BACK
TO DARPA AND SAY I NEED A BIG
INFLUX OF CASH, TYPICALLY 50
TO $150 MILLION.
SO THIS IS HOW WE WILL DEFINE
OUR PROBLEMS AND COMMUNICATE
THEM TO OUR COLLEAGUES AND THE
WORLD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT ARE
YOU TRYING TO DO.
AND SO THE DIRECTOR AT DARPA A
LONG TIME AGO HAS ANTICIPATED
HIS SET OF QUESTIONS AND SO
THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT ARE
YOU TRYING TO DO, WHAT HEALTH
PROBLEM ARE YOU TRYING TO
SOLVE?
NO JARGON, HOW DO YOU
COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE
CONGRESS AND PUBLIC, WHAT YOU
ARE WORKING ON, HOW IS IT DONE
TODAY, WHAT IS THE STATUS QUO
AND WHAT IS NEW?
SO YOU ARE DRIVEN TO COME TO
ARPA-H BECAUSE YOU ARE AWARE
OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE
COMING, EVOLVING.
AND THEN WHO CARES?
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
WE WILL TAKE BIG RISKS BUT
NEED TO MITIGATE THE RISKS
ALONG THE WAY AND MAKE SURE
THAT IT IS PHYSICS THAT WILL
BE THE CHALLENGE, NOT THINKING
ABOUT THE POLICY OR
REGULATIONS ON THE BACK END.
PRACTICAL THINGS LIKE HOW LONG
WILL IT TAKE, HOW MUCH WILL IT
COST AND HAVE WHAT ARE YOUR
EVALUATIONS ALONG THE WA I TO
MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROCEEDING,
A MONTHLY CHECK-IN WITH TEAMS
AND THEN FOR ARPA-H, WE HAVE
ADDED TWO QUESTIONS, FIRST TO
ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR
EVERYBODY, HOW WILL THE
MANAGER WORK COST,
ACCESSIBILITY AND USER
EXPERIENCE FROM THE INITIAL
DESIGN OF THE PROGRAMS.
SO IT IS TOO LATE IF THEY HAVE
TON THE PROJECT, HAVEN'T
TALKED TO USERS, HAVEN'T
THOUGHT ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN AND
HOW TO BRING COSTS TOWN.
I WILL NOT GIVE THEM A BANK
ACCOUNT TO PURSUE THEIR
PROGRAM UNLESS THEY ARTICULATE
THAT.
AND THEN HOWTHE PROGRAM BE
MISPERCEIVED OR MISUSED?
SO I THINK WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
AND HOW QUICKLY INFORMATION
GETS OUT, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AS
SCIENTISTS SO IF WE WANT THEM
TO SURVIVE IN THE WORLD, WE
HAVE TO TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT
AS WELL.
SO THE WAY TO FIND SUCCESS,
MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN
OTHER PLACES, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, OUR SOLUTIONS ARE
NOT FUNDED THROUGH RESEARCH
GRANTS.
THEY WILL BE VERY ACTIVELY
MANAGED AND TO THEY SUCCEED IN
THE WILD WHERE PEOPLE SAY THAT
IS THE SOLUTION I NEED, I WANT
TO ADOPT IT.
AND THEN TAKE THINGS THAT LOOK
IMPOSSIBLE AND MAKE THEM
IMPROBABLE, SHOW PROOF OF
CONCEPT AND THEN WE CAN TAKE
THAT OUT OF ARPA-H TO BE FULLY
DEVELOPED.
AND THEN REALLY BRINGING
BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES TO
EVERYONE, OUR GOAL ACROSS THE
STATES AND THE WORLD SORL WE
WILL USE THINGS LIKE
COOPERATIVE TREATMENTS AND
CONTRACTS AND OTHER FORMS THAT
NIH USES AS WELL BUT WE WILL
USE EXCLUSIVELY IN OUR
APPROACH TO SCIENCE.
ALSO UNIQUE, THERE ARE OTHER
FUNDERS OUT THERE THAT USE
SOME FLAVOR OF THIS, WHAT WE
ARE CALLING OUR PATIO OFFICE.
IT IS REALLY HERE TO HELP
PROGRAM MANAGERS AND THEIR
PROGRAMS LEVEL UP FROM THE
BEGINNING BUT THEN ALSO GET
OUT OF THE AGENCY.
SO VERY EARLY ON, A PROGRAM
MANAGER MAY COME TO ARPA-H,
MAYBE THEY HAVE MINUTES
STATEMENTIVE EXPERIENCE, MAYBE
THEY ONLY HAVE GOVERNMENT
EXPERIENCE SO NOT EVERYONE
WILL BE ABLE TO DO A MARKET
ASSESSMENT AND ENTREPRENEURS
UNDERSTAND WHAT A METRIC IS.
SO WE WILL DEVELOP PROGRAMS,
THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE COST
BARRIERS TO A PROGRAM LIKE
THIS.
THEN WE WILL HAVE THE BROAD
AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT, WHO ARE
THE PERFORMERS, WHAT PEOPLE
MIGHT WANT TO BE IN THIS SPACE
SO A LOT OF NETWORKING AND
GUESS WORK AND WE EXPECT
PROGRAM MANAGERS BUT ALSO WANT
TO CREATE ALTERNATIVE
SOLUTIONS, PRIVATE SECTOR HAS
SO MANY TOOLS AT THEIR
DISPOSAL WE DON'T WANT TO MISS
AND THEN WE HAVE NEGOTIATION
WHO THINK ABOUT VENTURE
CAPITAL WHERE WE WANT TO LOOK
AT OUR PROJECT AND DO THE
TECHNICAL DUE DILIGENCE
UPFRONT SO WE CAN START TO GET
A FEEL FOR WHO IS INTERESTED
IN THIS, JUST TO GET THE
PROGRAM THINKING IN THAT WAY
THAT THEY DO SURVIVE.
WE WILL CONTINUE DURING THE
COURSE OF THE PROGRAM,
UNDERSTANDING OUR RISKS FOR
INVESTORS WHETHER THE TOWN
STREAM FUNDER IS GOVERNMENT OR
PRIVATE SECTOR AND DE-RISK
WHAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT
AND THEN DESIGN MINIMAL
PRODUCTS OR PROGRAMS TO
ITERATE AND MOVE TOWARDS
ADOPTION.
AND THEN AS PROJECTS MATURE,
MAKING SURE WE ARE PROTECTING
IP AND HELPING COMPANIES AND
TEAMS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS
A REALLY CRITICAL PIECE OF IT.
I HAVE BEEN HERE EIGHT WEEKS
SO A QUICK STATUS UPDATE.
ARPA-H BY THE NUMBERS, WE
LAUNCHED OUR WEBSITE JUST
THREE WEEKS AGO.
THE CONTENT I JUST SHARED IS
ALL THERE ON THE WEBSITE.
TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LANDING
PAGE AND SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO
APPLY.
ALSO WE HAVE A PAGE WHERE
PEOPLE CAN SEND THEIR IDEAS AS
A PLACE TO START TOO.
WE HAVE LAUNCHERRED ARPA-H AT
HOWARD, SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE IN
THE ROOM WERE THERE AND THAT
WAS SPECIAL TO BE THERE WITH
THE SECRETARY OF HOWARD
UNIVERSITY TO HELP LAUNCH
ARPA-H.
AND A TEAM THAT IS REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UNIVERSITIES WANT TO WORK WITH
US SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND EDPS
OF RESEARCH TO SPREAD THE WORD
AND RECRUIT IS THE TOP LINE.
WE HAVE SOME THAT HAD INITIAL
OUTREACH TO US AND NOW
PROACTIVELY WE ARE REACHING
OUT TO THEM AGAIN FOR
PRERECRUITMENT BUT ALSO THAT
THEY KNOW HOW TO LAUNCH
PROGRAMS WE ACTUALLY CARE
ABOUT.
SO I SHARED THESE SLIDES
EARLIER IN THE WEEK AT A
NATIONAL CANCER EVENT SO A
LITTLE MYTH BUSTING HERE.
THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED CANCER
MOONSHOT TOGETHER WITH
REINVIGORATING MOONSHOT BUT
ALSO SHARING THE COMMITMENT TO
ARPA-H IN AN AGENCY THAT WILL
NOT ONLY WORK TOWARDS CANCER
GOALS BUT ALSO AS A NUMBER OF
DISEASES.
YOU MAY KNOW THE MOONSHOT FOR
CANCER IS A WHITE HOUSE
INITIATIVE AND REPRESENTS MANY
PLAYERS, EVERYONE FROM NASA,
DOD, NIH, CDC, SO IT IS A
REALLY BIG CANCER CABINET
COMMUNITY WORKING TOWARDS THE
MOONSHOT FOOLS.
SO THE CONTEXT OF ARPA-H IS
WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN
REINVIGORATED MOONSHOT, ALSO
ANNOUNCING THIS AGENCY, SO WE
ARE A PART OF THIS BUT NOT
LEADING MOONSHOT.
A LITTLE MYTH BUSTING THERE.
I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION
WITH MONICA, DIRECTOR AT NCI
WHERE WE CAN LEAN ON NCI AND
BUILD THE TOOLS AND PLATFORMS
AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN BE
APPLICABLE AND OF COURSE YOU
KNOW THE CANCER MOONSHOT
PRIORITIES SO EVERYTHING FROM
ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL
EXPOSURE, BRINGING CUTTING
EDGE RESEARCH FORWARD AND WE
THINK IN THOSE FOUR AREAS
ARPA-H CAN HELP ADDRESS THESE.
SO WOULD WHAT HE WILL DO IS
APPOINT A CHAMPION FOR
MOONSHOT, A SINGLE POINT OF
CONTACTED THAT CAN BE
CONTRIBUTING AND ADVANCING THE
STATE-OF-THE-ART.
AND WE CAN ALSO ENGAGE
STAKEHOLDERS ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNMENT BUT THIS IS REALLY
OUR WAY TO COLLABORATE ACROSS
AGENCY SO WE DON'T HAVE
PROGRAMS YET SO THIS IS THE
THINGS TO COME IN THE NEXT
YEAR BUT THIS IS REALLY HOW
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT AND
CONTINUING TO MAXIMIZE OUR
INVESTMENT AND MAINTAIN
FLEXIBILITY TO WORK ON A BROAD
NUMBER OF ISSUES.
IT IS KNOWN THAT CURRENT HISTO
PATHOLOGY PRACTICE ARE
CUMBERSOME AND MANUAL.
SO IMAGINE IF ARPA-H COULD
DEVELOP NEW AS SAYS AND
DEVELOP THE MACHINE LEARNING
TOOLS TO HELP WITH AN
AUTOMATED DIAGNOSTIC IN THAT
TISSUE CONTRACT OCCASION AND
THEN IMPORTANTLY INTEGRATE
THAT DATA QUICKLY TO A
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO IMPROVE
PATIENT STANDARD OF CARE.
VERY OBVIOUS HOW THAT MIGHT
HELP SOMETHING LIKE TUMORS,
OTHER TYPES OF CANCERS, THIS
IS HOW WE THINK OF BRINGING
THESE FORWARD SO THE PROGRAMS
HAVE BEEN ALIGNED WITH
MOONSHOT.
AND THEN MY LAST SLIDE, A CALL
TO ACTION.
WE ARE HIRING PROGRAM MANAGERS
AND WANT THE BEST AND THE
BRIGHTEST SO IF YOU CAN THINK
OF A COUPLE FOLKS IN YOUR
NETWORKS WHO YOU THINK WOULD
ALIGN TO DO THE GOALS SET
FORTH HERE AND REALLY TO
ADDRESS BIG CHALLENGES IN
HEALTH, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
FROM YOU.
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, RENEE,
EXCITING TO SEE THE PROGRESS
YOU HAVE MADE IN OUTLINING
YOUR VISION AND I THINK THAT
LAST SLIDE IS PROBABLY THE
MOST IMPORTANT ONE, REACH OUT
IF YOU KNOW ANYONE OR IF YOU
YOURSELF ARE INTERESTED IN
BECOMING PROGRAM MANAGER, WE
NEED REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.
AND YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP --
[ OFF MIC ]
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM ONE OF
THE NEW MEMBERS OF ARPA-H AND
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE
ESPECIALLY IN PERSON AND
WELCOME AS WELL.
SO HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
ADINA WHO WAS AT DARPA FOR A
WHILE SO REALLY EXCITED TO SEE
THE POINTS HERE.
I THINK IT IS REALLY
OPPORTUNITY WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
AS YOU KNOW, ARP A -H TRAINS
SOME 22,000 POST-DOCS AND THEY
ARE THE MOST FEARLESS.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO ARE THE MOST DRIVEN,
EXTREMELY DRIVEN IN MY 30s,
HAVE LESS ENERGY NOW AS THE
EMERGING YOUNG SCIENTISTS IN
THE COUNTRY AND WHEN I THINK
ABOUT THE ADVANTAGE LONG-TERM
AS SCIENCE IS BEING BUILT, HOW
WE PULL THOSE YOUNG SCIENTISTS
SINCE THEY ARE IN THE PROGRAM
A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO WONDERING IF YOU HAVE
THOUGHT ABOUT THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
FELLOWSHIPS YOU WANT TO START
AT ARPA-H AND THIS HAS
DEFINITELY COME UP.
FOR EXAMPLE, DARPA HAS A YOUNG
FACULTY AWARD SO SOMEONE WHO
IS STARTING AS A POST-DOC,
THEY WILL NOT GET ONE OF THE
50 MAIN ONES BUT DEFINITELY
CONSIDERED NEXT YEAR, GETTING
TO INTERACT WITH THE TEAMS IN
AI AND HOW WE CAN TO BETTER TO
ADD ON AND SO THE PROGRAM WILL
BE LOCKED IN FROM DAY ONE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY
TO UPDATE THAT SO HEARING
THOSE IDEAS FROM EVERYBODY IN
THE LAB IS IN MY EXPERIENCE
WHAT KEEPS ENRICHING THAT
PROJECT AND HOW IT MOVES
FORWARD, IT IS A GREAT IDEA,
THANK YOU.
>> HOWARD?
>> HOWARD SCHULMAN FROM HCD,
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
VISION ON ARPA-H.
>> I HOPE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT
HOW ARPA WILL WORK TOGETHER AS
A TEAM, TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE OF
NETWORK AND ALSO MENTORS AND
THE METRICS FOR THEIR GROWTH
OR PROGRESS WITH AN ARPA-H
PERSON ON THE PORTFOLIO
BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS TIME
BOUND AND EVERYBODY WILL
ESSENTIALLY BE ON THEIR WAY
OUT, WHAT IS SORT OF THE
BENCHMARKS AND ALSO IF THEY
ARE EVALUATING THEIR PROGRESS?
>> LOTS OF QUESTIONS IN THERE.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN HIT THEM
ALL.
SO IN TERMS OF PROGRAM
MANAGERS WORKING TOGETHER, WE
HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW
DO WE DO THAT IN A POST COVID
WORK ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS
INTERESTING BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE A HEADQUARTERS YET BUT
WHEN WE DO, WE KNOW WE WILL BE
TRAVELING QUITE A BIT BUT HAVE
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD
FACE-TO-FACE TIME.
IMPORTANTLY ONE OF THE
EXPERIENCES I HAD ON DARPA, WE
HAD ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR
CUSTOMERS AND SPENDING A DAY
AT AN AIR BASE AND LEARNING
ABOUT RADIATION EXPOSURE FOR
PILOTS OR ANOTHER DAY, YOU
KNOW, WORKING IN FIELD
TRAINING UNDERSTANDING HUMAN
PERFORMANCE IN THAT CONTEXT,
REALLY CHANGES.
WAY YOU APPROACH YOUR
PROGRAMS.
AND ALSO IT SPARKS
CONVERSATIONS FROM COLLEAGUES
AT OTHER OFFICES, WOW IF YOU
HAVE A WEARABLE SENSOR I CAN
MAKE THE OTHER PIECE AND
COLLABORATE TOGETHER.
SO THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
IN HEALTH ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES WOULD BE ONE WAY TO
ENGAGE BUT WE ALSO WANT TO
SUPPORT PROGRAM MANAGERS
WORKING ACROSS OFFICES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DARPA
DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO DO.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK WITH THE
TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY LIKE
WEAPONS AND MISSILES SO YOU
KNOW HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE THE
CROSS COLLABORATION.
SO WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT HAVING
A YOUNG ORGANIZATION IS THERE
IS NO WAY THAT IT HAS BEEN
DONE BEFORE SO WE WANT TO
EXPERIMENT WITH COPIS AND CAN
WE GET COMANAGERS WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WORKING ON
PROJECTS, LIKE THE HISTOLOGY
COMPONENT I EXPLAINED.
IS REALLY TO ENCOURAGE NOT
COMPETITION BUT LIKE YOU KNOW
YOU ALMOST HAVE FO M O FROM
NOT BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE
SO HOW TO CREATE A CULTURE AND
ENVIRONMENT THAT REALLY
SUPPORTS THAT SO THAT IS PART
OF MY JOB IN CREATING THAT
THAT WILL ALLOW FOLKS TO
COLLABORATE AND HOSPITAL IN
HAVE FEAR OF COMPETITION FOR
THEIR PERFORMANCE.
DID I GET THEM AL?
>> THAT WAS GREAT, THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> SO THIS IS SO EXCITING I AM
ABOUT TO QUIT MY DAY JOB AND
JOIN YOU BUT I WANTED TO
DOUBLE TOWN ON THE TRAINING.
THE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT IS
JUST SO PALPABLE THAT I WAS
THINKING EARLIER ABOUT
INTERESTS IN OTHER PROGRAMS.
NOW I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN YOU
WITH A LOT OF TRAINING THAT IS
CLOSING DOWN BUT IT IS REALLY
INTERESTING THESE COLLEGES ARE
ALL GIVING BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER
DEGREES AND BRINGING IN THAT.
>> WE HAVE AGREED AS AN
ORGANIZATION TO LIKE MAYBE
YEAR TWO, EXCITED ABOUT
ENGAGING IN PROGRAMS LIKE THE
PRESIDENT'S SUMMERS,
CONTRIBUTING OUR WEBSITE, LED
BY A PRESERVATION FELLOW AND
THEN IT WAS LIKE CAN THIS LOOK
LIKE A GOVERNMENT WEBSITE AND
THEN GO AND OF COURSE BRINGING
THAT FORWARD.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE'RE
THINKING A LITTLE ABOUT
CHALLENGES THAT WE APPLY AND
ONE WAY TO GET THAT ENERGY AND
IDEAS WOULD BE TO CREATE A
CHALLENGE OR PRIZE AROUND IT
SO IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF
ONE, COME TO ARPA AND RUN
THESE CHALLENGES AND WE WOULD
BE CERTAINLY OPEN TO THAT.
>> SO I GET TO KEEP MY DAY
JOB, THAT IS EVEN BETTER.
SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT ARE
THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COLLABORATION?
IT DOES SEEM OTHER PARTS OF
THE WORLD HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS
OF DOING COST AND STRENGTHS
AND SCALE AND IS THERE
OPPORTUNITY THERE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
OF COURSE WE WILL CONTRIBUTE
DOMESTICKICLY BUT WE ARE OPEN
TO INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
AND AGAIN IT IS A LITTLE
CHICKEN AND EGG BECAUSE WE
NEED A PROGRAM MANAGER.
SO SHARING THIS MESSAGE, WE'RE
HIRING.
IF YOU KNOW FOLKS WHO WANT TO
SOLVE BIG WORLD PROBLEMS, SEND
THEM OUR WAY.
IT CAN BE AT THE PROGRAM LEVEL
BUT WE HAVE ALSO STARTED TO
ENGAGE INTERNATIONALLY, WE
HAVE BEEN INTERACTIVE AND SO
FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT
BUT THE PLAN TO BE VERY ACTIVE
ENGAGEMENT, WHAT OTHER
COUNTRIES ARE INTERESTED IN
THE AREAS WE'RE INTERESTED IN
AND START COLLABORATING THAT
WAY.
>> DINA AND THEN JUDITH.
>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
THE PROJECT EXPECTED TO BE THE
DEPTH OF ARPA-H, THE HISTOLOGY
IDEA PRESENTED, THERE ARE LIKE
A FEW COMPANIES WHO ARE EVEN
COOKING ON THAT AND OF COURSE
IT WOULD BENEFIT BUT THERE
MIGHT BE OTHER ADDRESS SO
REALLY JUST AN IDEA, LIKE THE
IDEAS ON THE SLIDES, WHAT IS
THIS GROUP AND HOW MUCH MIGHT
THIS BE POSSIBLE IF NEEDED
BEFORE STARTING A PULLDOWN OR
APPLYING FOR A PROGRAM?
>> YES, THERE IS A FRAMEWORK
BY WHICH WE TALK ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY LEVELS --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
SO I THINK PRIMARILY WE WOULD
BE INTERESTED IN FUNDING
THINGS THAT ARE ZERO 1 TO 5 SO
THERE CAN BE A PROTOTYPE,
MAYBE TO SCALE THE SOLUTION,
MAYBE IT IS FURTHER LIKE
HISTOLOGY WHERE THE MAJOR
BARRIER THERE IS SHARING AND
BEING ABLE TO GET IT QUICKLY
TO PATIENTS AND DOCTORS COAST
TO COAST CAN COMPARE HOW THEY
ARE TREATING PATIENTS SO WE
WILL LOOK AT THE FULL GAMUT.
I WILL NOT ANTICIPATE THAT WE
WILL BE LOOKING AT A LOT OF
FILES UNLESS IT IS LATE STAGE
PUT WE WILL CONSIDER
INNOVATION THAT CAN'T BE DONE
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
REALLY IT WILL BE ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT
WHATEVER WAY THE PROGRAM IS
DESIGNED IS THE WAY IT WILL BE
FUNDED.
>> SO I LOVE THE PROGRAM AND
THE ENERGY YOU ARE BRINGING TO
IT SO I WANT TO COME BACK TO
THE TRAINEE ISSUE BECAUSE I
FEEL LIKE THAT INNOVATION IS
SO IMPORTANT AND THAT LITTLE
MIND YOU HAVE AT NIH, RATHER
THAN HAVING YOUR OWN TRAINING,
COULD YOU WEU STILL WITHIN NIH
OR EXPAND SOMEHOW TO BRING
THAT CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
AND DRIVE INTO A TRAINING AT
NIH, TO ME THAT WOULD BE A
BETTER WAY OF GOING ABOUT IT
THAN HAVING YOUR OWN PROGRAM
BUT MAYBE I AM MISSING
SOMETHING.
>> YEAH, SO I LOVE THAT IDEA.
SO FOR YOU WHO HAVE NOT BEEN A
PROGRAM MANAGER, YOU COME TO
ARPA-H AND GO THROUGH A BOOT
CAMP, THIS IS HOW YOU NEED TO
THINK ABOUT GOVERNMENT, HOW
YOU TAKE RISKS, BE A PROGRAM
MANAGER AND WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT DOING THIS FOR
PERFORMERS, TOO, SINCE IT IS
SUCH A DIFFERENT MODEL.
PROGRAM MANAGER ONE MONTH IN,
THEY WERE LIKE WE WANT TO JOIN
YOUR LAB MEETINGS AND I AM
LIKE WHAT?
SO FOR TRAINING FOLKS TO BE
READY FOR THAT AND WE CAN DO A
BETTER JOB IN ARPA'S SPHERE,
SO IT IS NOT TO TRAIN THEM BUT
BRING THE IDEA FORWARD AND
PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR THEM AS A
PERSON.
SO YOU ARE COMING IN AT THE
EARLY STAGE, LET'S GROUP YOU A
BIT.
SO I LOVE BRINGING THAT IDEA
TOGETHER AND WE CAN DO ONE
WITH NIH IF FOLKS ARE
INTERESTED.
>> I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AND I HOPE YOU
MANAGE THE -- HAVE A BANDWIDTH
THAT WILL BE IF -- MAYBE YOU
COULD HIRE SOMEONE AT NIH THAT
WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY WORKING
WITH NIH IN TRAINING.
>> WHY IS, WE WILL THINK ABOUT
THAT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF EXISTING
PRIORITIES WITH THE
INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE
AVAILABLE AND THE FUNDING --
>> BUT THE EXPLICIT MISSION OF
BRINGING THAT INTO THE MISSION
TO ME IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
>> SHELLEY, BARBARA.
>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
FIRST POINT, I AM WONDERING
BECAUSE MANY OF US ARE VERY
MUCH FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING
OUR PIPELINE OF POST DOC IS,
GETTING THEM REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT STAYING IN INNOVATIVE
RESEARCH, SO I AM WONDERING IF
YOU CAN THINK ABOUT EARLY
STAGE INVESTIGATORS, EVEN
POST-DOCS.
THE TRAINING TAKES SO MUCH
LONGER NOW THAT MANY OF THEM
ARE IN THEIR 30s AND EARLY
40ES BY THE TIME THEY GET THE
POSITION SO I WONDER IF YOU
HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT EXPANDING
THAT TALENT POOL AND CAN FIND
THAT TALENT IN THE POOL THAT
ALREADY HAVE SOPHISTICATED
IDEAS AND ARE READY TO GO.
YOU SPOKE TO EARLY
INVESTIGATOR AWARDS SO I AM
ENCOURAGING TO GO EVEN
EARLIER.
>> SO FOR PROGRAM MANAGERS, I
CALLED OUT THE ROOKIE AS ONE
OF THE TYPES AND THERE IS NO
RESTRICTION THAT POST-DOCS
CAN'T APPLY.
WHAT I WILL SAY IS NOT TO SAY
IT WON'T WORK BUT THESE
PROGRAMS CAN BE 150 TO
$200 MILLION, THEY ARE
MANAGING BIG PIS, BIG
PERSONALITYS, BIG TEAMS AND
VERY AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULES.
SO THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY
CHANCES THEY WILL BE
SUCCESSFUL BUT FOR FOLKS I
HAVE MANAGED TEAMS BEFORE,
MORE THAN A COUPLE OF UNDER
GRADUATES WILL BE BETTER
SITUATED TO DO THAT GOING
FORWARD.
>> IN MY LAB, I HAVE TEAMS
THAT ARE ORGANIZED AND THE
HEAD OF THOSE TEAMS IS A
POST-DOC WHO IS SUPER
INNOVATIVE, DRIVING THE
RESEARCH, SO I WOULD ARGUE WE
HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THAT IN THE
NIH ECOSYSTEM --
[OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS]
>> YEAH, I MEAN AGAIN, IT IS
THE PERSON PLUS THE IDEA SO IF
YOU POINT THEM TOWARDS OUR
WEBSITE, AND I HAVE A BUNCH
HERE I CAN HAND OUT BUT THE
IDEA IS WE ARE MAKING IT EASY
SO IT IS NOT THIS BIG LONG
APPLICATION FOR YOU TO PRESENT
YOUR IDEAS AND WE WILL TAKE
REFERENCES BUT MAKE IT CLEAR
THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO
HAVING POST-DOCS.
BARBARA?
[ OFF MIC ]
>> YEAH, OKAY, SORRY.
EARLY SIGN IS GREAT BUT YOU
ARE BUILDING THE WHOLE TEAM
AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS SOME
OF US HAVE HAD IS BUILDING
FAST OUT OF THE GATE, THE
SCALING ISSUE FOR PROGRAM
OFFICERS IS SO PIVOTAL IN HOW
MANY YOU CAN TAKE ON AND BUILD
YOUR CULTURE?
SO HOW DOES THE RAMP INUP LOOK
LIKE IN TERMS OF BUILDING YOUR
OFFICERS AND YEAR 1 OR 2, IS
IT LINEAR OR --
>> LIKE HOCKEY STICK, YEAH.
>> I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE
HOCKEY STICK SO GETTING THE
FIRST GROUP OPERATING WELL IS
A CHALLENGE.
>> SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
MANAGERS AND I CAN'T SAY WHO
THEY ARE BUT WE HAVE A PRETTY
DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE GOING
THROUGH THE PROCESS AND
DROPPING THE TIMELINES SO WE
DO HAVE DETAILS FROM DARPA AND
THERE'S NIH-ERS THAT USED TO
BE AT DARPA AND AVAILABLE TO
US NOW WHO ARE HELPING US
SHAPE THOSE TIMELINES.
IN GENERAL THE PROCESS IS
SOMEBODY COMES TO US WAN IDEA
THAT IS GREAT BUT WE NEED TO
LEVEL IT UP TO BE OUTSTANDING
SO THOSE FOLKS WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO GET FUNDING ANYWHERE
ELSE AND THEN COME IN SO
BEGINNING TO BRING FOLKS IN TO
GET THEM TO THE NEXT STAGE.
IT WE DO HAVE FOCUS WHO ARE
DARPA MANAGERS SO THE RAMP UP
WILL BE QUICK.
AND SIMILARLY, WE HAVE MISSION
DIRECTORS SO WE TALK ABOUT THE
DEVELOPMENT, A GREAT STARTING
PLACE TO BRING IN LEADERS WHO
CAN EXECUTE THE MODEL WHO ARE
A LITTLE MORE SENIOR AND WORK
WITH STAFF THAT HAVEN'T DONE
IT BEFORE.
AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF
US IN-HOUSE THAT HAVE BEEN AT
DARPA AND KNOW IT IS UNION
SPEAK AND ARPA-H IS AN
AUGMENTATION OF THAT MODEL BUT
WE KNOW THE WORK AND BEST
PRACTICES AND TRYING TO CREATE
THAT INTERNALLY.
ASK IT IS NOT JUST FOR PROGRAM
MANAGERS, WE HAVE TOLD OUR
STAFF, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
SAY LIKE WELL THAT IS NOT HOW
WE DO IT.
[LAUGHTER]
WE'RE A BRAND-NEW AGENCY SO
THERE IS NO HOW WE DO IT, IT
IS JUST TO DRIVE THE CULTURE
TO GET THERE.
>> THAT SOUNDS SUPER
REASSURING -- .
>> OH, SORRY, THE NUMBERS.
I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY IF WE
HIT 10 PROGRAM MANAGERS NEXT
YEAR, I WOULD BE ECSTATIC IF
WE HIP 20 BUT AGAIN IT IS NOT
THE NUMBER BUT REALLY THE
QUALITY OF THE IDEA AND
PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS REQUESTED
SIX AND A HALF BILLION IN THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FOR ARPA-H
AND OF COURSE A LOT OF THAT
DEPENDS ON CONGRESS AND WHERE
IS -- IT IS GOING TO GO AND
THEN THE HOCKEY STICK IS WHERE
WE GET THE GROWTH.
>> THE FIRST 15 OR 20 WILL BE
REALLY TELLING SO THAT IS
GREAT.
AND ONE OTHER PIECE, VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THE AREAS, GREAT
JOB OF GIVING A FEW EXAMPLES.
I LOVE THE AGO RHYTHMIC TISSUE
AND CELL ENGINEERING IDEA
PERSONALLY BUT I WILL SAY WHEN
YOU GET THE ONE THAT RESONATES
VERY QUITELY, THINK ABOUT A
CUSTOMIZE L CANCER VACCINE FOR
THE COST OF A CUP OF COFFEE.
BUT TALKING ABOUT HOW THINGS
GET THROUGH FDA, HOW THEY GO
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THERE
IS A DIFFERENCE FROM A VACCINE
THAT TAKES MORE THAN A COUPLE
OF CUPS OF COFFEE TO MAKE AND
THEN DOLING IT OUT AT THE COST
OF A CUP OF COFFEE AND WOULD
CAUTION THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THOSE TWO.
>> A COUPLE MORE BECAUSE OUR
NEXT GUESTS ARE ARRIVING
SHORTLY.
>> I APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGE
OF BANDWIDTH AND ONE OF THE
THINGS I DID AS A POST-DOC IS
TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND I
THINK WE CAN CREATE MORE
BANDWIDTH WITH THE WORK YOU
ARE DOING IN THE EARLY PHASES.
I DO THINK THIS ISSUE IN
FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET YOUNG
PEOPLE INVOLVED IS QUITE
POIGNANT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AN EXAMPLE
THAT A 20-YEAR-OLD CAN LEAD A
TEAM AND TOTAL WE RE FORM ALLY
SEARCH SPACE.
SO I WONDER BEYOND THINKING
ABOUT THE PROGRAM OFFICER, IS
THERE A WAY WE CAN HAVE THOSE
YOUNG MINDS IN THE COUNTRY BE
ABLE TO LEAD THEMSELVES.
>> GREAT POINT AND GLAD YOU
BROUGHT IT OUT AGAIN.
WHEN A PROGRAM MANAGER JOINS,
IT IS NOT ONLY JOINING A
BUSINESS TEAM WE HAVE BUT YOU
CAN THINK OF A PROGRAM MANAGER
AS A PI WITH A LOT OF
TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
SO MOST OF THE STAFF AT ARPA-H
WILL BE CONTRACTORS.
I STARTED MY CAREER AT DARPA
AS A CONTRACTOR AND FOR FIVE
YEARS, I ADVISED PROGRAM
MANAGERS.
I WAS NOT READY TO LEAD IN
THOSE AREAS BUT I WAS ON EVERY
SINGLE DARPA BIOPROJECT WHICH
IT LAUNCHED AND THAT EXPERTISE
AND ENERGY I BROUGHT FORWARD
TO MY DIRECTORS, ONE WAS A
MATHMETICIAN AND THAT IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE.
THEY ARE CALLED SETAS,
SCIENTIFIC ENGINEERING AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS SO WE
WILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF THEM
AFTER WE'RE FULL CAPACITY OF
PROGRAM MANAGERS.
SO AT MY PEAK, I HAD
$250 MILLION AND 15SETAS SO
THAT IS A WAY TO THINK OF
THOSE FOLKS AND WE NEED TO BE
THOUGHTFUL OF BRINGING THEM IN
AND USING THEM AS CONTRACTORS.
IF I HAVE A CRAZY PROGRAM ON
BIOLOGY AND THE NEXT ONE IS
SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT,
THEN I CAN SWAP THOSE OUT WITH
A WHOLE NEW TEAM HAVING THAT
EXPERTISE SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO
CREATE SOLUTIONS THERE AND
SOMEONE OUT OF A POST-DOC CAN
BE REALLY USEFUL BECAUSE THEY
KNOW WHAT A BUDGET IS AND
FISCAL YEAR AND TEND TO BE
ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND
RUNNING.
>> BUT ALSO SPECIFICALLY
THINKING ABOUT PERFORMERS IN
THIS CASE, RIGHT?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE ARE POOLING THAT
POPULATION INTO THE FROM
PERFORMANCE --
[ OFF MIC ]
>> I NEED TO UNMUTE FOR A
SECOND.
SO I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE
THAT YOU LAUNCHED THIS
INITIATIVE AT HOWARD
UNIVERSITY.
AND I WAS CURIOUS WHAT YOUR
THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT WHERE YOU
ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS
HEADQUARTERS BECAUSE THE SITE
IS GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT AND WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS?
>> YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN
COUNTERED A LITTLE BIT IN THAT
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS
NOT REALLY THAT IMPORTANT AS
THE BEST DESCRIPTION I HEARD
OF DARPA IS A HUNDRED
SCIENTISTS BEING DIRECTED BY A
TRAVEL AGENT.
SO THEY ARE GOING TO
UNIVERSITIES AND INDUSTRY AND
WILL BE ALL OVER.
WE'RE NOT REQUIRING OUR
PROGRAM MANAGERS TO MOVE.
IT IS A 3-YEAR APPOINTMENT SO
A LOT OF TIMES THAT INVOLVES
PICKING UP A FAMILY.
THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN WE
HAVE TO GET TOGETHER BUT I AM
VERY STRONG ON THAT IT DOESN'T
MATTER.
>> I THINK THE SITE COULD BE
IMPORTANT.
SO IF FOR EXAMPLE IT WAS A
BUILDING ON THE HOWARD
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND YOU HAD
SOMEHOW -- GIVING A MESSAGE TO
THE PUBLIC THAT INTEGRATING, I
THINK YOU COULD USE THE SITE
IN A IMPORTANT WAY FOR ARPA.
>> I THINK WE DO FOR ALL OF
OUR PROGRAMS AND FOR EXAMPLE,
WE NEED TO DO THINGS VERY
PUBLICLY TO SHOW WE'RE DOING
THIS, I JUST DON'T THINK THERE
NEEDS TO BE A HEADQUARTERS.
WHEN PROGRAM MANAGERS LAUNCH
PROGRAMS, WHAT THEY USUALLY
WILL DO IS HAVE AN EVENT WHERE
THEY INTRODUCE THE GROUPS AND
WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT AT THE
DIFFERENT SITES.
WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
>> YES, MORE TO COME AND I AM
SURE WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU AS
TIME GOES ON SO THAT'S GREAT.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
PRESENTATION AND HAVE A COUPLE
OF GUESTS THAT RECENTLY JOINED
US SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
LARRY TO INTRODUCE THEM.
>> THANKS, VERY BRIEFLY.
ACTUALLY OUR GUEST DOESN'T
NEED ANY INTRODUCTION.
LET'S JUST SAY HE GOT HIS
START AT MICROSOFT, OKAY?
WE WANT TO THANK MR. GATES FOR
BEING HERE TODAY.
HE IS HERE FOR WHAT I BELIEVE
IS THE 9TH GATES FOUNDATION
NIH MEETING OF COLLABORATIVE
EFFORTS NOW UP TO 4 DIFFERENT
PROJECTS AND TONY GRACIOUSLY
JUST STEPPED IN TO CHAIR THAT
MEETING SINCE I AM HERE WITH
YOU AT THE ACD MEETING.
WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR MR. GATES TO
SPEAK TO PART OF THE ACD WHO
IS HERE IN PERSON AND THE REST
VIRTUALLY AND SO WITH THAT LET
ME TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH EMA
WILL HOPEFULLY STIMULATE SOME
QUESTIONS SO I KNOW WHICH AREA
TO DIVE INTO.
THANKS, TONY.
I MET HIM WHEN I FIRST SHOWED
UP IN HIS BUILTING IN 2001 AND
SAID TO HIM HEY, IF WE GET
ASSISTANCE, IT CAN BE EASY TO
HAVE A HIV VACCINE IN NINE
YEARS AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS
A NAIVE POINT OF VIEW EVEN
THOUGH HE WAS ENCOURAGING WE
SHOULD DO OUR BEST AND TRY TO
SOLVE THE MYSTERIES THAT EVEN
TODAY, SITTING AND TALKING
ABOUT THE LATEST TRIALS,
APPROPRIATELY THERE IS SOME
CONCERN ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL
TAKE.
THE GATES FOUNDATION IS
DIFFERENT THAN NIH, WE HAVE
OVERLAPPING INTERESTS BUT
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FOCUSES.
SO GATES FOUNDATION IS LOOKING
AT GLOBAL HEALTH, WHAT PEOPLE
BUY UP OR WHAT CAUSES OUR LIFE
TO BE UNHEALTHY IN POOR
COUNTRIES SO WE'RE ALWAYS
LOOKING AT OKAY WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO AND IT'S
MALNUTRITION, PRETTY GIGANTIC
BUT ALSO HIV, HPV, MALARIA,
VERY SPECIFIC AND OUR APPROACH
IS ARE WE DOING THINGS TO
REDUCE THOSE DEATHS.
AND THIS ALL STARTED IN THE
YEAR 2000 AND LUCKY ENOUGH IT
HAS BEEN GROWING.
IN TOTAL THE ORGANIZATION HAS
BEEN GIVING ABOUT SIX BILLION
IN GRANTS AND OVER THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS WILL BE GETTING UP
TO FIVE BILLION IN GRANTS AND
THAT IS A MIX OF UPSTREAM WORK
WHERE NIH, PARTICULARLY NAID
IS OUR POST IMPORTANT PARTNER
AND DOWNSTREAM THE DELIVERY OF
THESE THINGS GOING INTO
COUNTRIES AND TRYING TO HELP
THEIR PRIMARY HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM.
TWO OF THE PRIMARY THINGS WE
HAVE DONE IN THE FOUNDATION IN
OUR FIRST TWO YEARS WHERE WE
WERE CREATORS OF THE GLOBAL
WIDE VACCINE AND WE WERE ONE
OF THE FOUNDING PARTNERS OF
THE CREATION OF THE GLOBAL
FUNDS WHICH IS OF COURSE THE
MULTILATERAL EQUIVALENT OF THE
BILATERAL UNITED PETFAR AND
THEY TAKE THE MEDICINES, THEY
ARE NOT INVOLVED IN RESEARCH
TO CREATE THE MEDICINES BUT
THEY TAKE IN THE LATEST
MALARIA DRUGS, WHATEVER WE
COME UP WITH OR THE FIELD
COMES UP WITH AND TRIES TO GET
THOSE OUT TO EVERYBODY WHO
NEEDS THEM.
GLOBAL FUND, THE THREE
DEVICES, TB, MALARIA AND HIV
AND THEN GAVI HAS BEEN MOSTLY
VACCINES, HPV ALTHOUGH WE'RE
GETTING INTO SLIGHTLY OLDER
AGES.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROGRAMS WE
WILL NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL BUT
REMAIN OPTIMISTIC IS POLIO
ERADICATION AND THAT IS ABOUT
A BILLION A YEAR.
SADLY WE HAD TO DO A LITTLE
INNOVATION IN THAT CASE AS
WELL BECAUSE THE INACTIVATED
VACCINE ACTUALLY DOES REVERT
AND CAUSE DISEASE AND
INCLUDING CIRCULATING DISEASE
AND WE DON'T SAY IT TOO LOUDLY
SINCE IT WOULD CONFUSE PEOPLE
BUT ACTUALLY MORE CASES OF
POLIO ARE CAUSED BY REVERSION
THAN ARE CAUSED BY WILD TYPES.
ANY WAY SO WE DID A NEW
VACCINE WHICH WAS GENETICALLY
REENGINEERED TO MAKE THE
REVERSION HOPEFULLY HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF TIMES LESS
LIKELY AND SO FAR THAT HAS
BEEN BORNE OUT SINCE THE
MODIFIED TYPE 2 VACCINE
DOESN'T REVERT AND NOW WE'RE
DOING THE SAME THING WITH TYPE
1 AND TYPE 3.
IT WAS KIND OF AMAZING SINCE
IT WAS THE FIRST VACCINE TO
GET EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION ABOUT FIVE
MONTHS BEFORE THE FIRST COVID
VACCINE.
SO ANY WAY WE'RE IN UPSTREAM,
WE'RE -- AND DOWNSTREAM.
ONE OF OUR PRIMARY METHODS IS
HOW MANY CHILDREN DIE UNDER
THE AGE OF FIVE AND THE YEAR
WE GOT STARTED, THAT WAS A BIT
OVER 10 MILLION AND NOW THAT
NUMBER IS A BIT UNDER
5 MILLION AND THE LARGEST
SINGLE REASON FOR THAT IS THE
WORK THAT GABI IS GETTING,
THINGS LIKE PNEUMOCOCCAL.
[ COUGHING DAB.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WE HAVE NEW VACCINES COMING
AND HOPE TO HAVE A TB VACCINE.
WE'RE ABOUT TO INVEST OVERALL
$800 MILLION IN THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE JUST
TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING
WHICH IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM IS
THE TB DRUG DISCOVERY WORK
THAT WE DO.
AND CLIFFTON BARRY IS A PRETTY
IMPORTANT PARTICIPANT IN THAT.
BUT WE HAVE A INCREDIBLE LINE
OF TB DRUGS SO BETWEEN
ADVANCEMENTS AND DIAGNOSTICS
OF DRUGS AND VACCINE TRIALS
WHICH UNFORTUNATELY WILL TAKE
A PRETTY LONG TIME, IT IS A
PRETTY PROMISING PICTURE.
WE TRY NOT TO DO RESEARCH BUT
THERE ARE CASES WHERE WE END
UP DOING RESEARCH.
A LOT OF THE MICROBIOME
RESEARCH HAS BEEN FUNDED BY
US.
WE WISH SOMEONE ELSE WOULD
FUND IT AND WE JUST BENEFIT
FROM IT BUT IN TERMS OF
UNDERSTANDING WHY KIDS GET
MALNOURISHED AND WHY YOU HAVE
WASTING AND STUMPING, THERE
ARE SOME PRETTY EXCITING
THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT
MALNUTRITION.
IN AFRICA, ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF
ALL KIDS NEVER DEVELOP
MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY SO THAT
IS IN A SENSE WORSE THAN JUST
THE DEATH BURDEN.
WE STILL HAVE 20 PERCENT OF
KIDS WHO DIE UNDER THE AGE OF
5 DUE TO HEALTH INCLUDING
NORTHERN NIGERIA WHERE YOU
HAVE A LOT OF BIRTHS SO THE
INEQUITIES ARE PRETTY DRAMATIC
BUT DOWN MASSIVELY FROM THE
YEAR 2000.
SO MAYBE WITH THAT, WE CAN
DELVE INTO ANY PARTICULAR
TOPICS.
>> GREAT, SO QUESTIONS FROM
THE ACD MEMBERS BOTH ON ZOOM
OR HERE?
OH, ROBERTA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL
THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING
AROUND THE GLOBE.
I AM QUITE INTERESTED.
I KNOW THE GATES FOUNDATION
HAS A COMMITMENT TO ENABLING
AND PROMOTE LOCAL LEADERS,
LOCAL DIRECTORS, LOCAL
DELIVERY, I AM WONDERING
WHETHER THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU SEE
THIS AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
FOR AMERICANS TO DEVELOP, YOU
KNOW, THE SKILL SET OF WORKING
IN AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM,
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AS WELL
AS DELIVERY, AND LEARNING
CULTURES.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW WE HAVE OUR
PRIMARY GOAL THAT WE OPTIMIZE
FOR IS TO HELP OUTCOME.
YOU KNOW WE END UP BUILDING
CAPACITY IN PARTICULAR.
WE DO A LOT OF WORK IN INDIA
AND DON'T TALK ABOUT IT AS
MUCH BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SUPER
SUCCESSFUL WITH VACCINATION
RATES, GETTING THEM TO ADOPT
VACCINES AND THEY HAVE CUT
CHILD DEATHS IN HALF.
THE LOCAL CAPACITY THERE, THE
PARTNERS IN INDIA IS REALLY
FANTASTIC AND IN AFRICA, AT
THE TIME REALLY ONLY SOUTH
AFRICA WHERE WE HAVE THAT KIND
OF DEEP SCIENTIFIC
PARTNERSHIP.
AND BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THESE
EXPENSIVE TRIALS LARGE LEAP IN
AFRICA, HAVING THAT CAPACITY
AND USING THAT AS THE BASE TO
BUILD TALENT IS IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE DONE SOME FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAMS AND IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT THE LOCAL SCIENTISTS
ARE VERY CREDIBLE.
TAKE THE ISSUE OF KILLING NOS
SKEET TOES WITH THE GENETIC
CONSTRUCT CALLED TEAM DRIVE.
IN YOU LEFT IT TO THE GLOBE
WHO DOESN'T CARE MUCH ABOUT
MALARIA THEY WOULD BAN THIS
TECHNIQUE BECAUSE IT IS
GENETIC AND SCARY.
SO IT IS REALLY THE TESTIMONY
OF THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH
THE STRONG AFRICAN SCIENTISTS
SAYING WAIT A MINUTE, MALARIA
DOES REALLY MATTER AND YOU CAN
KILL TRILLIONS OF MOSQUITOS
THIS WAY AND HAVE GONE THROUGH
THE RISKS THAT IS WORTHWHILE.
EVEN IN CULTURAL WORK, WE HAVE
EUROPEANS TELLING AFRICANS
THEY SHOULDN'T USE GM O SEEDS
TO GET MORE PRODUCTIVITY AND
GET BETTER NUTRITION AND ONLY
HAVING STRONG AFRICAN LEADERS
WHO SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE THAT
WE ARE STARTING TO TAKE THESE
FANTASTIC SEEDS TO GET THOSE
OUT IN PRODUCTION.
WE HAVE SOME EXCITING FELLOW
SHIPS IN AFRICA.
I WOULD SAY FRANCIS HAS BEEN A
GOOD CHAMPION PUSHING US FOR
BUILDING THAT LOCAL SCIENTIFIC
CAPACITY.
MORE AND MORE, WE TRY TO TO
DIRECT GRANTS.
IF YOU GO TO THE EARLIER --
ALMOST ALL OF OUR GRANTS WE
GAVE TO U.S. INSTITUTIONS THEN
WOULD DO THE WORK IN AFRICA.
I WOULD SAY NOW AT LEAST HALF
OF THOSE ARE DIRECT GRANTS
WITH AFRICAN ORGANIZATIONS
WHICH, YOU KNOW, ALLOWS THEM
TO TAKE CHARGE AND SOMETIMES
ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT MORE
EFFICIENT.
>> I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN
MORE CLEAR.
MY SORT OF INTEREST IS IN HOW
CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS GATES
EXPERIENCE, RIGHT, IN THE
SENSE OF BEING ON THE GROUND
WITH YOUR TEAMS AND WITH THE,
YOU KNOW, FOLKS IN THE LOCAL
ECOSYSTEM.
SO IT WASN'T ABOUT AMERICANS
TAKING CHARGE, IT IS ABOUT
THIS IS A GRAND GLOBAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING.
>> I THINK THE LOCAL
COLLABORATIONS ARE PRETTY
AMAZING BEING ON THE GROUND
WHERE THE TRIALS GET DONE.
I SAY THAT IS STRONGEST WHERE
WE HAVE THESE HUGE
PARTNERSHIPS IN SOUTH AFRICA
WHICH TRAGICALLY HAS BEEN TB
AND HIV BURDENS SO WE SPEND
MUCH OF THE TIME THERE AND
THERE IS SOME MIXING WHERE
PEOPLE GO OVER AND SPEND A LOT
OF TIME.
CLIFF TALKING ABOUT HE HAS A
MILLION FREE MILES ON AIRLINES
INVOLVED IN THE TB IN BOTH
CHINA AND SOUTH AFRICA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HOWARD, YOU ARE NEXT,
PLEASE.
>> MR. GATES, THIS IS HOWARD
CHANGE, AC MEMBER AND THANK
YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US
AND APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU
ARE DOING.
YOU ARE FORCED TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN EARLY RESEARCH.
CAN YOU TELL US BASED ON YOUR
EXPERIENCE IF YOU SEE THE
LONG-TERM STRATEGY IMPACT YOU
HAVE BY INVESTING IN EARLY
RESEARCH AND THEN THE SECOND
ASPECT OF THE QUESTION IS
THERE ANY LEARNING ABOUT WHY
THE TOPICS ARE NOT PICK *UD UP
BY NIH OR ANY OTHER SORT OF
INTERESTING BASIC DISCOVERIES.
>> I DON'T KNOW, TO SOME
EXTENT THE MRNA VACCINE, YOU
KNOW, THE MRNA VACCINES WORK
IN TERMS OF GETTING INTO A
PRODUCT.
THAT IS LARGELY FUNDED BY
DARPA AND GATES FOUNDATION.
YOU KNOW WENT OUT, TRIED TO
INTEREST ALL THE PHARMA
COMPANIES AND ENDED UP GETTING
THREE ORGANIZATIONS.
CUREVAC WAS ACTUALLY THE
FIRST.
IN 2003, THEY GOT DARPA AND
GATES FUNDING.
THEN IN 2007, MODERNA AND
BIOTECH IN 2011 AND THAT IS
WHERE THE MRNA VACCINES COME
FROM.
NIH DID JUMP IN TO HELP DO THE
SPIKE PROTEIN WORK BUT IN
TERMS OF THAT LAST ONE, IT WAS
DONE IS SOME UNUSUAL PLACES
WHICH IS AN INDICTMENT OF
PHARMA TO SOME DEGREE.
WE ALMOST HAD THK INVOLVED IN
THAT BUT DIDN'T SUCCEED.
THERE ARE SOME VERY
FUNDAMENTAL THINGS ABOUT
MAKING VACCINES THAT ARE
BLOCKING, LONG DURATION AND A
HUGE BREADTH AVAILABLE TODAY.
OUR COVID VACCINES FAIL IN ALL
THREE OF THOSE AREAS.
WE HAVE A COLLABORATION WITH
STANFORD ON LOOKING AT BASIC
VACCINES SIGNS TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND THOSE THINGS.
A SHORT DURATION VACCINE IS
NOT VERY INTERESTING FOR HIV
OR TB OR MALARIA.
MALARIA AS AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE
FUNDED OVER JFK OVER A DECADE
A VACCINE CALLED TRF THAT IS
ACTUALLY NOT WORTH DEPLOYING
BECAUSE ITS HALF LIFE IS SO
LOW THAT YOU ARE BETTER TO
SPEND YOUR MONEY ON BED NESTS
THAN THE VACCINE.
SO THE IDEA THAT OKAY WE WILL
BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT AND
EVENTUALLY TURN THAT INTO A
REAL VACCINE, IT IS NOT A
COMPLETE WASTE BUT IT IS
AMAZING TO ME HOW LITTLE WE
KNOW ABOUT THESE VACCINES' KEY
CHARACTERISTICS.
PROBABLY OUR HIGHEST PAYBACK
IS OUR WORK THAT IS
UPSTREAM-TYPE WORK BUT I GUESS
ONE DOWNSTREAM EXAMPLE WHICH
IS KIND OF AMAZING IS THE HPV
VACCINE IS A VERY POWERFUL
VACCINE AND, YOU KNOW, PHARMA
IS NOT INSENTED TO PROVE YOU
ONLY NEED ONE DOSE.
WHY WOULD THEY PROVE TO PEOPLE
THEY SHOULD HAVE HALF AS MUCH
REVENUE?
SAME WITH PNEUMOCOCCAL.
IT IS ALMOST PROVEABLE THAT
TWO ARE 20 SO GATES FOUNDATION
DID THIS TO SHOW YOU ONLY NEED
TWO.
WITH HPV WE DID THESE
INCREDIBLE STUDIES TO SHOW YOU
ONLY NEED ONE SO ALL THE MONEY
ON HPV VACCINES WILL GO DEVICE
AS FAR. -- TWICE AS FAR.
SO IF WE HAD 92,000 DOSES WE
WOULD HAVE FAILED AND INSTEAD
OF GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE TO
HAVE ONE DOSE, THEY SAY WE
WILL HAVE TWO THAT IS
BASICALLY ONLY GIVING YOU
5 PERCENT PROTECTION.
THANK GOODNESS THE ONE DOSE IS
SO GOOD IT IS
INDISTINGUISHABLE BETWEEN
TWO-DOSE IN TERMS OF THE
OUTCOME.
SO WE CAN TAKE -- AND DELIVERY
IS SUPER HARD, THE COST OF
GETTING IT IN THE FIELD BUT
OUR COVERAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN
SUPER LOW.
SO SOME OF THE IN-THE-FIELD
STUFF IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE AS
WELL.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT ON
REFRIGERATION TO MAKE THAT
EUROPE EASY TO DO.
BUT YEAH THE UPSTREAM RESEARCH
IS WHERE THE MOST DRAMATIC
THING IS.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE GIVE ONE MORE
EXAMPLE.
WHEN THE GATES FOUNDATION
STARTED, ROTAVAC WAS GIVEN TO
RICH CHILDREN.
ALL THE ROTA VIRUS DEATHS ARE
IN POOR CHILDREN AND THEY HAVE
ZERO VACCINES AND SO JUST
GETTING THE WORLD TO TAKE THE
R OT ROTAVAC VACCINE, GIVING
IT TO INFANTS BUT THAT WAS
GETTING THE COSTS DOWN, VOLUME
UP, GOING FROM COUNTRY TO
COUNTRY.
IN INDIA WE HAVE A LOCAL
MANUFACTURER AND NOW THAT IS A
HUGE SUCCESS STORY BUT THAT
WAS NONSCIENTIFIC
INSTITUTIONARE AH THINGS AND
PHNEUMOCOCCUS IS A LITTLE BIT
OF SAME STORY ALTHOUGH WE DID
HAVE TO CHANGE THE -- THERE
WAS A SLIGHT RERUM CHANGE TYPE
SO JUST DOING THE WORK THERE.
NOW WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET
IT TO BE BELOW A DOLLAR A DOSE
AND THAT HAS BEEN VERY
PROMISING.
>> ADD ADD MY THANKS TO YOU
FOR THE GLOBAL VIEW OF
INTERACTION SEEN DEVELOPMENT
AND MORE.
I WAS WONDERING, MAYBE YOU
HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO IT A
BIT BUT DO YOU THINK THE RNA
VACCINE AS THE CORONA VIRUS
VACCINE WILL IMPACT VACCINE
DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE AND HOW
YOU THINK THE SEED OF
DEVELOPMENT WILL IMPACT?
WILL IT IMPACT SOME OF THE
AREAS YOU HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN
TO?
>> YEAH, SO THE BUSINESS CASE
OF, YOU KNOW, BIOTECH AND
MODERNA IS LARGELY BASED ON
MRNA VACCINES IN ONCOLOGY.
AND YOU KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
GOING TO FAIL AND THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IS GOING
TO BE ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL.
SO IT IS A GREAT QUESTION BUT
THEY ARE GETTING SO MUCH
PRIVATE CAPITAL, YOU KNOW, WE
WILL HAVE AN ANSWER.
BUT YOU HAVE A GOOD -- THE
COUPLE THAT ARE FOUNDERS OF
THE BY BIOTECH ACTUALLY CARE
ABOUT INFECTIOUS DISEASE SO
THEY ARE DOING MORE FOR
INFECTIOUS DISEASE THAN A PURE
BUSINESS-ORIENTED VIEW WOULD
CAUSE THEM TO.
I WOULD SAY THERE IS EVEN A
DANGER THAT MRNA BECOMES -- WE
OVERFOCUS ON THAT.
THERE ARE OTHER VACCINES THAT
MAY SOLVE THESE DURATION-TYPE
ISSUES SO WE DON'T WANT TO
BECOME OVERLY FOCUSED.
THE THING ABOUT MRNA IS THE
FLEXIBILITY, THAT YOU ARE JUST
ESSENTIALLY CHANGING THE
NUMBERS, THE MRNA-T SO WE CAN
HAVE.
>> Genny: NUCLEAR -- HAVE
GENERIC VACCINES FACTORIES.
THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH ON
HOW LIPIDS TARGET DIFFERENT
THINGS SO WE MAY HAVE TO
CHANGE THIS BUT YOU CAN HAVE A
MRNA FACTORY THAT CAN MAKE
BILLIONS OF VACCINES IN MONTHS
AND THE COST OF MAKING THE
MRNA VACCINES ONCE YOU GET
INTO THESE TYPE OF VOLUMES IS
SUPER, SUPER LOW.
SO THERE IS THIS DEBATE IN THE
VACCINE WORLD SHOULD WE HAVE
VACCINE FACTORIES IN ERR --
EVERY COUNTRY, WHICH IS
INSANE.
OR SHOULD WE HAVE SO MUCH
CAPACITY OF VACCINE THAT THE
IDEA OF DID YOU HAND IT OUT IN
THE RIGHT ORDER WOULD
ESSENTIALLY MAKE IT A MOOT
QUESTION BECAUSE YOU GOT IT
OUT SO QUICKLY THAT YOU ARE
MORE BOTTLE NECKED WITH
DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS.
AND PARTICULARLY IF CHINA
WANTS ITS CAPACITY, EUROPE
WANTS IT, U.S. WANTS IT, YOU
COULD GET UP TO SIX BILLION
COURSES PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO NO, MRNA IS, YOU KNOW,
FANTASTIC FOR LOTS OF THINGS
INCLUDING NOT JUST
VACCINOLOGY.
AND THE LEVEL OF INTEREST IN
IT NOW, ALMOST ALL OF THESE
DEVELOPING COUNTRY VACCINE
MANUFACTURERS ARE ALL
DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY TO DO
MRNA SO SERUM IN TWO OR THREE
YEARS --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
PFIZER IS THE HIGHEST REVENUE
VACCINE MANUFACTURER BUT THERE
IS A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU SELL
FOR $80 VERSUS TWO DOLLARS IN
REVENUE VERSUS UNIT COST BUT
WE WILL HAVE THOSE CAPACITIES
PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO I HOPE WE CAN SOLVE THE
DURATION PROBLEM WITH SOME
ADJUVANT OR SOMETHING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TWO
QUESTIONS THAT ARE TWO PARTS
OF MY IDENTITY.
FIRST OF ALL I AM A
PSYCHIATRIST AND A
NEUROSCIENTIST AND I AM
WONDERING, ONE OF THE THINGS I
REGULARLY OBSERVED IN MY
TRAINING IS NO MATTER NOW GOOD
THE ANTIVIRALS WERE, THEY HAVE
DIDN'T WORK IF MY PATIENTS
DIDN'T TAKE THEM.
SO I AM WONDERING HOW YOU ARE
THINKING ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
AND HOW YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT
THAT AS YOU DEVELOP TREATMENT
FOR VARIOUS DISEASES, AS YOU
THINK ABOUT THAT WORLDWIDE.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS MY
FAMILY IS FROM GHANA IN WEST
AFRICA AND WHEN I VISIT, I
OBSERVE DISPARITIES FROM WHAT
I OBSERVE IN THE UNITED STATES
BUT ALSO SERVE IN PREDATOR AND
THE DISPARITIES BLOCK TO BLOCK
ARE GREATER THAN WHEN I TRAVEL
TO MY FAMILY COMMUNITY IN
GHANA.
SO WONDERING IF YOU ARE
THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO FIGURE
OUT BEST PRACTICE IN AFRICA OR
HERE AND VICE VERSA AND HOW
YOU DO THAT.
AND I WANT TO SAY A PERSONAL
THANKS TO Dr. FAUCI, AS A
YOUNG SCIENTIST, THE ROLE YOU
PLAYED TO BRING SCIENCE AND
MEDICINE TOGETHER TO HAVE A
TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT.
>> YEAH, I MEAN THERE'S
SOMETHING THAT I HOPE
EVERYBODY PLAYS WITH ON A
REGULAR BASIS WHICH IS THIS
LONE BURDEN OF DISEASE
DATABASE FROM IHME.
YOU CAN LOOK AT COFACTORS,
TRENDS, LOOK AT IT BY RACE,
GEOGRAPHY OTHER TIME, DO
FORECASTS NOW, YOU CAN LOOK AT
DO PLAQUE PATIENTS SEEK HEALTH
DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER
PATIENTS.
THE DATABASE IS LARGELY FUNDED
BY THE FOUNDATION, THE
RESISTANCE IS SOMETHING FROM
THE PAST.
THERE IS THE TAKE WHERE
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN CAN DIE
AND WE BASICALLY DO
AUTOPSIES -- THIS IS ONLY IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHERE THE
OPAQUENESS OF CAUSE OF DEATH
WAS SO HIGH AND THAT HAS BEEN
A HUGE SET OF FACTORS
INFORMING THE IHME TO
ATTRIBUTE, OKAY, WHAT ARE
THESE KIDS DYING OF,
PARTICULARLY THINGS LIKE IF
YOU DIE IN THE FIRST 30 DAYS,
THEY BASICALLY FAIL WITH
SEPSIS OR -- BUT THEY DON'T
KNOW THE PATH AND GOING BACK
AND FIGURING OUT HOW YOU WOULD
HAVE SAVED THAT LIFE.
WE DON'T DO MUCH ON MENTAL
ILLNESS.
THERE ARE DISEASES THAT ARE
NOT MUCH IN THE RICH WORLD
LIKE MALARIA BUT THEN YOU HAVE
HIV THAT DOES EXIST IN THE
RICH WORLD BECAUSE THERE IS A
HUGE PROFIT MOTIVATION TO WORK
ON THOSE THINGS.
SO IT IS NOT THAT WE'RE NOT
ABOUT INFECTIOUS DISEASE,
WE'RE ABOUT ANYTHING WHERE WE
CAN SAFE A LIFE FOR LIFE'S
SAKE, BUT SOME DISEASE
MEDICINES ARE AT THE POINT,
SOME OF THAT HEART DISEASE
WORK BEING DONE CALLED RESOLVE
BUT WE'RE INTERESTED.
AS THE RICH WORLD MAKES
PROGRESS AND BRINGS THINGS TO
BE CHEAP, WE WILL BE READY TO
GO.
SOME THINGS WE'RE SO IMPATIENT
ABOUT, WE ARE -- WE GET INTO
THE CAUSATION CHANGE THERE.
SO THIS COLLABORATION ON GENE
THERAPY WHICH TONY AND FRANCIS
CHAMPIONED AND IS OFF TO A
GOOD START, LIKE A DECADE-LONG
THING, BUT THAT'S TO DO GENE
THERAPY AT SOMETHING LIKE
$1000 PER TREATMENT TO CURE
PATIENTS OF SICKLE-CELL AND
HIV.
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE U.S.
CAN AFFORD -- WELL, MAYBE NOT,
A MILLION DOLLARS PER
SICKLE-CELL PATIENT, THE U.S.
HAS ONLY 80,000, YOU KNOW
AFRICA HAS MILLIONS AND CAN'T
POSSIBLY AFFORD AN EXTENSIVE
TREATMENT.
AND THEN OF COURSE WITH HIV,
UNLESS IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE,
LIFE LONG TREATMENT IS MORE
ATTRACT I HAVE THIS THAN LIKE
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS.
SO WE WILL TRY TO DRIVE THE
COSTS TOWN.
WE WILL END UP SAVING THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS BUT THAT IS AN
ACCIDENTAL SIDE-STEP OF THE
PROGRAM.
>> JUDITH?
>> YES, I WILL JUST SAY
INSPIRING, THANK YOU AND LET'S
MOVE ON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO I AM GOING TO ECHO
SOMETHING THAT C.T.A. SAID
THAT THE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN
THE U.S. ARE ALSO EXTREME AND
I GUESS THE QUESTION IS
WHETHER OR NOT THE INFORMATION
YOU ARE GLEANING FROM YOUR
GLOBAL ANALYSIS OF MALNEWT
TRICKS AND MICROBIOMES CAN
TELL US ABOUT THOSE SAME
THINGS IN THE *ULS AND ARE YOU
COMPARING?
THE MICROBIOMES, I WOULD GUESS
THEY ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT
FROM MISSOURI MISSISSIPPI AND
GHANA BUT I DON'T KNOW, IS
THAT SOMETHING ON YOUR RADAR
OR DO YOU CONSIDER THE U.S. AS
PART OF THE GLOBE?
>> DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE
WE HAD A LOT OF VACCINE
EXPERTISE OUTSIDE THE NIH AND
PRIVATE SECTOR, SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF VACCINE EXPERTISE
THERE WAS WITH PEOPLE AT THE
FOUNDATION, SUPER INVOLVED
DURING THAT TIME PERIOD AND,
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GOT TO LOOK
AT THIS IHME DATA.
SO LIKE TAKE THE FACT THAT
BLACKS HAVE HIGHER MATERNAL
MORTALITY, IT HAS NO
GEOGRAPHIC -- IT IS EQUAL
ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED
STATES, EVEN IN VERY POOR
TREATMENT SYSTEMS.
BUT HIV, THAT IS EXTREMELY
GRAPHIC.
TAKE FLORIDA AND GEORGIA.
THESE DATA SETS, THE FACT SO
LITTLE ACTION IS TAKEN ON
THESE DATA SETS IS MIND
BLOWING.
THEY ARE THERE, JUST CALLING
OUT.
IT IS NOT A FOUNDATION THING.
WE ARE NOT THE -- I HAPPEN TO
DO RICH WORLD WORK ON
ALZHEIMER'S AND WORKED WITH
NIA AND FUNDING DIAGNOSTIC
TYPE STUFF BUT THAT IS NOT A
FOUNDATION THING.
SO WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT
FOCUSED ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO SAY
WE DO DO U.S. EDUCATION.
IF WE DECIDE THE MEDICAL SAVES
INNER CITY KIDS IN TERMS OF
STRESS, INFLAMMATION, STUFF
LIKE THAT THAT CAN HELP THEM
STUDY BETTER.
WE HAVE FOUND STARTING SCHOOL
LATER HELPS THEM SLEEP MORE
AND THE TEST RESULTS OF THAT
ARE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT BUT
THAT IS A SEMI RELATED THING.
BUT NO, IT IS NOT A FOCUS OF
OURS EVEN THOUGH THE PRIMARY
DATA SETS THAT YOU WOULD START
WITH, THE IHME DATA SETS, WE
FUNDED THEM TO DO DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES BUT THEN THEY CHOSE
TO DO THE ENTIRE WORLD.
AND YOU KNOW IT IS THE KIND OF
THING YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
CDC WOULD HAVE DONE BUT THEY
DIDN'T.
>> I KNOW BEFORE GATES AND
TONY HAVE HARD STOPS BUT LET'S
LET THIS BE THE LAST QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO I WANTED TO TAKE THAT PIVOT
JUST TO CELEBRATE THE MOMENT
AROUND THE MALARIA VACCINE AND
GET YOUR OUTLOOK ON WHAT YOU
THINK WILL HAPPEN WITH THE
DISEASE AND HOW THAT MIGHT
PIVOT AS YOU THINK ABOUT THE
APPROACH TO IT BECAUSE FROM A
WORLD LIFE STANDPOINT,
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT WORKED ON THAT
VACCINE AND THANKS FOR ALL THE
OTHER ONES.
>> YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
MALARIA ONE?
[ OFF MIC ]
>> WE STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH
THE MALARIA VACCINE BECAUSE IT
IS NOT OPTIMAL AND WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS TO
TRY AND INCORPORATE SOME OF
THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE WILL GET
FROM MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
THAT HAVE A PRO PROFOUND
INFECTION ON SUBTYPES.
AND THE QUESTION IS WHEN WE
GET THAT WILL WE MODIFY THE
CURRENT MALARIA VACCINE WHICH
BILL MENTIONED BUT NOS THE
NOT THE END GAME AT ALL?
BECAUSE BILL MENTIONED FOR THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY IT WOULD TAKE
TO GET THAT OUT THERE, AS BILL
SAYS, AND I DON'T THINK HE WAS
TRYING TO BE MORE FACEIOUS,
YOU COULD DO BETTER JUST TO
GET MORE BEDS OUT THERE.
BUT WE'RE CAUTIOUSLY
OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE THE DATA
THAT BILL AND I SAW TODAY ON A
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY WHICH WAS
AGAINST ADDITIONAL ECTOSPO REG
E WAS REALLY GOOD.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
PRODUCE A ANTIBODY THAT WILL
LAST MORE THAN THE SIX MONTHS
OF A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY.
>> THE SITUATION IS A BIT
CONFUSING BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
FOUR YEAR DATA AND IT IS
PRETTY LOW, LIKE 30 PERCENT
PROTECTION LEVELS BECAUSE OF
THE HALF LIFE.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE-YEAR DATA BUT
THE ONE-YEAR DATA IS NO BETTER
THAN THE RTSS ONE-YEAR DATA
AND WE CAN SEE IT CHICANE.
EVEN THOUGH WE WILL DO A FEW
THINGS BETTER AND WE WILL
PROBABLY BUILD ON R-21, EASIER
TO MANUFACTURE.
GSK REALLY EXITED THIS AREA
WHERE THE INSTITUTE IS
ACTIVELY ENGAGED.
SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS LIKE
THE DOSING SCHEDULE, SOME WORK
WHERE IF WE HAVE CONTINUOUS
EXPOSURE, WE MIGHT OVERCOME
THESE RACIAL PROBLEMS.
SO IT IS INTRIGUING AND SOME
PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER
HAVE A VACCINE AGAINST THIS
TYPE OF PATHOGEN.
SO YOU KNOW WE'RE MAKING
PROGRESS.
THE BED ISSUE IS INTERESTING.
THE SPECIES THAT CAUSES THE
MOST DEATH, THEY ARE INDOOR BY
THERS BUT YOU CAN'T JUST FOCUS
ON THAT BECAUSE HALF OF THEM
ARE OUTDOOR BITERS.
SO THE DREAM IS THAT WE CAN GO
TO THE WORLD AND SAY OKAY, WE
HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO AN
ERADICATION BUT TELLING THE
WORLD THAT, AS WE HAVE SEEN IN
THE POLIO CASE, IT IS SO HARD
AND YOU END UP IN THE TOUGHEST
PLACES.
WITH MALARIA, THAT MEANS
CENTRAL AFRICA, NORTHERN
NIGERIA WHERE YOU HAVE MANY
CHALLENGES OF GETTING ANYTHING
TO BE DOWN SERUM ALTHOUGH WE
DID IT WITH POLIO BUT ONLY
WITH INCREDIBLE INTERVENTION
AND WEIGHT AND IT TOOK WAY WAY
LONGER THAN WE EXPECTED.
SO YOU KNOW ALL THOSE TOOLS.
AS TONY SAID THE ANTIBODIES,
THAT THERAPY IS ABSOLUTELY
AMAZING.
>> WE'RE A LITTLE OVER TIME
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING WITH US, REAL REALLY
APPRECIATE IT AND CERTAINLY
LOOK FORWARD TO SUCCESS OF
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
FOUNDATION AND NIH SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND WITH NEW
PEOPLE COMING IN, WE HOPE TO
MAINTAIN THE COVERAGE AND TONY
HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL TO WORK
WITH SO HE WILL BE MISSED.
>> THANK YOU.
SO LET'S BE BACK IF WE CAN AT
1:00 FOR TONY'S PRESENTATION.
LIKES WE HAVE NEVER SEEN IN
OVER 100 YEARS WITH CLOSE TO
700 MILLION CASES IN CLOSE TO
7 MILLION DEATHS.
THOSE NUMBERS ARE ALMOST
CERTAINLY AND UNDERCOUNT AND
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT DEATHS
ARE PROBABLY TWO OR THREE FOLD
MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE OF THE
REPORTING ISSUES IN SEVERAL
DEVELOPING NATIONS IN SOUTHERN
AFRICA.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED FROM
OUR EXPERIENCE I HAVE DIVIDED
INTO SEVEN.
BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT
ARE THE MOST RELEVANT BUT JUST
A COUPLE OF QUICK POINTS ON
EACH BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE
TIME TO DELVE INTO EACH OF
THOSE BUT LET'S START OFF WITH
THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL
INFORMATION SHARING AND
COLLABORATION IS PROBABLY ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE
NEED TO KNOW NOT ONLY OPEN
INFORMATION FROM THE GIVEN
COUNTRY THIS HAVE BEEN
IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE A MORE
ACTIVE OR TRANSPARENT
AVAILABILITY OF DATA WITH THE
OUTBREAK OF CHINA BUT IT GOES
BEYOND THAT AND SURVEILLANCE
DATA AND GENOMIC DATA THAT IS
IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO THE
EMERGENCE OF THE VARIANCE AND
REAL-WORLD CLINICAL DATA.
THE COLLABORATION AND
IMMEDIATE TRANSPARENCY IS A
VERY GOOD EXAMPLE SOUTH AFRICA
HAS BEEN GOOD COLLEAGUES AND
COLLABORATORS BUT IMMEDIATELY
WITH THE EMERGENCE OF OMICRON
IN SOUTH AFRICA THE DATA WAS
MADE AVAILABLE TO US ON A ZOOM
CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
MEETING ON SUNDAY NIGHT AS WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT IMMEDIATE
AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION IN
A TRANSPARENT WAY.
TO CONTRAST WHAT WE
EXPERIENCED EARLY ON IN CHINA
WAS A BAD EXAMPLE EXISTING
CLINICAL TRIAL STRUCTURE WHAT
WE MEAN BY THAT IS TO TAKE THE
RESOURCES YOU ALREADY HAVE
EVEN FOR ANOTHER DISEASE AND
REPLICATED IN THE EFFORT YOU
HAVE TO THE CURRENT CHALLENGE
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN FOR US?
WE HAVE SPENT LITERALLY
DECADES BUILDING AN
INTERNATIONAL CLINICAL TRIAL
NETWORK FOR HIV.
WHAT WE DID IN THE BEGINNING
OF THE OUTBREAK WITH THE
LEADING CLINICAL TRIALS FOR
VACCINES AND THERAPEUTICS INTO
THE COVID PREVENTION NETWORK
BY MERGING WITH THE CLINICAL
TRIAL AND WITH THAT PREVENTION
NETWORK BROADER DEFECT
INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONSORTIUM
AND A LARGE A CALL CHILD YOUR
LINKING TO THE COVID-19
PREVENTION NETWORK VERY
IMPORTANT SUCCESS STORY CAP
NEXT HAVE A SUCCESS STORY WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
SIDE OF IS THE SCIENTIFIC IT
AND ENABLE THE RAPID VACCINE
DEVELOPMENT IF THERE IS ONE
THING WE DON'T WANT TO GET
LOST SOME OF THE CHALLENGING
IF NOT DISAPPOINTING ISSUES IS
WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO
MAINTAIN A SUSTAINED
INVESTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL
RESEARCH?
I WROTE ABOUT THIS IN
APRIL 2021 ISSUE OF SCIENCE
WHEN I SAID THE SPEED AND
EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH IS
HIGHLY EFFICACIOUS VACCINES
WORD DEVELOP THE POTENTIAL FOR
SAVING MILLIONS OF LIVES WITH
EXTRAORDINARY
MULTIDISCIPLINARY EFFORT
INVOLVING BASIC PRECLINICAL
AND CLINICAL SCIENCE BEEN OUT
OF THE SPOTLIGHT FOR DECADES
BEFORE THE UNFOLDING OF THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
FROM PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES FOR
VACCINES ALTER THE STRUCTURE
-BASED DESIGN THAT IS NOW THE
IMMUNOGEN USED FOR ALL OF THE
VACCINES THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
THAT SCIENCE MAGAZINE DEEMED
THAT EFFORT THE SCIENTIFIC
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR FOR
2020 RESULTING AS SHOWN HERE
INTO A NUMBER OF VACCINES
USING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT
PLATFORMS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT
DEVELOPERS SEVERAL OF WHOM
HAVE ALREADY BEEN FULLY
APPROVED AND OTHERS ARE STILL
ON EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION.
NEXT, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
THIS IS THE DIRECTION NIH HAS
BEEN GOING THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
BOTH THE PROTOTYPE AND
PRIORITY PATHOGEN APPROACH
, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THAT?
THE PRIORITY PATHOGEN APPROACH
YOU SELECT THE PATHOGEN ITSELF
YOU FEEL HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF
THE EMERGING INTO AN EPIDEMIC
FORM THE BLUEPRINT HAS PICKED
OUT A NUMBER OF PRIORITY
DISEASES THAT HAVE THE
POTENTIAL AT ANY TIME TO
BECOME PANDEMIC AND WE ALREADY
KNOW ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS
SINCE WE ARE LIVING THROUGH
THAT AS WELL AS ISSUES LIKE
EBOLA.
BUT WHAT WE FEEL IS EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT IS THE PROTOTYPE
PATHOGEN APPROACH WHICH MEANS
WHAT YOU DO IS SELECT FAMILIES
OF VIRUSES IT CAN BE ANY
PATHOGEN BUT FOR THE SAKE OF
CLARITY IT IS VIRUSES IN WHICH
YOU DO A NUMBER OF BASIC
STUDIES IN EACH OF THE
FAMILIES AND BUILD ON PRIOR
EXPERIENCE WITHIN THAT
PARTICULAR FAMILY.
THERE ARE 20 FAMILIES OF
VIRUSES THAT HAVE THE
POSSIBILITY OF CONDEMNING
OUTBREAK.
OF THOSE, SEVEN OR EIGHT ARE
OF THE HIGHER RISK AND SHOWN
ON THE SLIDE.
WITH THAT PROTOTYPE PATHOGEN
APPROACH IS THE STUDY
INDIVIDUAL VIRUSES IN THE
FAMILY LOOKING FOR
COMMONALITIES FOR YOU TO MOVE
VERY QUICKLY SHED A PARTICULAR
MEMBER OF THAT FAMILY EMERGE
TO BE A PANDEMIC WE SAW THAT
WITH THE CORONAVIRUS AND WHAT
WE LEARNED FROM THE WORK IN
2002 SARS COVE E1 AND THAT
ALLOWED US TO THE GROUND
RUNNING THE UNPRECEDENTED
SPEED TO DEVELOP THE VACCINE
OF COVID-19 SO WHAT DID WE
LEARN?
THE FUNDAMENTAL TESTING THE
DEVELOPMENT THE OPTIMAL
PLATFORMS POTENTIAL IMMUNE
CORRELATES DIFFERENT FROM
MANUFACTURING STRATEGIES.
NEXT THE IMPORTANCE WE HAVE
LEARNED THIS VERY CLEARLY
CONTINUED SURVEILLANCE IS
CRITICAL MY COLLEAGUE AND I
WROTE A COMMENTARY IN
SEPTEMBER 2020 IN WHICH WE
STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
FACT THAT IN A HUMAN DOMINATED
WORLD OUR AGGRESSIVE AND
UNBALANCED INTERACTION WITH
NATURE MAY ENCROACH AND WORD
PROVOKE NEW DISEASE
EMERGENCIES.
AND WHERE WE STUDY THE CONTEXT
OF THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN
ANIMAL PATHOGENS AND
75 PERCENT OF THE NEW
PATHOGENS THAT ARE EMERGING IN
HUMANS ARE ORIGINALLY ZOONOTIC
MEETING ORIGINATED FROM AN
ANIMAL RESERVOIR.
LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE DEALING
WITH NOW SOME VERY IMPORTANT
PAPERS AND EVERYONE KEEPS AN
OPEN MIND AS TO THE ORIGIN
WITH A NATURAL OCCURRENCE.
AND WITH THAT REVOLUTIONARY
VIOLENCE VIROLOGIST AND
PUBLISHED THE MOST LIKELY
ORIGIN IS WHAT WE ARE
REFERRING TO AS A NATURAL
OCCURRENCE FROM AN ANIMAL
RESERVOIR TO A HUMAN AND THEN
ADAPTING ITSELF TO
TRANSMISSION AMONG HUMANS
NEVERTHELESS LONG-STANDING
SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES DRIVE
PANDEMIC DISPARITIES.
SOME OF OUR OWN I WITH THOSE
DISPARITIES ARE OBSERVED
AMOUNT AND WHEN WE DO HAVE
DATA VERY LIKELY PACIFIC
ISLANDERS.
THOSE THAT DRIVE DISPARITIES
LIMITED HEALTHCARE ACCESS
OCCUPATIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY
INVOLVED IN ESSENTIAL WORK OF
THE MINORITY POPULATIONS WHICH
DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO WORK
REMOTELY THERE IS THAT INCOME
AND WEALTH GAPS WITH THINGS
SUCH AS HOUSING SOME PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN CROWDED CONDITIONS
IT'S VERY HARD WITH PREVENTION
STRATEGIES.
MISINFORMATION IS THE TRUE
ENEMY OF A PANDEMIC.
THESE ARE A COUPLE OF
SELECTIVE INDICATIONS AND
EXAMPLES THE ALMOST LUDICROUS
MISINFORMATION WITH BILL GATES
AND I AT THE MEETING A COUPLE
OF HOURS AGO WE ALWAYS JOKE
ABOUT THE FACT THE
MISINFORMATION LYING OUT THERE
CONTINUES TO HAVE BILL AND I
PUTTING CHIPS INTO VACCINES SO
WE CAN CONTROL PEOPLE'S
THOUGHTS THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD
DISINCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO
BELIEVE THAT TO BE VACCINATED
BUT AS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF
MISINFORMATION AND
DISINFORMATION SO BEYOND 2022
WHERE WE GOING WITH THIS AND
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
CAN WE ERADICATE I WOULD BE
ASTOUNDED IF WE ELIMINATED
SARS/COV2 AND IMPORTANTLY
EITHER VACCINE OR INFECTION IS
MEASURED IN DECADES AND
SOMETIMES FOR A LIFETIME.
THAT ALLOWED US TO ERADICATE.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS CAN YOU
ELIMINATE?
AGAIN I DOUBT AND WE HAVE
ELIMINATED TO VIRUSES OF
IMPORTANCE EVER OWN SOCIETY
POLIO AND MEASLES BUT THOSE
ARE PHENOTYPICALLY STABLE WE
DON'T HAVE FIVE OR SIX
VARIANCE LIKE WE DO WITH
SARS/COV2 BUT INFECTION AND
VACCINE -INDUCED IMMUNITY IS
MEASURED IN DECADES AND OVER A
LIFETIME SO WITH SARS/COV2 WE
HAVE A PROBLEM AND
EVOLUTIONARY DIVERSE VARIANT
FIVE OR SIX OF THE HOME BUT
ALSO THE WAITING VACCINE AND
INFECTION INDUCED IMMUNITY WHY
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF STAYING UPDATED
ON YOUR BOOSTER SHOTS BECAUSE
IF WE DO THAT WE CAN GAIN A
LEVEL OF CONTROL THAT THE
INFECTION IN THE COMMUNITY IS
LOW ENOUGH IT DOES NOT DISTURB
THE SOCIAL ORDER.
AND WHAT DO WE MEAN BY
CONTROL?
SOUND SEE THAT AS A RETURN TO
NORMALCY AND IT DOESN'T
DISRUPT SOCIETY.
SO IT CAN BE DONE THAT SHOWN
ON THE LEFT-HAND PART OF THE
SLIDE WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT
COMMON SENSE VOLUNTARY MASKING
WHERE APPROPRIATE AND THAT
REQUIREMENT FOR INTIMATE
VACCINATION WHICH IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT AS WELL AS THE USE
OR THE PRUDENT USE OF
INTERVENTION SUCH AS
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES SO I
WILL CLOSE UP THE LAST SLIDE
PAPER THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I
WROTE ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO THIS
PAST MONTH.
WE ENTITLED THE EMERGING
INFECTIONS IN THE MESSAGE AND
BOTTOM LINE OF THAT PAPER IS
THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
CHALLENGED BY EMERGING
INFECTIONS WE ARE CHALLENGED
BY THEM NOW AND WE CERTAINLY
WILL BE CHALLENGED IN THE
FUTURE THAT'S WHY WE ENTITLED
THAT A PERPETUAL CHALLENGE AND
THE ONLY WAY TO MEET A
PERPETUAL CHALLENGE IS TO BE
PERPETUALLY PREPARED AND THAT
IS THE ONE UNDERLYING MESSAGE
OF THE LESSONS THAT WE LEARN
WE MUST BE PERPETUALLY
PREPARED.
THANK YOU.
>> I WILL TURN IT TO THE
MEMBERS TO SEE IF THERE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> AND THIS DEEPEST GRATITUDE
FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR ALL
OF US AND CONTINUE TO DO.
COMING BACK TO THE PATHOGEN OF
MISINFORMATION AND WITH THE
THAT ON MANY LEVELS HOW DO YOU
THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS
THAT AND PREEMPT THAT?
>> ONE THING THAT IS VERY
CLEAR THAT PROCESS OF SCIENCE
AND PEOPLE ARE NOT USE TO THAT
DATA INTERPRETATION AND INTO
CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING AND
LEARNING AS YOU GO IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE
PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA?
>> YOU MAKE A COUPLE OF REALLY
GOOD POINTS MISINFORMATION AND
DISINFORMATION SOMERSET FRANK
MALICIOUS EVEN THOSE WHO KNOW
BETTER -- IS THE FACT THAT ONE
OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS BE
VERY ENERGETIC TO COUNTER THE
MISINFORMATION BY FLOODING THE
SYSTEM WITH CORRECT
INFORMATION IF THERE IS
ANYTHING IS WHAT YOU ARE
ALLUDING TO SO WHAT HAPPENS IN
JANUARY 2020 THE VIRUS WAS A
BIT DIFFERENT FROM JULY FROM
THE VIRUS WE ARE DEALING WITH
RIGHT NOW.
GOING FROM A POORLY
TRANSMITTED VIRUS TO A WELL
TRANSMITTED VIRUS TRENDS TIRED
FROM THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE
SYMPTOMS THAT GREATLY
INFLUENCES YOUR GUIDELINES AND
ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT YOU MAKE.
THAT SCIENCE FROM THE OUTBREAK
IS A DYNAMIC PROCESS IT ISN'T
STATIC I GIVE A SPECIFIC
EXAMPLE TO SAY THE
JANUARY 2022 PLUS 2 EQUALS
FOUR BUT DECEMBER 2222 PLUS 2
STILL EQUALS FOUR HOWEVER THE
VIRUS IN 2020 IS VERY
DIFFERENT FROM THE VIRUS NOW.
SO YOU CANNOT HOLD STRICT
MATHEMATICAL PRINCIPLES
REVOLUTION DEALING WITH
BIOLOGY.
WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB TO
COMMUNICATE THAT.
>> SPEAKING OF MISINFORMATION
IT IS CLEAR THERE ARE MANY
PEOPLE THAT DON'T BELIEVE THAT
VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE BUT
THAT THEY ARE HARMFUL.
SO COULD YOU GIVE ME A
CITATION OF A PAPER THAT COULD
COUNTER THAT?
SO WHAT IS THE BEST EVIDENCE
IN YOUR MIND AND A SIMPLE
STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY WHAT IS
THE EFFICACY OF THE MRNA
VACCINE?
>> WE WILL GET THEM TO YOU.
PLEASE REMIND US WITH THE
SUMMARY DATA WITH MOTOR NOT
ONE -- THERE IS A STUDY ON THE
CDC WEBSITE THEY SHALL BE
VACCINATED VERSUS VACCINATED
AND LISTED IN THE
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEAF YOU
DON'T NEED A STATISTICIAN TO
FIGURE IT OUT IS FOR EVERYBODY
TO SEE.
CDC.GOV.
>> BUT THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS?
>> I THINK IF YOU TELL THEM TO
GO THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM BUT
MISINFORMATION IS NOT ALWAYS
CURED ESPECIALLY WHEN A PERSON
RECEIVES THE INFORMATION WHO
DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE THEIR
MIND WE CANNOT GET DISCOURAGED
BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY WHEN YOU
ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO
DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE DATA
WHEN IT'S OVERWHELMINGLY
CONVINCING.
>> I PUT THE LINK IN THE
CHAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM FASCINATED BY THE
OPPORTUNITY TO USE BREAKING
SCIENCE LIKE THE MEDIA USES
BREAKING NEWS AND IT GIVES
PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REALIZE THE CONDITIONS ARE
CHANGING HERE IS AN UPDATE AND
I'M SURE YOU HAVE GIVEN THIS
FAR MORE THOUGHT THAT HOW WE
ENGAGE THE MEDIA TO BE A
RELIABLE SPOKESPERSON FOR
THESE CRITICAL CONDITIONS.
>> THERE IS MEDIA THAT DO THAT.
THE STANDARD NETWORKS DO THAT
QUITE WELL THEN FOX NEWS MORE
PEOPLE WATCH THAT THEN NBC AND
ABC.
THAT IS BIZARRE BUT IT IS
TRUE.
SORRY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> WE WILL LEAVE COMMENTS
UNTIL LATER.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I THOUGHT I WOULD ASK DOING
A SPECTACULAR JOB ON
EVERYTHING AND SUMMARIZING
TODAY, BUT AS WE GO FORWARD DO
YOU THINK OR IS THERE ANYTHING
WE CAN DO TO ELEVATE THE WILL
TO KEEP GOING ON PANDEMIC
PREPAREDNESS AND THE THINGS TO
DO FOR THE NEXGEN VACCINES
SOME ARE ENTIRELY BEHIND IT
BUT WE THINK WE CAN LOSE OUR
WILL BEFORE IT IS PROPERLY
DONE.
>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE ARE
FACING IS THE LACK OF INTEREST
IN CONTINUAL FUNDING.
IT IS CONFUSING BECAUSE IT'S
NOT AS IF WE ARE NOT GRATEFUL
FOR THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
FUNDING THE CONGRESS HAS GIVEN
US TO THE TUNE OF BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
BUT THEN THEY JUST STOPPED.
WE HAVE A PLAN FOR PANDEMIC
PREPAREDNESS FOR
NEXT-GENERATION VACCINES READY
TO GO.
BUT ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE RUN
OUT OF MONEY.
IT IS TRUE WE DON'T HAVE THE
CAPABILITY FOR A RESOURCE
STANDPOINT TO IMPLEMENT THAT
PATHOGEN PROTOTYPE APPROACH.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO
PLEASE BE ADVOCATES FOR
CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING OF
SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
MEASURES WE KNOW THAT WORK
WE'VE ALREADY PROVEN SO IT'S A
DIFFERENT SITUATION SO WE ARE
IN A BIG STUMBLING BLOCK WHEN
IT COMES TO FUNDING.
>> SEE YOU HAVE ENORMOUS
ADVOCATES BUT YET I NOTICED
AWARENESS OUTSIDE OF SUCH
GROUPS AND THE LEAST OUTSIDE
IS REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT
YOU HAVE TO INVEST NOW IS HARD
TO COME BY.
THAT'S A MESSAGE YOU DO WHAT
YOU CAN BUT IT SEEMS VERY
DIFFICULT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE AT TIMES YOU HAVE
TWO MORE MINUTES QUICK.
>> PLEASE MAKE YOUR QUESTION
PRECISE AND QUICK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SERVICE OVER THE DECADES.
YOU MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE
OF INVESTMENT AND BACKGROUND
AND FOR EXAMPLE FOR THE
VACCINE CAN YOU SAY MORE AT
THE MR AND A VACCINE THE FIRST
ONE TO CAUSE THE FINISH LINE
THE FIRST TIME THAT PLATFORM
WAS DEPLOYED SO WHAT DOES THAT
TELL US HOW WE INVEST OR
DEPLOY OUR PORTFOLIO?
>> IT IS PROOF POSITIVE EVEN
THOUGH SOME THOUGHT IT WAS
RISKY BIT AS WITH ALL RESEARCH
IT IS RISKY BUT THE MORE DATA
WE ACCUMULATED THE MORE I
BECAME CONFIDENT THAT MRNA
APPROACH WOULD WORK BUT IS
JUST AN EXAMPLE OF PUTTING
YOUR FAITH IN THE DATA FROM
THE INVESTMENT OF SCIENCE AND
I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
AS BILL GATES MENTIONED THIS
MORNING, IT IS A PHENOMENAL
PLATFORM BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE
WE CANNOT STOP AND SAY WE HAVE
DONE THAT WITH MRNA NOW THERE
ARE THOSE THAT ARE EXCITING TO
TACK ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT
ANTIGENS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT WAYS TO GET
UNIVERSAL VACCINES BY THE NANO
PARTICLE APPROACH.
>> LAST QUESTION.
>> ONE OF THE MORE POWERFUL
TOOLS COMBATING MISINFORMATION
WAS A PRE- FACULTY MEMBER FROM
NIH AT THE TIME SO WITH THAT
PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS IN THE
FUTURE HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT
TRAINING THOSE IN PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION
FOR WHAT IS LIKELY TO EMERGE?
>> THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ONE
OF THE THINGS I TO DO IN MY
POST NIH LIFE IS SET AN
EXAMPLE FOR PEOPLE TO STEP UP
TO THE PLATE AND DO THAT
BECAUSE YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT WE NEED YOUNGER
GENERATION PARTICULARLY
SHOWING DIVERSITY.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF
PEOPLE TO LISTEN WELL BEFORE
THEY LISTEN TO ME WITH THAT
FUNDAMENTAL TRUST FOR SOMEONE
THAT LOOKS AND SPEAKS LIKE YOU.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
>> INC. YOU SO MUCH WE
APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING WITH
US TWICE TODAY AND FOR THE
EXTRA TIME.
WE WILL TRANSITION TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE
HER FACE IN A SECOND THE
DIRECTOR OF CSR WILL BE
TALKING TO US ABOUT SOMETHING
YOU HEARD IN NOVEMBER WHICH IS
PROPOSE CHANGES OF THE
PEER-REVIEWED CRITERIA WITH A
HIGH LEVEL PROPOSAL AND TODAY
IS REVIEWING THOSE SUGGESTED
CHANGES AS WELL AS THOSE TO
THE PROCESS TO HAVE AN
ENGAGING DISCUSSION ON THE
TOPIC.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH I WAS
HOPING TO JOIN YOU THERE BUT I
AM RECOVERING FROM BRONCHITIS
I AM HERE A COUPLE MILES NORTH
IN THE CSR BUILDING SO I WILL
JUMP RIGHT IN YOU HAVE HEARD
ABOUT THIS IN NOVEMBER
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HAVE A
LITTLE LONGER TO DISCUSS THE
PROPOSED CHANGES FOR THEIR
RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS AS
WELL AS THE FELLOWSHIP SPACE
SO JUST A LITTLE THAT OF
BACKGROUND ON THE CSR TO
OVERSEE THE REVIEW OF THREE
QUARTERS OF NIH APPLICATIONS
EVERY YEAR AND THE VAST
MAJORITY APPLICATIONS.
EARLIER THIS YEAR WE RELEASE
THE FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN
AND ONE OF THE MAJOR
OVERARCHING GOALS IS TO
IMPLEMENT CHANGES FROM THE
PEER-REVIEWED PROCESS TO MAKE
IT MORE EFFECTIVE.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES I WILL
PRESENT WERE ENGAGEMENT THE
BROADER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY
AND ADVISORY COUNCIL AS WELL
AS INPUT FROM NIH AND
LEADERSHIP.
>> WE HAVE TO CLOSE THAT BOTH
ARE EQUALLY PROVIDED.
FIRST IS TO REFOCUS THE FIRST
LEVEL OF NIH PERIOD REVIEW ON
HIS MAJOR ROLE OF PROVIDING
EXPERT ADVICE TO THE GRANT
APPLICATIONS UNDER REVIEW.
AND RELIEVING THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT AND
WE HAVE HEARD THIS IS BURDEN
AND A DISINCENTIVE TO
PARTICIPATION ALSO TO MITIGATE
THE BIAS TO THE PEDIGREES AND
WHO YOU ARE CONNECTED WITH AND
AND THEN TO MITIGATE THAT WITH
THE PROCESS AND THAT COMES
DOWN TO REFOCUSING THE
EVALUATION OF THE INVESTIGATOR
TO BE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
THE PROPOSED SCIENTIFIC
PROJECT TO FACILITATE THE
BROADER GOAL TO IDENTIFY THE
STRONGEST RESEARCH WITHOUT
OTHER IN DO INFLUENCE SO THE
SCOPE FOR THE WORKING GROUP WE
FORMED WITH OVERLAPPING
MEMBERSHIP FROM NON- CLINICAL
TRIALS WHICH IS 90 PERCENT SO
THE OTHER GROUP WAS FORMED TO
LOOK AT THOSE CLINICAL TRIALS
SO THE SCOPE WAS RPG THAT IS
WHAT CSR DOES ON THE OFFICE OF
GENERAL COUNSEL AND PROVIDED
SOME REGULATORY GUIDANCE TO
THE WORKING GROUP SO THE FIVE
REVIEW CRITERIA FOR THE
INNOVATION APPROACH AND
ENVIRONMENT ARE DEFINED BY THE
CODE OF FEDERAL FEDERAL
REGULATIONS HOWEVER WE HAVE
THE DISCRETION AT NIH HOW TO
GROUP THE CRITERIA TOGETHER
AND WHAT IS RELATED TO
SCORING.
THE GROUP FORMED BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC STARTING JANUARY 2020
WE HAD BLOCK POST WITH
COMMENTS THROUGH THE REVIEW
MATTERS AND THE OFFICE OF
RESEARCH HAS A BROAD AUDIENCE
AS WELL WE GOT THE COMMENTS
BACK AND WE HEARD FROM SOCIETY
AND PROVIDED A CONTENT
ANALYSIS TO THE WORKING GROUP
AND TOOK THAT SERIOUSLY THERE
11 VIRTUAL MEETINGS TO THE
HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC TO
DEVELOP THE FRAMEWORK AND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
MARCH 2020 WONDERFUL ADVISORY
COUNCIL DISCUSSED IN IMPROVE
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE PUBLISH
THE WORKING GROUP REPORT ON
THE WEBSITE.
FOLLOWING THAT PROCESS WE HAVE
SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM NIH
HIGH LEVEL EVALUATION ALL THE
RECOMMENDATIONS BE MADE SOME
MODIFICATIONS AND THEN HAVE
FINAL PROPOSAL FROM CENTERED
LEADERSHIP FROM SEPTEMBER THIS
YEAR.
IN NOVEMBER I PRESENTED A
HEADS UP AND TOLD YOU WE WOULD
BE ISSUING THE ARE AFTER I
THAT IS NOT POSTED THAT I HOPE
YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOUR
NETWORKS.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
WORKING GROUP THAT WAS SHARED
WITH SEATTLE CHILDREN'S AND
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND HAD A
NUMBER MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY
COUNCIL THAT REPRESENTED
DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESEARCH
AND INSTITUTIONS I'M VERY
GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR ALL THE
HARD WORK AND THE THOUGHT THEY
PUT INTO DEVELOP THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
HERE IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE
PROPOSED RVG FRAMEWORK THE
OVERALL IMPACT SCORE WHICH IS
WHAT DEFINES EVERY APPLICATION
WILL RECEIVE AND EXPLORE AND
THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE
CRITERIA HAS BEEN REORGANIZED
INTO THREE FACTORS AMONG THE
THEMES OF SHOULD IT BE DONE
CAN IT BE DONE AND WILL IT BE
DONE?
SHOULD IT BE DONE IS A FACTOR
NUMBER ONE OF THE CRITERIA
THAT WE MUST HAVE.
THIS WILL BE SCORED AND AFFECT
THE OVERALL IMPACT.
THE SECOND FACTOR IS
FEASIBILITY THIS WILL ALSO BE
SCORED AND AFFECT THE OVERALL
EFFECT THE THIRD FACTOR IS
EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES THIS
WILL NOT BE SCORED BUT WILL
AFFECT THE OVERALL IMPACT
SCORE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
DETAILS OF THAT COMING UP.
IN ADDITION CURRENTLY WE HAVE
ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA
THAT ARE CRITERIA THAT DO
AFFECT OVERALL IMPACT SCORE
AND ANIMALS ET CETERA THESE
WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR THE
MOST PART THAT WILL TIGHTEN UP
THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE
ADDITIONAL REVIEW
CONSIDERATIONS THESE ARE
ADDITIONAL ITEMS NIH HAS ASKED
VIEWERS TO COMMENT THAT NO
BEARING ON THE OVERALL IMPACT
SO THE PROPOSAL IS TO REMOVE
MOST OF THESE FROM THE FIRST
LEVEL OF PEER-REVIEWED.
NOW GOING INTO A LITTLE MORE
DEPTH, HERE YOU SEE ON THE
LEFT THE CURRENT SCORING
SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE THE
CRITERIA THAT ARE SCORED AND
EACH OF THOSE REVIEWERS ARE
ASKED TO WRITE STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES FOR EVERY CRITERIA
AND SCORE THEM BUT THE
PROPOSAL WOULD BE THREE
FACTORS TO SCORED ONE OF THEM
NOT SCORED BUT THE ONE THAT IS
NOT THE ITEM THAT IS
APPROPRIATE WITH THE EXPERTISE
AND RESOURCES THAT ARE PRESENT
OR YOU COULD IDENTIFY GAPS NOT
SCORED THAT CAN AFFECT THE
OVERALL EFFECT.
THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL
REVIEW CRITERIA THAT ARE
CHANGE FROM HUMAN SUBJECTS AND
INCLUSIONS AND THEN RE-
SUBMISSIONS AND THEN THEY WILL
REMAIN UNCHANGED.
AND THESE ARE ADDITIONAL
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS AND IT
HAS NO EFFECT ON THE OVERALL
SCORE BUT PROPOSING WE
MAINTAIN TWO OF THESE BUT WITH
THE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL
RESOURCE PLAN SO THAT SUPPORT
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO.
>> I WILL NOT GO INTO DETAIL
BUT I WILL FOCUS ON THE MAIN
REVIEW SO HERE IS THE PROPOSED
FACTOR BUT SIGNIFICANCE IS IF
EVERYTHING WORKS DOES IT
MATTER?
AND ONE THAT CREATES A EXTEND
WE HEARD THAT DOES THAT MATTER
SOMETHING IS REALLY
SIGNIFICANT SO THEY DON'T KNOW
HOW THAT YET THEY HAVE TO GET
THAT CRITERION SCORE THEY ARE
GROUPED TOGETHER AND THE
REASON IS IT ALLOWS THE
REVIEWER TO WAIT WHAT IS
NECESSARY SO THERE MAY BE
SOMETHING THAT IS INHERENTLY
INNOVATIVE AND THAT COULD GET
A GOOD SCORE.
AND THEN REVIEWERS WOULD
PROVIDE A NARRATIVE OF THE
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
>> SO THIS IS AN APPROACH AND
MOSTLY TO HIGHLIGHT THE
IMPORTANCE OF RIGOR THERE IS A
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS HERE
DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF
APPLICATION THAT IT IS A
SAMPLE SIZE AND THE ANALYTIC
PLANS THE SUBJECTS CONVERTED
ANIMALS BUT THEY ARE
HIGHLIGHTED HERE AND THEN
FEASIBILITY WHETHER THE
APPROACH IS FEASIBLE SO THIS
WOULD BE SCORED 129 AND THEN
REVIEWERS WOULD SHOW MAJOR
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES SO
THIS IS WHERE WE AT THE NIH TO
WHAT IS PROPOSED BY A WORKING
GROUP AND ADVISORY COUNCIL.
SO IN THIS CASE WITH THE
INVESTIGATOR AND REQUIREMENT
DATA BUT HOWEVER IT HAS BEEN
REWORDED IN A WAY TO PREVENT
REPUTATION ALL BIAS FOR THE
INVESTIGATOR AND THEN TO FOCUS
ON THE SCIENCE AND THE
PROJECT.
DOES INVESTIGATOR HAVE THE
BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE?
IF YES, THERE'S NO NEED TO
WRITE A HALF A PARAGRAPH NO
WRITE UP AS NEEDED.
FULLY CAPABLE.
IF THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE
EXPERTISE A CAPABILITY THEN WE
ASK THE REVIEWERS TO GET
SPECIFIC WE WORD SEE WEAKER
SCORES OR DEAF BY A THOUSAND
CUTS WITH NO REAL WEAKNESS IT
JUST DEPENDS ON THE
INSTITUTION ENVIRONMENT
SIMILARLY THE RESOURCES ARE
THERE TO CONDUCT THE PROJECT
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE
PROJECT IF THERE IS NO ISSUE
AND NO WRITE UP IS NEEDED OR
IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IF THERE
ARE GAPS WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT
IT WITH THE OVERALL IMPACT
SCORE WITH THOSE WELL-TRAINED
INVESTIGATORS THAT THEY DON'T
ALL EXIST IN CERTAIN AREAS OR
INSTITUTIONS.
THIS WOULD NOT RECEIVE AN
INDIVIDUAL SCORE IF THERE IS A
GAP IN EITHER CRITERIA.
SO THE CURRENT STATUS CHANGES
IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT HOW WE
CAN INCORPORATE INTO THE
FRAMEWORK BECAUSE CLINICAL
TRIALS ARE VERY DIVERSE AT NIH
THE DEFINITION IS DIVERSE AND
GETTING THEM TO FIT UNDER THIS
WITH THE INCLUSIONS THAT YOU
CONSIDER CAREFULLY RIGHT NOW.
IT IS ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO AND
WHAT THE BRAIN INITIATIVE WAS
USING THE BIG PROPOSAL OF THE
MAJOR CHANGES THAT CRITERIA
ARE OUT.
LOOKING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
THROUGH MARCH 10, 2023 GETTING
OUT TO YOUR NETWORKS AND
SOCIETIES.
WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN E-MAIL
BOX.
AND THEN A WEBPAGE WITH THE
DETAILS WE COULD NOT PROVIDE
TODAY.
SO I CAN EITHER STOP.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT I GAVE YOU A HEADS
UP THIS WAS COMING DOWN THE
PIKE BECAUSE NIH WAS DECIDING
WHAT THE WORKING GROUPS HAD
PROPOSED AND TO BE
ENTHUSIASTIC OF THOSE
PROPOSALS SO I AM SHOWING THIS
TO YOU NOW SINCE THERE IS NO
INTERNAL DELIBERATION PROCESS
THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
>> SO WE HEARD THESE ARE NOT
NEW CONCERNS THAT THE
FELLOWSHIP PROCESS AND IT
DISADVANTAGES SOME APPLICANTS
WHO ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND
PROMISING SIMPLY BECAUSE OF
WHICH LAB THEY ARE IN OR HOW
WELL-FUNDED THEIR SPONSORS
ARE.
IN SEPTEMBER 2021 WE CONVENED
A WORKING GROUP SO WE DO WORK
FROM THE INPUT THROUGH THE
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AND WE
CHARGE THE WORKING GROUP FROM
THE FELLOWSHIP PROCESS AND TO
RECOMMEND CHANGES AND THEN TO
IDENTIFY THOSE OF WHERE THEY
HAPPEN TO BE.
AGAIN I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THE WORKING GROUP INCLUDING
MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY
COUNCIL AND WITH THE
BIOMEDICAL RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT AND VARIOUS TYPES
OF INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
SPONSORS AND APPLICANTS AND
FELLOWSHIPS AS WELL.
GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR ALL OF
THEIR HARD WORK.
STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2021
LOOKING AT THE END RSA
FELLOWSHIPS IN THE INPUT
GATHERING WITH OPEN MIC AND
THIS GROUP WAS VERY INTERESTED
IN GETTING A LOT OF DATA I
WANT TO THANK OUR DATA
ANALYTICS TEAM FOR CONSTANTLY
PRODUCING THE DATA WE ALSO DID
THE CONTENT ANALYSIS AND THEY
HELD 12 VIRTUAL MEETINGS OVER
THE 11th MONTH PERIOD WITH
THE FRAMEWORK AND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE IN
SEPTEMBER 2022 IMPROVING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH
ENTHUSIASM AND IN
NOVEMBER 2022 THE LEADERSHIP
APPROVE THE SAME
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH
ENTHUSIASM SO HERE WE ARE
TODAY.
SO I WILL START WITH THE DATA
-- IS BASED ON ONE YEAR OF
2021.
THESE ARE THE DATA THE WORKING
GROUP REQUESTED.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE
DISTRIBUTION OF APPLICANTS AND
HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN FOR
WOMEN AND MEN MORE WOMEN THAN
MEN ARE APPLICANTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT SPONSORS AND
GENDER DISTRIBUTION MORE
SPONSORS OR MAIL SEE YOU HAVE
EITHER A SINGLE SPONSOR OR TWO
OR MORE FOR SINGLE SPONSOR
FELLOWSHIPS 31 PERCENT IS MALE
15 PERCENT FEMALE THEN
MULTIPLE SPONSORS AGAIN ARE
ALL MAIL EXCEED ALL FEMALE.
THE BREAKDOWN AGAIN FOR
APPLICANTS AND
UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES IS
NOT A FINAL DISTRIBUTION
50 PERCENT OF THE APPLICANTS
IN 2021 WERE UNDERREPRESENTED
SO SPONSORS IN THE SAME GROUP
3 PERCENT WERE
UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES
THE REST OF THEM BREAKDOWN
LIKE THIS.
THERE WAS ALMOST NINE MAYBE
ZERO THAT MANY TEAMS AND THEN
LOOK AT SENIORITY MOST OF
THOSE SINGLE SPONSORS OUR
SENIOR.
SO THIS IS REFLECTING THE
COMMUNITY CONCERNS CELL
ASSISTANT PROFESSORS MAKE UP A
VERY SMALL PROPORTION OF
SINGLE SPONSORS.
LOOKING AT REVIEW OUTCOMES AND
HOW THOSE TRACK WITH THE BANK
225 APPLICATIONS INCLUDE AN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR SPONSOR
, 55 PERCENT OF THOSE WERE NOT
DISCUSSED.
A FULL PROFESSOR AND THOSE
THAT WERE NOT DISCUSSED AND
THEY CAN DO BETTER THAN THOSE
THAT DO BETTER THAN FULL
PROFESSOR THAT IS LIKE 18 OR
ANOTHER TITLE OR CHAIR OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THE REVIEW OUTCOMES
IMPROVED AS THE ACADEMIC RANK
THE SPONSOR IMPROVES WE WENT
TO LOOK AT WHO IS SUBMITTING
THE APPLICATIONS AND THOSE
TYPES OF SUFFICIENT.
THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS AND
APPLICATIONS SO IN THE LAST
YEAR WITH THE THREE ROUNDS OF
DATA LAST YEAR 106
INSTITUTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE
NIH 15 SENATE OVER 100
APPLICATION THAT IS VERY
SCREWED THAT INTEREST OUR
WORKING GROUP INCLUDES THREE
OF THESE INSTITUTIONS
REPRESENTED COMING UP WITH
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THOSE
ARE FACTORIES ARE PRODUCING
FELLOWSHIP AND NOT
UNEXPECTEDLY BASED ON THOSE
THAT ARE SUBMITTED THOSE THAT
SUBMIT BETWEEN ONE TO 25
APPLICATIONS THE LAST CALENDAR
YEAR 53 PERCENT WERE NOT
SUPPORTED THOSE THAT SUBMITTED
100 PLUS APPLICATIONS WERE NOT
SCORED WITH THE HIGH IMPACTS
NOT UNEXPECTED SO THE
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IT IS
SUPPORTED BY THE DATA AND THE
SOLICITED FEEDBACK SO IT IS
PRETTY RESOUNDING.
SO JUST A SMALL NUMBER OF
APPLICATIONS SO THE KNOWLEDGE
AND THE RESOURCES AND THE
ABILITY TO WRITE A REALLY
STRONG APPLICATION IS AN
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED THOSE THAT
ARE COMING FROM HIGH THE
RESOURCE SCHOOLS IS A HAVE
SENIOR SCIENTISTS ARE A BETTER
AND THEN THE BOTTOM LINE
CONCERN IS LEAVING OUT
PROMISING YOUNG SCIENTIST
BECAUSE HE EVER PROCESS FOR
SENIOR SPONSORS AS AN OVERLY
NARROW FOCUS WITH TRADITIONAL
MARKERS OF SUCCESS AND SO THE
WORKING GROUP WITH THAT
CAREFUL PROCESS COMES UP WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS THE TWO MAJOR
RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH IS
MODIFY THE REVIEW CRITERIA AND
THEN THE INFORMATION THE
REVIEWERS HAVE ACCESS TO AND
ME WILL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE
IN DETAIL WITH ADDITIONAL
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH OUTREACH
AND TRAINING AND PROCESS AS
WELL AS NIH WITH HONORABLE
MENTIONS WHO MISSED THE CUT
OFF.
AND WHAT TYPES OF CAREER GOALS
I WILL NOT GET INTO THESE
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS SO
BEFORE WE GET THERE THE THREE
MAIN GOALS TO MODIFY THE
REVIEW CRITERIA ABOUT ONE IS
BETTER FOCUS ON THE THINGS
THAT MATTER FOR A STRONG
FELLOWSHIP APPLICANT THE
POTENTIAL OF THE STUDENT, THE
STRENGTH OF THE SCIENCE IN THE
QUALITY AND THEY MEAN THESE
THREE MAIN CRITERIA ALSO TO
DEFINE CRITERIA IN A WAY THAT
ALLOWS MORE NONTRADITIONAL
APPLICANTS TO BE STRONG SMART
AND HAVE A CHANCE IN
SUCCEEDING WITHOUT
DISADVANTAGING THOSE THAT ARE
ALREADY ON A TRAJECTORY IN
THAT WOULD INCLUDE EVALUATING
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EACH
INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR
OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT
CORRELATE TO SUCCESS OR
PERSISTENCE AND TENACITY.
OF COURSE TO REDUCE THE BIAS
OF RPG BY NOT HAVING SPONSOR
AN INSTITUTIONAL REPUTATION
PLAYED AN APPROPRIATE ROLE OF
THE ASSESSMENT IT IS CRITICAL
TO A STRONG TRADING PLAN BUT
NOT NECESSARILY JUST BECAUSE
OF THE REPUTATION SO TO
EVALUATE THE SPONSOR WITH
RESPECT TO THE QUALITY OF THE
SCIENCE HERE IS THE CURRENT
REVIEW THERE IS APPLICANT IN A
CRITERION FOR RESEARCH TRADING
PLAN AND THE INSTITUTIONAL
ENVIRONMENT.
THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDED
THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
REPUTATION ALL BIAS OF A
STRONG SPONSOR AND INSTITUTION
AND INCORPORATE THEM SO IT IS
STILL IMPORTANT IN THE CONTEXT
OF WHAT TYPES OF TRADING PLANS
ARE AVAILABLE.
SO THIS IS WHERE THE
APPLICATION COMES IN SO THEN
TO CHANGE THE APPLICATION TO
ASSESS THOSE APPLICATIONS.
SO FIRST IN THE MOST
OVERWHELMING RESOUNDING
FEEDBACK WE HEARD FROM THE
COMMUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD WAS
TO ELIMINATE BUT INSTEAD OF
THOSE FORCES THE STUDENT HAS
TAKEN THIS WAS SUPPORTED
ACROSS THE BOARD FROM THE
ADVISORY COUNCIL FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND AGAIN THIS IS
BECAUSE SO GRADES ARE NOT
NECESSARILY AN INDICATOR OF
SUCCESS AS A SCIENTIST SOMEONE
THOSE MEETINGS SO THIS IS IN
LINE WITH THAT.
THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION THIS
IS THE SECTION THE APPLICANT
FILLS OUT AND THEY SUGGESTED
REVISING THE WITH THE PROPOSED
CRITERIA TO ALLOW THE
APPLICANT A CHANCE TO PRESENT
THEIR SCIENTIFIC THINKING AND
THEIR GOALS FOR THE
FELLOWSHIP.
THERE IS A LOT OF REPEATED
INFORMATION THESE ARE SHORTER
BUT STRUCTURED AND FOCUSED AND
THEN TO DO A SELF-ASSESSMENT
ABOUT THE GOALS TO DESCRIBE
THE ACTIVITIES UNDER THE AWARD
PROPOSAL.
SO THIS IS IMPORTANT THE
CURRENT RESEARCH TRAINING PLAN
THE STRATEGY AND CONTRIBUTIONS
AND THAT IS IN THE FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATIONS THE OTHER TO
REVISE THE SPONSOR SECTION TO
ALIGN WITH THE NEW REVIEW
CRITERIA WHICH MEANS INSTEAD
OF WHAT WOULD BE INCLUDED BUT
REALLY A GREATER EMPHASIS ON
HOW THE SPONSOR WILL TRAIN THE
STUDENT REALLY IS MUCH MORE
ABOUT THE APPROACH AND THE
TARGETED PLAN FOR THE STUDENT
AND ASKING A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT QUESTIONS THEY
SUGGESTED REVISING THE LETTERS
OF SUPPORT THIS IS WHAT
SPECIFICALLY SHOULD BE
TARGETED TO THE STUDENT OR TO
THE APPLICANT IT'S MUCH MORE
ON SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BECAUSE
LETTERS OF SUPPORT ONLY HAVE
ONE LANGUAGE THAT DOESN'T HELP
DIFFERENTIATE AND THEN THE
LAST RECOMMENDATION IS TO
ALLOW AN OPTIONAL STATEMENT
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE
WE HAVE HEARD SITUATIONS WHERE
THERE HAVE BEEN HARASSMENT AND
THEN THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER
CIRCUMSTANCES THERE IS A LOT
OF DISCUSSION RELATED TO THIS
TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT
BECOME REQUIRED BUT I'M
INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR
THOUGHTS.
THE CURRENT STATUS IS WE WILL
HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE TODAY
IN THE FEBRUARY MARCH
TIMEFRAME IF YOU WANT MORE
INFORMATION THERE IS A REPORT
PUBLISHED ON THE CSR WEBSITE
WHICH IS AN HOUR AND 15
MINUTES LONG WITH THE DETAILS
AT THE COUNCIL MEETING I CAN
TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> I MISS THIS POINT BUT THE
BIAS IN THE OFF PUT THAT
PRODUCES ARE WE MISSING THE
MARK FROM THAT PARTICULAR
ASPECT TO APPROPRIATELY
ADDRESS DIVERSITY?
>> I'M SORRY I MISSED PART OF
IT SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS
WE SHOULD ADDRESS DIVERSITY
QUICK.
>> OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION.
THIS IS ONE SMALLER PART TO
CHANGE THE PROCESS TO PREVENT
TOBIAS FROM COMING IN CSR HAS
A NUMBER OF MULTIPRONGED
EFFORTS I HOPE YOU HAD A
CHANCE TO TAKE THE BIAS
AWARENESS TRAINING WE HAVE
DIVERSIFIED THE PANELS
SIGNIFICANTLY WE ARE
CONTINUING TO DIVERSIFY THE
PANEL TO CREATE A DATABASE
THAT ALLOW IT WITH THE
REPORTING BIAS AND INTO WE
REVIEW THE APPLICATION TO LOOK
BACK AT THE REVIEWER TO MAKE
SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IS A
BIAS STATEMENT AND IF
NECESSARY LITTLE FROM THE
COMMITTEE TAKING STEPS THIS IS
JUST A PART THAT FOCUSES ON
THE REVIEW CRITERIA.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON
FACTOR THREE WITH THE OVERALL
IMPACT TAKING AND IMPORTANT
STEP OF HOW THE FIRST PART IS
FACTORED.
NOT THE END OF THE DAY YOU GO
BACK TO THIS NUMBER THAT
REPRESENTS THE FULL PROPOSAL
SO ONE QUESTION IS MEANT BY
NOT IMPACTING?
DID SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING
NEGATIVE FOR CANADA POSITIVELY
IMPACT AS WELL AND HOW DO YOU
THINK ABOUT THAT STEP WHEN YOU
TAKE THAT SECOND STEP BACK.
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION AND I WILL GIVE YOU
MY TAKE ON IT.
WE ARE TRYING TO REMOVE THE
SCORES MOVING TO THE BETTER
JUST BECAUSE OF RECOGNITION OR
REPUTATION.
BUT IF THERE IS A CONCERN WITH
NO RESOURCES TO DO THE WORK OR
IF THE REVIEWERS FEEL THEY ARE
NOT QUALIFIED FOR SOME REASON
ALL WE WANT IS A SPECIFIC
STATEMENT OF WHAT THAT GAP IS
AND THAT SHOULD HAVE MET THE
OVERALL SCORE IF THE RESOURCES
ARE NOT AVAILABLE IT SHOULD
AFFECT THE OVERALL SCORE BUT
IT WOULD BRING IT DOWN.
I THINK THAT HAS TO COME OUT
AND TRAINING THAT YOU BUMP UP
THE SCORE FOR FACTOR THREE
JUST BECAUSE OF THE FAMOUS
PERSON OR APPROPRIATE DOES NOT
MEAN THE PERSON GETS IT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE IS
AN OVERALL SCORE IF THERE IS A
GAP.
>> I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION
BUT I FEEL THAT YOU DID NOT
ANSWER IT.
SO SUPPOSE A FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATION COMES IN AND IT IS
FANTASTIC AND SIGNIFICANT AND
IMPORTANT AND CREATIVE YOU
CONSIDER THE FACT IT IS
RIGOROUS TICKETS TO, NUMBER
NINE THE APPLICATIONS FABULOUS
THAN THE THIRD FACTOR IS
INAPPROPRIATE SO THEN THIS IS
ALL MATH BUT YET IT IS
WISHY-WASHY STATEMENT IMPACT
ON CURIOUS HOW YOU START TO
IMPACT THE SCORE.
IF IT IS INAPPROPRIATE
RESOURCES IS NOT FUNDED?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THIRD
FACTOR.
>> THEY TALKED ABOUT TWO
DIFFERENT THINGS TODAY THE ONE
FACTOR BEING EXPERTISE AND
RESOURCES THAT IS FOR THE RPG
BEFORE THE FELLOWSHIP IT'S NOT
THE FACTOR OR SCORING THE
FACTORS ALTHOUGH THERE WERE
THREE CRITERIA.
LET'S ASSUME YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT THE APPLICATION THAT
COMES IN INSTEAD OF FELLOWSHIP
THE RESOURCES ARE ABSENT WHERE
THERE IS SOME KEY PIECE THAT
IS MISSING OR THE INVESTIGATOR
HAS NOT BEEN TRAINED IN THE
APPROACHES PROPOSED, THAT
SHOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE
OVERALL IMPACT SCORE.
>> HOW?
IF YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC
APPLICATION WE BE HAS WRITTEN
A FABULOUS APPLICATION BUT YET
YOU SAY THAT ALL HAVE THE
EXPERTISE MAYBE THIS PERSON IS
A SMART MAYBE THEY CAN GET ON
THEIR OWN BUT I AM REALLY
CURIOUS HOW YOU USE THAT
FACTOR NUMBER THREE TO CHANGE
THE SCORE WHEN YOU SAY IT IS
NOT SCOREABLE.
>> EVEN NOW WITH THE FIVE
CRITERIA REVIEWERS HAVE TO
EXPLAIN WHAT CAUSED THEM TO
GET THE OVERALL IMPACT SCORE
THEY HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THE
FACTOR -BASED SYSTEM WITH THE
GAP THE RESOURCES.
IT'S NOT A MATHEMATICAL
FORMULA IT IS NOT NOW IT WILL
NOT BE THAT BUT THE IMPORTANT
TWO FACTORS IS THE DASHES
CLEARED THE THIRD FACTOR YOU
WANT THE EXPERTISE AND
RESOURCES TO BE THERE FOR MOST
PEOPLE IT WILL BRING IT DOWN
THOSE TO JUSTIFY TO THE REST
OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU ARE
ANSWERING MY QUESTION BUT
LET'S MOVE ON.
APPARENTLY IN JANUARY IT WILL
BE A DATA SHARING PLAN AND
WHERE WILL THAT COME?
THAT FACTOR NUMBER TWO THERE
IS THAT PART OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION?
THAT WAS NOT LISTED IN YOUR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
>> IT IS NOT THAT DATA SHARING
IS SIMPLY LOOKING AT THE
BUDGET IF IT IS THAT
APPROPRIATE THAT THE REVIEW
WILL NOT EVALUATE THE DATA
SHARING PLAN.
>> CAN WE GO BACK TO THE
QUESTION HE FELT WAS NOT
ADDRESSED?
IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAVE THE
FIRST TWO ELEMENTS WHICH ARE
STORED EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT
NINE AND EIGHT BUT THAT THIRD
ELEMENT IS NOT SCORED BUT
COMMENTED.
IS IT FAIR TO SAY, IF I PUT IN
AN APPLICATION AND I WENT TO
SOLVE THE STRUCTURE OF A
MOLECULE AND NOWHERE IS THERE
AT THE GOVERNOR ANY EVIDENCE
TO USE CRYO- TO SOLVE THE
STRUCTURE.
WOULD IT BE SAFE TO SAY
SOMEBODY WITH COMMENT HE IS
OKAY WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PROPOSAL
BUT HE'S NEVER DONE THE THINGS
HE SAYS HE CAN DO THE
COLLABORATORS DON'T SEEM TO
EITHER SO WHEN THE FINAL SCORE
IS ARRIVED AT IS THAT
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE
OVERALL SCORE OR BOTH WHEN THE
PROGRAM STAFF REVIEW THE
SUMMARY STATEMENT I PRESUME
THEY WILL BE FOR WHATEVER THAT
SPECIFIC COMMENT IS CORRECT AS
OPPOSED TO WHAT HAPPENS NOW
WITH THE SCORE BUT YOU DON'T
KNOW WHY MAKING THE NUMBERS
THAT SAID ABOUT ONCE I GOT A
SET BECAUSE THERE IS NO
STRUCTURAL STUDY IS THAT WAS
THE ESSENCE OF THIS IS?
>> EXACTLY THE GOAL IS TO MAKE
IT GET VERY SPECIFIC TO THE
CRITERIA RIGHT NOW THERE IS
THAT CAN BE PUT IN A SCORE TO
THE INVESTIGATOR THAT HERE WE
FORCE THE REVIEWERS TO ASSESS
BASED ON VERY SPECIFIC
CRITERIA OUTLINED VERY
SPECIFIC CONCERNS BUT IT
SHOULD INFORM THE OVERALL
SCORE.
IF IT WERE UP TO ME WE WOULD
GET VERY SPECIFIC.
>> DOES THAT HELP QUICK.
>> NOT MUCH BECAUSE THE DATA
POINT OF THE OVERALL SCORE AND
THAT IS NINE IF YOU GET TO
NUMBER NINES EDITS A NUMBER
FOUR IF YOU GET TO NINES BUT
THIS PERSON CANNOT DO IT?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE
CASE.
>> THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS
LIKE.
>> AT LEAST FOR NOW THE BIG
ADVANCES THEREFORE THERE WAS
VAGUENESS LIGHT ENVIRONMENT
WAS NOT GOT TO BE APPROPRIATE
FOR A PERSON'S BACKGROUND IS
NOT THOUGHT TO BE APPROPRIATE
BECAUSE SADLY IN MANY
INSTANCES BECAUSE THEY WERE
NOT IN A TOP TEN SCHOOL.
THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE WITHOUT
FOR 25 YEARS BECAUSE I LIVED
IT.
SO NOW AT LEAST WITH
SPECIFICITY THIS GUY SAYS HE
WILL DO XYZ SO YOUR POINT
MAYBE HE CAN FIGURE IT
OUT, BECAUSE I DID IT IS
APPROPRIATE AND IS UP TO THE
REVIEWERS AND IT'S UP TO
PROGRAM STAFF STATES NUMBER
TWO TO SAY WAY TO TAKE GOD AT
NINE AND NINE AND THIS COMMENT
XYZ AND I THINK THE PROGRAMS
THAT YOU USE THEIR INSIGHT IF
THAT MAKES SENSE NOT TO
SUPPORT THE APPLICATION GOING
FORWARD.
>> BUT THAT FACTOR NUMBER TWO
IS FEASIBILITY AND THEN CAN
ADDRESS IF IT IS FEASIBLE THE
APPLICANTS VIEW THE POWER TO
SAY IT IS FEASIBLE EVEN THOUGH
I DON'T HOW THAT EXPERTISE
BECAUSE.
>> THAT IS THE CASE NOW.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> I THANK YOU ARE RIGHT FOR A
GOOD PROPOSAL THAT ADDRESS
THAT HEAD ON THE OF IT'S NOT A
GOOD PROPOSAL AND I HEADED AND
WILL NOT GET THE NUMBER NINE?
IM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE
WISHY-WASHY OF NUMBER THREE.
>> IT IS MORE WISHY-WASHY NOW.
>> I THINK THIS REVEALS AS IT
GOES OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY
WHETHER OR NOT THIS COMES OUT
IN THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW BUT IF
PEOPLE IT CLOSELY WHEN YOU PUT
INTO MOTION A LOT OF THIS WILL
GIVE GUARDRAILS MORE THAN
ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE REALLY
THE JUDGMENT IS BE ALREADY AND
YOU ARE TRYING TO REMOVE THE
POSITIVE BIAS SO IT CAN'T HELP
YOU NOW THAT IT CAN DO YOU AND
WHAT IS DISTURBING TO SOME OF
US BY HOW MUCH?
IS THAT WILL CONSIDER IT OR
NOT.
>> RIGHT NOW THE APPROACH IS
SIGNIFICANT BY FAR THAT'S WHAT
YOU HAVE THE CORRELATION ARE
YOU ON THE CALL?
>> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT
TO MAKE IT'S NOT BASED ON
ALGEBRA IT IS A SEPARATE
OVERALL THOUGHT OF WHAT IT
SHOULD BE.
WE HAVE DONE SOME EMPIRICAL
ANALYSIS FOR WHAT IS IT
STRONGLY CORRELATES WITH THE
IMPACT SCORE AND FAR AND AWAY
IT IS THE APPROACH WITH THE
INVESTIGATOR AND ENVIRONMENT
TO BE UNCORRELATED.
IF YOU HAVE A NUMBER ONE
APPROACHING THE SIGNIFICANCE A
NUMBER TWO WITH INVESTIGATOR
THEN IT'S NOT ONE PLUS ONE
PLUS TWO DIVIDED BY THREE IT
DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.
IT IS AN OVERALL IMPRESSION
BASED ON A GENERAL CONSENT.
>> JUST TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON
THIS THOUGHT IF IT IS MORE
OFTEN THE CASE NOW THAT THERE
IS SOME COMMENT MADE ABOUT
ENVIRONMENT THAT WITHOUT ANY
SPECIFICITY SO NOBODY REALLY
KNOWS WHAT THE ISSUE IS THAT
WITH THIS NEW APPROACH IT IS
MUCH MORE SPECIFIC AND FINALLY
WE HAVE INSIGHT TO THE CONCERN
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> YES.
THAT IS PARTLY ACCURATE THE
OTHER PART IS SCORES ARE GIVEN
RIGHT NOW THAT ARE NOT
JUSTIFIED BY WHAT IS WRITTEN
AND ARE CLEARLY BASED ON BIAS
SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE
SPECIFIC AND OFTEN ANY THIS
ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, JUDITH.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF IT DOES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> WE NEED A DIFFERENT
QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I WILL MOVE ON SO IF YOU
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICY.
>> IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE CHAT
IT'S IN RELATION TO A POLICY
RELATIVE TO OPPORTUNITY.
>> WANTED TO MAKE SURE I
DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING SO A NINE
IS VERY GOOD AND ONE IS VERY
BAD SO HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT
CATEGORY?
IF THE GRADE GOES IN AND
SOMEBODY GETS TO NUMBER ONE'S
THAT THEN THE INVESTIGATOR
SAYS IN MY RESOURCES IT'S
LISTED AT THE SQUARE GOES DOWN
DOES THAT GO BACK TO THE BEST
A GATOR OR CAN THEY CALL THE
PROGRAM OFFICER AND SAY I HAVE
IT ISSUED IN THE PROGRAM ARE
COLLECTED CORRECTED?
>> IT IS THE LATTER BECAUSE
THE FACT WE ARE GETTING
SPECIFIC NOW HELPS THAT
CONVERSATION AND POST REVIEW
WHEN WE DO THE TRADING AND
ROLL THIS OUT WE WILL MAKE
SURE WE VIEWERS ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO MAJOR ISSUES AND
NOT MINOR ISSUES BUT WE HAVE
19000 REVIEWERS WILL PAY
ATTENTION THAT WILL BE
RESOLVED.
>> BENEFITS CONCRETE THERE IS
A PROBLEM WITH THE BUILDING
CAN THE INVESTIGATOR
IMMEDIATELY COME BACK QUICK.
>> THEY CAN TO PROGRAM AND THE
PROGRAM CAN DECIDE RIGHT NOW
THE ISSUE IS THERE ARE
ARBITRARY COMMENTS NOT EVEN A
COMMENT BUT IT'S A SCORE OF
FOUR YOU FIND OUT FROM THE
HBCU AND YOU LOOK AT BIAS
TRADING YOU SEE THE TESTIMONY
OF BEGINNING THAT TALKS ABOUT
THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION
AND WENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT
SEEMS THAT YOU ARE FAVORING A
PROJECT -BASED EVALUATION.
SO THE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS
THE OPPOSITE PHILOSOPHY SO
THAT IS ON PEOPLE FIGURING OUT
THE PROBLEMS AS THEY GO ALONG
IS THAT THE POINT YOU ARE
TRYING TO DO BECAUSE THE
CURRENT EVALUATION PUTS LIP
SERVICE THAT THIS PERSON HAS
AN AMAZING TRAJECTORY SO THE
SECOND POINT IS YOU SHOWED
THIS DATA ABOUT THE
APPLICATION FOR TRAINING
GRANTS I WOULD GUESS IT WOULD
BE THE SAME BUT THE
APPLICATION OF SCIENCE ITSELF
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A PROBLEM
BECAUSE IT IS A REFLECTION OF
EXPERIENCE SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO
LOOK AT AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS.
SO I AM JUST WONDERING.
>> THE DATA SHOWED WAS RELATED
TO FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS
THAT THE EARLIER QUESTION THAT
YOU ASKED I THINK THE DATA WAS
ABOUT THAT IT DIDN'T CORRELATE
WHAT YOU SAID BEFORE BUT
ABSOLUTELY EVEN AT THE NIH
THAT MANY INSTITUTES ARE USING
THAT IN THAT SPACE OF THE
ENTERPRISE THERE IS ROOM FOR
RESEARCH PROJECT ANSWERS ARE
IMPORTANT AND THERE IS ROOM TO
HAVE THOSE AWARDS IT IS A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SET OF
CRITERIA WE ARE TRYING TO STOP
THE REPUTATION TO REDUCE THE
EFFECT OF REPUTATION ON
WHETHER THE PROJECT IS GOOD
WHETHER IT CAN BE DONE SO
THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM
WITH THE RPG THOSE FELLOWSHIPS
ARE BASED.
>> BUT THEN YOU ARE REMOVING
THE INVESTIGATOR AS SOMEBODY
THAT YOU ARE NOT.
>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT AND
INTERESTING AT THE TRADING
PLAN IS GOOD IF IT'S NOT THE
EXPLICIT CRITERIA ANYMORE?
>> FOR FELLOWSHIPS THE
FELLOWSHIP APPLICANT AND HIS
OR HER EXPERIENCE AND HOW THAT
ALLIANCE WITH FUTURE GOALS AND
THE SCIENCE IS STILL THERE
BECAUSE IT MATTERS BUT VERY
MUCH BASED ON POTENTIAL FOR
TRAINING A FELLOW TO BECOME A
FUTURE BIOMEDICAL BEHAVIORAL
RESEARCHER.
NOT THE WHOLE GOAL OF THE
ENTIRE EFFORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATIONS WHEN YOU REVIEW
THE FACTORS WITH THE QUALITY
OF THOSE SIGNIFICANTLY THE
FACTOR I AND FACTOR TO AND
EVEN FACTOR THREE.
AND SO YOU ARE COMING BACK
INTO THE ISSUE TO SAY WHY THEY
SAY THIS PERSON IS NOT
QUALIFIED AND WHY THEY ARE
NEGATIVELY EVALUATING THE
INVESTIGATOR.
>> AND THAT PROCESS TO ME AND
THEN YOU JUST FORCE THEM AND
PUT THAT INFORMATION IN THE
BOX AND THEN IT WITH THAT
SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND THEN
TO GET THAT EVALUATION ABOUT
THIS NEGATIVITY IF IT IS MINUS
ONE OR MINUS TWO OR MINUS TEN
BECAUSE THE CONCERN IS
SOMEBODY HAS TO DECIDE SHOULD
I STILL DO WITH IT OR NOT?
THE MOST LIKELY THEY WILL SAY
NO.
BUT THEY ARE NOT THE BEST
EXPERT IN THE SUBJECT MATTER.
AND NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME OR
EXPERTISE SOMEBODY HAS TO MAKE
A DECISION.
SO YOU CAN GET WHAT YOU WANT
BUT AT THE SAME TIME LEAVE
SOME SPACE FOR THE PERSON TO
SAY.
>> LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I
COMMUNICATE THIS AVAST
MAJORITY WITH THE
WELL-QUALIFIED AND MOST OF
THEM ARE APPROPRIATE AND WILL
MOVE ON.
THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT SCORED
COMPARED TO THE FIRST TWO
FACTORS.
THERE IS A CONCERN I'M NOT
THINKING THERE MANY MORE
NEGATIVE COMMENTS.
AND THEN TO SCORE THE FACTOR
THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE WITH
CRITERIA.
>> AND THEY ARE FORCED TO
CHOOSE ONLY NEGATIVE POINTS
, FACTOR OF ONE TO TEN IT IT'S
MUCH INTO THEIR OWN
INTERPRETATION SO THAT PROCESS
PERIOD REVIEW WITH INDIVIDUAL
REVIEWERS ASSESSMENT.
THE HOPE IS THE REVIEWER'S
RIGHT IN A VERY EXPLICIT WAY
WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE
AFTER.
REVIEW.
I'M NOT SURE ADDING A SCORE
THE MANY PET NUMBERS IN FRONT
OF PEOPLE IT WOULD MAKE IT
MORE CONFUSING THAT IT'S
PRETTY SIMPLE PROCESS IS
APPROPRIATE IT'S A CONCERN YOU
LIST THE CONCERN WE HAVE POST
REVIEW EVALUATIONS AND THIS IS
ONE OF THOSE.
>> I GUESS IT IS THE NIH
DECISION SO I REALLY DON'T SEE
WHY THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN TO BE
VERY EXPLICIT TO JUSTIFY IT
AND THAT WOULD GIVE ENOUGH
INFORMATION.
>> THEY WILL HAVE A LOT OF
INFORMATION AND THAT ASPECT
IMPACTS IT'S DIFFERENT FOR
EVERY REVIEWER AS IT IS NOW.
>> ONE MORE THAN ME WILL BE AT
TIME FOR BREAK.
>> I WANT TO MAKE TWO POINTS I
WANT TO COMMENT ON THE
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SCORING.
I JUST WONDER IF YOU THROW OUT
THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER
THAT THERE IS VALUE IN SCORING
I DO THINK THERE IS VALUE IN
SOME OBJECTIVE SCORE TO ASSESS
THE INVESTIGATOR I DON'T THINK
INVESTIGATORS ARE IRRELEVANT I
THINK HOWARD WAS TRYING TO
MAKE THAT POINT AND I DO THINK
THERE IS VALUE SO IM PUSHING
BACK ON ELIMINATING THAT I'M
JUST NOT SURE FOR A NUMBER OF
THE REASONS BROUGHT UP WITHOUT
A SCORE IT'S HARD TO EVALUATE
HOW THAT CRITERIA COMES INTO
THE FINAL OVERALL SCORE.
I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST WONDER IF THERE SHOULD
BE MORE DISCUSSION AT THIS
POINT BEFORE A FINAL DECISION
IS MADE ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT
THE INVESTIGATOR SCORE I THINK
IT'S BETWEEN OUR 35 AND NO
IMPACT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE INVESTIGATOR IS QUITE
IMPORTANT FOR A RESEARCH
PROJECT GRANT BUT THAT'S NOT
WHAT WE ARE SAYING.
THE INVESTIGATOR SHOULD AFFECT
THE OVERALL SCORE.
THAT STILL AFFECTS THE OVERALL
SCORE WHICH IT DEFINES THAT
OVERALL IMPACT SCORE BUT
ALWAYS SAY SO IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE PROPOSED WORK.
>> I UNDERSTAND.
BUT THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF THE
INVESTIGATOR THAT COME TO BEAR
ON WHETHER PROPOSED WORK IS
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE CARRIED
OUT AND GO BEYOND THE
CENTRIFUGE ANYWAY.
THAT IS ONE POINT I WANT TO
MAKE.
THE OTHER POINT IS ABOUT IF
YOU HAVE DISCUSSED WHAT HAS
BEEN ON MY MIND IF THERE
SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT FOR
SERVICE ON REVIEW.
RIGHT NOW I DON'T BELIEVE
THERE IS AND I FEEL THAT
EVERYONE SHOULD BE
CONTRIBUTING TO THE REVIEW
PROCESS.
I THINK IT IS SKEWED BY NOT
HAVING A REQUIREMENT FOR
SERVICE ON REVIEW.
AND ONCE I AM OFF A CD I WILL
OFFER TO REVIEW AT LEAST ONCE
A YEAR AND MORE ESTABLISHED
PEOPLE SHOULD.
RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S NOT
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
COMMUNITY THAT IS FUNDED.
AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE.
DID YOU DISCUSS THIS ASPECT?
ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT QUICK.
>> THIS IS THE BEST WORKING
GROUP BUT WITH CSR AND THOSE
EFFORTS WE ARE MAKING ME LOOK
CAREFULLY AT OUR RECRUITMENT.
I THINK LEGALLY WE CANNOT
REQUIRE PEOPLE GETTING FUNDED
TO SERVE.
I WILL DEFER TO THE LEGAL
MINDS HERE BUT I DON'T THINK
THAT LOOKING CAREFULLY AT
RECRUITMENT WE ARE TRYING TO
MOVE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE A MUCH
BROADER POOL OF REVIEWERS NOT
JUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FUNDED
BECAUSE THAT DOES CREATE A
CYCLE WE WANT A GOOD
PROPORTION OF THOSE WHO ARE
FUNDED TO SERVE BUT WE ALSO
WANT THE STAFF TO INVITE
PEOPLE WERE FUNDED BY OTHER
AGENCIES SO WE ARE CREATING
DATABASES TO INCORPORATE
FUNDED INVESTIGATORS TO ALLOW
STAFF.
>> THAT MAKES GOOD SENSE BUT
THAT IS A GOOD IDEA BUT THE
OTHER POINT THAT INVESTIGATORS
WHO HAVE COME TO THE SYSTEM
AND FUNDED BY THE SYSTEM
SHOULD HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
PROVIDE EVALUATION FOR GRANTS
GOING FORWARD IT WOULD BE THE
CHANGE IN THE STATUTES.
>> WE CAN INCENTIVIZE THE
REVIEW.
YOU CAN HELP US WITH THOSE
DEVICE WE COMMUNITIES AND
WORKING ON SOME STRATEGIES.
>> UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE A
SUBSET THAN THAT --
INDIVIDUALS AND I'M SAD TO SAY
THAT.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
WAYS TO ELIMINATE THE GROUP
WITHOUT HAVING A REQUIREMENT
FOR A BROADER SWATH.
>> IT IS A BALANCE BUT HAVE A
CHANGE IN STATUTE TO REQUIRE
THAT.
IS THAT ACCURATE I KNOW WE ARE
OVER TIME.
>> YES.
THAT IS CORRECT.
>> WE HAVE FOUR HANDS UP I
PROPOSE WE GO OVER BUT MAYBE
IF WE CAN LIMIT TO FIVE
MINUTES IF YOU CAN BE VERY
QUICK IMPRECISE THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO MAKE SURE WE GET A
LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK BEFORE
THE NEXT SESSION.
>> JUST A QUICK COMMENT AND
THEN A QUESTION WITH REGARDS
TO THE COMMENT I ENJOY
INVESTIGATOR SCORES BUT IT'S
LARGELY BECAUSE I'M GOOD AT
POSTDOC.
I CAN TAKE AWAY THE CHANGE CAN
THIS BE DONE OR CAN IT NOT BE
DONE IN THAT CASE?
SWEATS COMING OUT IS FROM THE
YOUNGER POPULATION BUT I DO
HAVE A QUESTION WITH REGARDS
TO PROCESS SO IS THE SCORE THE
FIRST TWO CATEGORIES IS
ASSIGNED TO WHEN I GET THE
GRANT AND REVIEW TO SEND DAD
IN DOES THE LAST CATEGORY IS
THERE A-MODIFYING NUMBER?
SO WHEN DOES THAT ADJUSTMENT
COME IN QUICK.
>> IT IS NOT THAT GRANULAR BUT
IF YOU ARE A REVIEWER YOU WILL
SUBMIT A CRITIQUE OF FACTOR
ONE OR FACTOR TO AND YOU WILL
DROP DOWN TO MAKE AN
ASSESSMENT.
THERE IS A GAP AND YOU SUBMIT
THE CRITIQUE WITH AN OVERALL
SCORE IT IS NOT A MATHEMATICAL
AVERAGE THAT OVERALL SCORE IS
THE ONLY THING WE LOOK AT.
>> PEOPLE ARE DROPPING OFF AND
MOVING AROUND.
>> THIS SEEMS VERY HIGH STAKES
WITH THAT UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES YOU DON'T GET THE
KINKS OUT OF IT BUT IF THERE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIELD
TEST THIS IN PARALLEL?
BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A GRAND IN
FRONT OF YOU, YOU MIGHT BE
ABLE TO DESIGN OR TAKE SOME
GRANTS PREVIOUSLY DONE AND
PULLED TOGETHER AND SIX MONTHS
LATER WHEN THEY WERE FORGOTTEN
, I THINK SOUND TESTING IN THE
FIELD MIGHT NOT BE HELPFUL TO
ENSURE PEOPLE ARE FINDING
OTHER WAYS TO PUT THE SYSTEM
DOWN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU APPLYING THE SAID
CRITERIA TO THE POSTDOCTORAL
TRAINING GRANTS OR HAVE YOU
THOUGHT ABOUT HOW YOU WILL
REVIEW THOSE?
THAT CAN BE A YES OR NO.
>> THE POST DOC TRADING GRANTS
IS WHAT I TALKED ABOUT IN THE
SECOND HALF OF MY PRESENTATION.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING
HAS CHANGED WE WILL PUT THAT
OUT.
>> THAT WAS ALSO TRAINING
GRANTS YOU MEAN T30 TO THE
GRANT?
KNOW.
IT DOES NOT APPLY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH WE
APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION.
>> THE GROUP DESERVES A BREAK.
IF WE CAN BE BACK BY
3:00 O'CLOCK WE WILL GO TO THE
NOVEL AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS
DISCUSSION.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MOST
PEOPLE BACK ON.
>> DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?
>> WE SHOULD BE GOOD.
>> SO NOW WE WILL KICK THINGS
OFF A WORKING GROUP YOU HEARD
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IN NOVEMBER
ABOUT ALTERNATIVE METHODS AND
WILL DETAIL OUT THIS TOPIC
FURTHER FOLLOWING THE NOVEMBER
DISCUSSION WHAT THEY STARTED
TO DO CONSIDERING GOING
FORWARD.
>> IAM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE IN
PERSON WITH YOU WE DISCUSSED
THIS BRIEFLY BUT THIS TIME IT
WILL BE MORE ENGAGING AND
ROBUST CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE
ARE JOINED BY THE COCHAIR
HOWARD CHANG I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU TO START THE
CONVERSATION.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD
AFTERNOON EVERYBODY AND GLAD
YOU JOINED ME VIRTUALLY AND
THE PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST AND WE
ARE EXCITED TO TALK TO ABOUT A
NEW WORKING GROUP PROPOSED FOR
ALTERNATIVE METHODS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE LOOKING
AT A TIME THE MEETING
TECHNOLOGY CREATING FROM
SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES.
I WILL START WITH TWO EXAMPLES
THE LAST FROM MY FIELD THE
CHALLENGE IS TO UNDERSTAND THE
GENETIC BASIS OF DISEASE THERE
ARE DOZENS OF HUNDREDS
VARIANCE THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
DISEASE AND THEY HAVE A SEA OF
MANY OTHER DIFFERENCES THAT TO
OUR KNOWLEDGE ARE NOT
FUNCTIONAL SO WITH THOSE
MULTIPLE ADVANCES IN
TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE
TO CONTROL WHERE GENES TURN ON
AND OFF WITH THE ONE
MILLIONFOLD INCREASE AND THEN
TO DIRECTLY STUDY HUMAN
TISSUES DOWN TO THE SINGLE
CELL LEVEL.
THE SECOND CHALLENGE THEY WORK
TOGETHER IN COMBINATION AND
THERE IS A HUGE ASTRONOMICAL
NUMBER OF POSSIBILITIES SO IN
THE PAST THEY TEST THEM ONE AT
A TIME BUT IT WASN'T FEASIBLE
BECAUSE THOSE COMBINATIONS
THAT WE WILL NOT GET THERE SO
HERE ADVANCES IN COMPUTATION
OF MACHINE LEARNING MADE
POSSIBLE TO SORT TO THE
POSSIBILITIES AND IDENTIFY THE
CAUSAL CHANGES IN GENETIC
DIFFERENCES.
ON THE RIGHT IS THE EXAMPLE
LOOKING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO
STUDY INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE
DIFFERENT CELL TYPES WITH A
MUCH GREATER LEVEL.
SO NOW I WILL HAND IT BACK TO
LYRIC TO SUMMARIZE.
>> AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT WE MET BY ALTERNATIVES IN
THIS CASE SEVERAL OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS IN THE GOVERNMENT
ARE PROMPTED TO USE THE TERM
ALTERNATIVE METHODS AND HAVE
CHOSEN TO USE THIS TERM FOR
SHORTHAND WHILE LIKE KNOWLEDGE
EATING THE CONVERSATION
THINKING OF SOME OF THOSE
NUANCED NUANCES BUT THE FACT
THEY RELY ON A COMBINATION OF
TECHNOLOGIES SO THE USE OF ANY
GIVEN APPROACH IS THAT
APPROPRIATENESS SO FOR THE
PURPOSES OF OUR CONVERSATION
TODAY WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE
APPROACHES THAT ARE
COMPLEMENTARY TO TRADITIONAL
ANIMAL MODELS THAT TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES
AND CAPABILITIES OF RAPIDLY
ADVANCING RESEARCH LANDSCAPE
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY.
DISCUSSING BRIEFLY FROM LAST
TIME THEY ARE IN THREE BROAD
CATEGORIES THOSE THAT ARE
EXPERIMENTS LIKE DNA OR
PROTEINS OR TEST TUBES OR IN
VITRO METHODS AND THOSE
COMPUTATIONAL MODELS TO
STIMULATE HOW THESE SYSTEMS
WORK AND PREDICT OUTCOMES TO
REFINE HYPOTHESIS THIS IS THE
BUCKETS AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
THAT TYPE OF CONTEXT SO FOR
THE FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT
DAY I HAD A STRONG INTEREST OF
SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND
USE OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS SO
I AM SHARING THE TRAJECTORIES
NOTE THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE
CLINICAL RESEARCH THIS IS
REALLY THE INTERSECTION OF THE
TECHNOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE'S YOU
CAN SEE WE HAD A HUGE SLOPE
INCREASE OVER THE LAST DECADE
THESE ALTERNATIVE METHODS ARE
BOTH DEVELOPED HERE AND
APPLIED IN A WIDE RANGE OF
AREAS TO SURFACE COMPLEMENTARY
APPROACHES WE HAVE SEEN THE
SAYS NEW EXPERIMENTAL
APPROACHES REGARDING 3D
PRINTING AND SIGNAL
TRANSDUCTION BUT ALSO SERVING
AS ADDITIONAL COMPLEMENTARY
CONDITIONS OF THOSE HOLISTIC
PICTURES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
SO IN THIS MODEL YOU SEE THIS
INTERNAL ANALYSIS WE CONDUCTED
THE LARGER CIRCLES REPRESENT A
HIGHER NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND
THE THICKNESS OF THE LINE IS
THE CONNECTIVITY THIS IS JUST
A ROUGH ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE THE POTENTIAL WAS.
>> BEFORE WE GET MUCH FURTHER
DOWN WE WENT TO EMPHASIZE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE
METHODS MAY INCREASE THE TOOLS
AND REDUCED AND REFINED THE
FUTURE USE OF SOME RESEARCH
AREAS THIS IS THE CONVERSATION
WE HAVE TODAY WITH THERE IS
PROMISE AND POTENTIAL AND FOR
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE OUR
POSITION ALL APPROACHES WILL
BE NECESSARY INCLUDING
TRADITIONAL ANIMAL MODELS TO
ESTABLISH THE RIGOROUS
EVIDENCE NEEDED FOR BASIC
DISCOVERY THIS EXPLORATION IS
NOT AN OPPOSITION TO ANY OTHER
APPROACH THAT IS INTENDED TO
SPUR COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES
TO ADVANCE SCIENCE.
HOWARD I WILL TURN IT BACK
OVER TO YOU.
>> TO HAVE THE BEST TOOLS FOR
THE JOB AT HAND THAT PROGRESS
AND SCIENCE DEPENDS ON THE
TECHNIQUES AND NEW DISCOVERIES
AND CONCEPTS AND IN THAT ORDER
WE HOPE THAT IS TRUE SO IF WE
LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE THERE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES SO IN SOME CASES
THE IDEA OF ALTERNATIVE
METHODS SHOULD BE SOME
TOXICOLOGY OF WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THOSE COMPOUNDS INTERACT
BECAUSE THERE IS HISTORICAL
DATA BUT IN OTHER CASES
ESPECIALLY COMPLEX INTERACTION
AND FURTHER THE ISSUE OF
TRANSLATE ABILITY THIS WAS TO
THE AUTHENTICATION AND
IMPORTANCE IS FOR
STANDARDIZATION AND VALIDATION
THESE ARE NECESSARY TO
BENCHMARK AND NECESSARY
STRATEGIES BUT ALSO TO GET
COMMUNITY BUY-IN WE CAN SOLVE
THE PROBLEM FOR BETTER QUALITY
SOLUTION ALSO FOR REGULATORY
CONSIDERATIONS TO WITH THAT
THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT IS
THERE A PUBLIC TRUST IN THOSE
NEEDS TO DISCUSS STAKEHOLDERS
WORKING ON THE REGULATORY
SIDE.
AND ITS LOCAL COMPLEMENTARY
SOLUTIONS ARE NEEDED TO GET TO
A TRUE ANSWER AND HERE IS
ANOTHER EXAMPLE REGARDING
STUDIES THESE ARE DNA
MUTATIONS BUT THE WAY THE
ADVANCES WERE MADE FROM A
GENETIC ANALYSIS VERIFYING
THOSE ACTIONS OF HUMAN BRAIN
TISSUES BUT ALSO IN TACT
ANIMALS AND ALSO WITH THE
CHEMICAL SCREENINGS ALL OF THE
METHODS TOGETHER PROVIDE MUCH
MORE ROBUST INFORMATION ON
THOSE ISSUES OF INTEREST.
AND WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN AGAIN
AND AGAIN THERE IS A RAPID
UPTAKE IT SHOWS THE DATA ON
APPLICATIONS AND THAT PATENTS
WITH GENE EDITING AND THIS HAS
ALWAYS BEEN AN INTEREST WITH
THE PUBLICATION OF THE WAY
MORE SIMPLER WAY TO DO GENOME
EDITING THERE IS A RAPID
UPTAKE OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES
AND APPLICATIONS IN THE
LABORATORIES IS ALSO A STRONG
INCREASE ON THE WHY AXIS
SCALE.
>> WE ARE REALLY EXCITED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE SCIENCE
BUT ALSO FINALIZE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES BUT THIS CONCEPT
WAS HIGH HIGHLIGHTED FROM
PRIOR WORK FROM THE ACD FROM
THE RIGOR AND TRANSPARENCY I
FEEL SLIGHTLY AWKWARD TALKING
MORE ABOUT IT WHEN THEIR OTHER
COCHAIRS IN THE ROOM BUT THE
KEY ITEM IN THE REPORT WAS
THINKING HOW TO FORM AND
INITIATIVE FOR THOSE
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES AND
THAT MECHANISTIC INVESTIGATION
THAT MAY BE VALUABLE TO ANSWER
THAT QUESTION SO TO RECOGNIZE
THE REPORT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED
THOSE IN TERMS OF ENSURING
RIGOR THAT COULD COME AT THEIR
OWN CHALLENGE THAT THEY FAILED
TO UNDERSTAND THOSE APPROACHES
SO FOLLOWING UP ON THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS THIS IS A
BURGEONING AREA OF INVESTMENT
WE JUST RECENTLY MET WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO PARTNERING TO
CAPITALIZE ON THOSE ADVANCES
OF OTHERS SO THAT THE END OF
THE DAY FOR INTERESTED HAVING
AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF THE
SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITY TO
ENHANCE THE RIGOR OF ANIMAL
STUDIES AND ALSO AN HONEST
ASSESSMENT OF WHERE
ALTERNATIVES COULD HAVE THE
BIGGEST SCIENTIFIC IMPACT WE
CANNOT STATE THIS ENOUGH THERE
IS A LOT OF HYPERBOLIC
LANGUAGE IN THE NARRATIVE
WHERE THESE CAN CHANGE SCIENCE
ARE MORE OR LESS IMPACTFUL IS
KEY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY
WILL BE OF VALUE THAT OUR HOPE
IS TO USE THIS INFORMATION TO
BE STRATEGIC IN OUR
INVESTMENTS AT NIH SO
UNDERSTAND THE SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERIES BUT ALSO THAT IS
THE CATALYST THAT WE SAW WITH
THE GENE EDITING TECHNOLOGIES
THAT WITH THE INVESTMENT
CHANGED HOW WE DO SCIENCE
THESE ARE THE TWO AREAS WE ARE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN SO
THIS BRINGS US TO THE CHARGE
OF THE WORKING GROUP WE HAVE
EXPANDED BASED ON FEEDBACK OF
THIS GROUP SO THE FIRST ASPECT
IS TO GET A LANDSCAPE
ASSESSMENT AND ASSESS THE
GENERAL STRENGTH AND
WEAKNESSES STUDYING HUMAN
BIOLOGY AND THE DISEASE STATES
WE HAVE SHOWN PRIOR ANALYSIS
AND THEN TO HAVE THAT
TOTALITY.
ALSO WE ARE ASKING FOR A
CHARACTERIZATION FOR WHICH
ALTERNATIVE MODELS AND
ARTICULATING HIGH PRIORITY
AREAS FOR NOVEL METHODS WITH
HUMAN APPLICABILITY THAT'S A
DISCUSSION WE HAD LAST TIME TO
UNDERSTAND PROGRESS BUT ALSO
HOW DO WE AUGMENT THE
CAPABILITIES IN TERMS TO
CAPITALIZE NEW SCIENTIFIC
INQUIRY?
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE
WORKING GROUP TODAY AND HOWARD
HAS AGREED TO BE A COCHAIR
SEEING REPRESENTATIVES FROM
BOTH ACADEMIA AND THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
TO BE SYNERGISTIC WITH THOSE
EFFORTS AND THOSE WORKING WITH
ANIMAL MODELS AND TOXICOLOGY
STUDIES IN THOSE UNDERSTAND
THE LIMITATIONS ACROSS
DIFFERENT SPECIES.
WE ARE DELIGHTED YOU HAVE THIS
GROUP HERE AND YOU WILL SEE
ONE OF YOUR OWN ON THE CALL
TODAY.
THANK YOU AND BARBARA HAS
AGREED TO SERVE AS AN EXPERT
AND BE A PARTNER WHEN CALLED
UPON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
IN TERMS OF THE CHARGE WE
INTEND TO DO THE LANDSCAPE
ASSESSMENT INCLUDING
PERSPECTIVES OF THOSE RELEVANT
FIELDS AND HOLD WORKSHOPS ON
SPECIFIC TOPICS AS NEEDED AS
MENTIONED WE PLAN TO GET
MOVING QUICKLY AND HOW OUR
GOALS ARE CHARGED WORKING VERY
HARD IN THE SPRING OF NEXT
YEAR IMPORTANT LANDSCAPE
ASSESSMENT AND PRESENT THE
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND START
TO ENGAGE IN ROBUST
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT OUR
GOAL IS TO DELIVER THE FINAL
REPORT WITH FINAL
RECOMMENDATIONS DECEMBER OF
NEXT YEAR SO WITH THAT IS
COMPLETION WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SAY ANY REMARKS BEFORE WE OPEN
THE FLOOR QUICK.
>> NOTHING FURTHER THAT WAS A
GREAT SUMMARY.
>> NOW WE WILL OPEN FOR
QUESTIONS I WILL SEE IF YOU
WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING TO THE
CONVERSATION BEFORE YOU HAVE
TO LEAVE?
>> I HAVE NOTHING TO ADD.
>> I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD I
DO HAVE A QUESTION SO WHAT I
HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT AT THE
END OF THIS ASSESSMENT THERE
WILL BE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
TECHNOLOGICAL AREAS TO PURSUE
FOR THOSE STRATEGIES TO
DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE MODELS.
>> IT IS TWOFOLD TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS VALUABLE WHAT TYPES OF
AREAS ARE THEY SO THERE ARE
CERTAIN AREAS OF SCIENCE WHERE
THE ALTERNATIVES VERY
CATALYTIC IN OTHER AREAS WHERE
THEY DON'T PROVIDE THE
RIGOROUS STUDIES FOR THE
QUESTIONS BEING ASKED.
SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE
THESE WILL BE MOST BENEFICIAL
IS THE KEY.
>> SO NOW WHAT I HEAR YOU SAY
THIS IS NOT A STRATEGY FOR A
BLUEPRINT TO ADVANCE TO
FORWARD IN DEVELOPMENT OF
THESE ALTERNATIVES BUT TO
ASSESS WHERE THEY ARE
APPROPRIATE FOR THAT
SCIENTIFIC QUEST?
>> I THINK IT IS BOTH.
>> I AGREE.
>> YES.
>> OBVIOUSLY WANT AN
ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT
STATUS AND VALUE ADDED.
THE INSTITUTE FOR CENTERS WILL
USE THAT INFORMATION TO MOVE
THAT FIELD FORWARD BECAUSE AS
YOU SAW FROM THE VARIOUS
SLIDES PRESENTED THOSE
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND
SOME MAY BE FURTHER ALONG THAN
OTHERS.
>> SO IS THERE OVERLAP IN THIS
REGARD QUICK.
>> WE LIKE TO PLAY NICE.
WE WILL SHARE.
AGAIN AS ALLUDED TO THIS
MORNING THERE IS A CERTAIN
EXPERTISE OR INFORMATION THEY
CAN PULL UPON FOR THE
ORGANIZATION AND THIS IS JUST
AN EXAMPLE AND HOPEFULLY THEY
BENEFIT.
>> I THINK TRYING TO CHANNEL
MY INNER RENÉE IS THAT SHE
WOULD SAY THIS AREA COULD
POTENTIALLY MEET THAT
DEFINITION OF WHAT THEY WILL
FOCUS ON A PLATFORMS
TECHNOLOGIES AND CAPABILITIES
IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PROGRAM
MANAGER AND THE RIGHT PROGRAM.
>> THAT WAS INTERESTING.
THANK YOU.
I FELT A LITTLE BIT LOOKING AT
THE LIST OF THE THREE
CATEGORIES THAT MOST OF THEM
IF NOT ALL HAVE BEEN USED.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU
COULD EXPLAIN MORE OF HOW WILL
YOU MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS HOW
TO UTILIZE THE VARIOUS
APPROACH AND ORGANIZED WAYS
AND MANY OF THE APPROACHES
LISTED WITH WIDESPREAD USE
JUST A LITTLE BIT CURIOUS WHAT
EXACTLY THE FORM OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE
QUICK.
>> SO DEFINITELY WE HIGHLIGHT
THE NOVEL ALTERNATIVE METHODS
BUT STILL DOES HAVE RECENT
ADVANCES BECAUSE OF THE
COMPLEXITIES SO THERE ARE
AREAS SO THE INITIAL GOAL IS
TO UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE WE
ARE NOT EXCLUDED BUT WHAT IS
THE MOST CATALYTIC THING THAT
CAN BE DONE SO WITH THAT
APPLICATION AREA THAT MAKES
SENSE FOR NIH TO HIGHLIGHT AS
PART OF THE PREVIOUS WORKING
GROUP THAT LINDA TALKED ABOUT
AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST IMPACT
OF REAL MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
AND MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE
MENTIONED FOR THAT KIND OF
APPROACH TO GET AROUND THE USE
OF ANIMALS CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
THAT?
I'M INTERESTED IN THAT AND IT
IS DIFFICULT TO DO AND I'M
WONDERING IF THAT IS A MAJOR
IMPETUS QUICK.
>> UNDER IT IS JOIN THE TEAM
AND IS AMAZING TO WORK WITH
THEIR HUGE, THERE IS LANGUAGE
BUT IT IS A PANACEA BUT IT'S
NOT THE CASE SO UNDERSTAND
THOSE IS KEY AND THEN ALSO
TALKING ABOUT THE LEVEL OF
INTEREST SO WITH THE FDA THE
SCIENTIFIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE
REGULATORY PROCESS TO HAVE
THAT PIPELINE.
>> .
>> FIRST BRAVO YOU ARE OFF TO
A GREAT START SOME OF THESE
ARE A HAPPY FLASHBACK OR JUST
A FLASHBACK TO THE EARLIER
COMMITTEE.
[LAUGHTER]
AND LESS HAPPY PART IS YOU
CANNOT BOIL THE OCEAN OF
COURSE WE ALL WENT TO PROMOTE
ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ALLOW
YOU TO WORK ON A HUMAN PROBLEM
THAT IS A DREAM THAT GETTING
CLOSER IS A KEEPING BUT THIS
PIECE WORKING ON A CHAPTER THE
FEW PIECES MAYBE WHERE THESE
AREAS ARE STILL PLAGUING WHERE
THEY HAVEN'T MATURED TO THE
POINT AS A STANDARD COMPLEMENT
THE SWEET SPOT AND LOOKS LIKE
YOU ARE FOCUSED BY SHINING THE
LIGHT ON THIS AND WORKING WITH
THE FDA I THINK IT DOES A LOT
FOR THE ENTIRE ENTERPRISE
WORKING SCIENTIST THOSE IN THE
ANIMAL FEEL TO BE MORE AWARE
AND ALSO FOR SIMPLY PUBLIC
AWARENESS THAT NIH HAS BEFORE
AND WILL IN THE FUTURE EVEN
MORE INVESTED GOING IN THIS
DIRECTION AND IT IS CLEAR TO
ME ALTHOUGH OF THE OCCASIONAL
EXCITING ARTICLES OF SCIENCE
TIMES THAT HAS BROUGHT VERY
LITTLE AWARENESS OF THIS.
>> IS THE GENERAL AWARENESS OF
HOW TO MAN TO USE THESE
TECHNOLOGIES WITH NIH FUNDING
AND ACADEMIES STUDY WITH
PRIMATES AND ALTERNATIVES HOW
DO YOU MAKE THE CONNECTIONS TO
MAKE THAT AN EFFECTIVE IN
TERMS OF TRANSLATION?
AND THEN TO DEMOCRATIZE TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR VALUE MORE
EFFICIENTLY.
>> THIS SEEMS VERY EXCITING TO
ME WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU
LOOK AT TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE
CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THOSE
THAT ARE MOST APPLICABLE TO
HUMAN BIOLOGY?
>> LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGIES AND
GETTING VERY CLOSE TO FRUITION
WHICH OF THOSE WOULD BE MOST
APPLICABLE TO HUMAN BIOLOGY.
>> SO THAT IS PART OF IT BUT
THE MANDATE OF THE WORKING
GROUP GOES BEYOND AND THIS CAN
HELP NIH TO ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ADDRESS
MORE EFFICIENTLY AND NOW IT'S
AT THE COST TO MAKE THAT LEAP
THAT YES ONE OF THE GOALS IS
TO APPROACH MORE CLOSELY TO
HUMAN HEALTH CONDITION WHICH
WE ARE ALL HERE FOR.
>> TALK ABOUT DEVELOPING
METHODS THOSE EFFORTS HAVE NOT
BEEN SUPPORTED IN HOPING IT
WOULD BE MORE EMPHASIS ON
THOSE METHODS IF IT HAS
ANYTHING TO DO WITH HUMANS BUT
IT COULD EASILY.
AND THOSE THAT HAVE ALLIED OF
IMPORTANCE IT WOULD THE NICE
IF YOU'RE WORKING GROUP COULD
REINFORCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF
TECHNOLOGY.
>> ABSOLUTELY THAT'S WHY WE
WANTED VERY TANGIBLE OPTIONS
SO THE VALUE OF WORKING TO
IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH THAT IS A
TOOL SO MY PRIOR WORK WAS ON
THE BRAIN INITIATIVE ON THE
INTERSECTION OF ENGINEERING SO
WE CAN CATALYZE NEW TYPES OF
RESEARCH AND THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE TO.
>> THANK YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT.
ANYTHING ELSE?
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS
SESSION VERY EFFICIENTLY WITH
THE EARLY BREAK IN AND MEETING
A FEW MINUTES EARLY AFTER THE
SESSION.
IS ANYTHING ELSE?
>> THAT WAS A BURST OF
OPTIMISM.
>> EVERYDAY APPRECIATES THEY
ARE INTENSELY INTERESTED IN
FOR DIFFERENT REASONS AT LARGE
AND SO WHATEVER WE DO WE HAVE
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AS PRECISE
AS POSSIBLE AND I DO THINK IT
IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
DISCOVERY AT NIH AND OTHER
PLACES THAT IT WILL BE
INTENSELY SCRUTINIZED WITH
ANIMAL RESEARCH IN RESEARCH
FOR BOTH POSITIVE AND NOT
POSITIVE REASON SO ALL THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF
THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE GET THAT
INTERIM CHECK-IN AND THEN
MAYBE WITH A FINAL REPORT.
BUT IT IS VERY MUCH AN
OFFSHOOT AND THANK YOU FOR
GIVING US SOME CONTINUITY
SWELLING FORWARD TO HEARING
ABOUT THIS THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THIS ON AND TAKING ONE
FOR THE TEAM.
SO LET'S TAKE A BREAK.
>> WE WILL COME BACK AT 350
AND GET STARTED ON THE NEXT
SESSION A COUPLE MINUTES EARLY.
BABY WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE.
>> THAT'S A PROBLEM WHY WE ARE
NOT JUST LAUNCHING RIGHT INTO
IT.
THE NEXT TOPIC PEOPLE WILL BE
AS INTERESTED IF NOT MORE SO.
>> SO THE NEXT SESSION STARTS
AT 4:15 P.M. SO WE WILL TAKE A
LITTLE BREAK AND STAY ON
SCHEDULE AND WE WILL COME BACK
THEN.
WE WILL RECONVENE AT 4:15 P.M.
AND THEN TO SEE THE SCIENCE
TITLED THE CASE OF
DISAPPEARING PERIOD.
THAT IT WAS BECOMING SOMETHING
THAT WAS STARTING TO APPEAR
AND THEN JANUARY 2017 THE
IMPACT OF THE POSTDOCTORAL
TRAINING AND THEN MORE
RECENTLY HERE IN THE 2022
THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF
REPORTS AND OPINION PIECES
WITH THE QUESTION OF
RECRUITING THE POSTOP AND
CHANGE AND SCIENCE TITLE AT
THE TOP.
THE IMPACT ON RESEARCH AND
SCIENCE ADVANCES AND THEN
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LABOR
FORCE AND THEN EVEN THIS MONTH
ANOTHER PAPER SO THE CONSTANT
DRUMBEAT MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR
NIH AND AS WE STARTED TO GET
THIS GOING WE HAVE HEARD FROM
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT
MANY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS
IT'S ONLY NIH THAT NEEDS TO
WRESTLE WITH THE PROBLEM AND
TO THINK ABOUT IT.
>> WITH THE WAY OF THE LAND
THE NEXT SEVERAL MINUTES THE
INFORMATION WILL PROVIDE THAT
LAST MONTH WHEN WE MET THERE
ARE MULTIPLE FORCES AFFECTING
THIS DECLINE AND WHAT WE ARE
SEEING IS LOWER NUMBERS
OVERALL, LOWER NUMBERS OF THE
GRAD STUDENTS WHICH HAS SOME
IMPACT ON THE LINE.
AND THEN FEWER APPLICATIONS
AND AWARDS.
THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT
STIPENDS HAVE INCREASED BUT
NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THOSE IN
INDUSTRY AND THE NUMBER OF
GRAD STUDENT HAS CONTINUED TO
RISE WITH THOSE TAKING THOSE
POSITIONS HAS BEEN ON A
DOWNWARD TREND RECENTLY AND
INTERESTINGLY GRAD STUDENTS
AND POSTDOCS REPORT DECLINES
IN OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE AND
IT'S WORSE FOR INTERNATIONAL
TRAININGS SO THESE ANECDOTAL
DISCUSSIONS THEY SUGGEST THEY
ARE WORKING WORSENING SINCE
2020 WITH THE ADDED STRESSORS
THAT HAS ARISEN FROM THE
PANDEMIC AND THOSE ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES THAT HAVE RESULTED
SO WE ARE HEARING ALL OF THIS
STUFF DOES THE DATA BEAR THIS
OUT?
SUGGEST STARTING TO GET THE
DATA WHAT WE WILL PRESENT
TODAY WAS JUST SCRATCHING THE
SURFACE BUT IT IS HELPFUL
BACKGROUND FOR CONTEXT AND AS
WE KNOW PREVIOUSLY AND ASSESS
COLLECTS DATA ON GRADUATE
STUDENTS SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING AND THEY DO THIS
ANNUAL CENSUS OF ALL ACADEMIC
INSTITUTIONS THAT GRANT
RESEARCH-BASED MASTER'S OR
DOCTORATE'S.
IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING NIH
COSPONSORS THE WORK SO WHAT IS
OUTLINED HERE WHICH IS THE
MOST RECENT DATA THOSE THAT
ARE REPRESENTED BY THE
GREENLINE HAS STEADILY
INCREASED SINCE 1980 BUT THAT
HAS PLATEAUED AND HAS REMAINED
FLAT FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS
COLLECTING DATA AND
IMPORTANTLY IT HAS NEWER
UPDATED DATA AND WILL GIVE US
A LITTLE BIT OF A GLIMPSE INTO
THE PANDEMIC ON THE WORKFORCE
BUT WE HAVE BEEN IN
CONVERSATION WITH NSF AND THEY
WILL BRIEF THE WORKING GROUP.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHO MAKES
UP THE COHORT OF THE POSTOP SO
THOSE THAT SHOW IN THE GREEN
TEAL COLOR VERSUS THE LIGHTER
BLUE LINE SHOWS PERMANENT
RESIDENCE THAT IN THE NINETIES
WHEN THE TEMPORARY VISA
HOLDERS SURPASSED THE US
CITIZENS OF PERMANENT
RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF ABSOLUTE
NUMBER OF POSTOP.
SO IN 2020 ONLY 46 PERCENT
WERE US CITIZENS OR PERMANENT
RESIDENTS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO
ILLUSTRATE THE POOL OF THE
POSTDOCS COMING TO THE US TO
THE LESSER FOR THE BIOMEDICAL
ENTERPRISE.
SO THIS MAKES US DOWN FURTHER
AND THEN IT SHOWS SOME SIMILAR
DATA AFTER DECADES OF GROWTH
AND HAS BEGUN TO DECLINE OR
PLATEAU.
TO BREAK THAT DOWN BY GENDER.
SO THIS CORRELATES WITH THE
CLIENTS WE ARE SEEING IN
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE SCHOOL
ENROLLMENT WITH THE DATA ON
THE LEFT STARTING IN 2007
MAYBE NOT UNEXPECTEDLY THERE
IS A SHARP DECLINE IN ALL
CATEGORIES STARTING IN 2020 WE
CAN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD BE THE
CAUSE OF THAT.
A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS DROPPED BY 15 PERCENT
OBVIOUSLY THIS PRIMARILY WAS
DUE TO THE PANDEMIC BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE ONE THING.
ELEVEN PEOPLE SAY THAT
PANDEMIC IS THE ONLY CAUSE OF
THE DECLINE BECAUSE IT MAKES
IT CLEANER BUT UNFORTUNATELY
IF YOU LOOK AT ENROLLMENT
TRENDS DOWN IN THE BOTTOM
RIGHT THESE ARE NOT LIMITED TO
COVID-19 BECAUSE BOTH NEW AND
CONTINUING ENROLLMENT GOES
BACK TO THE 2018 ACADEMIC
YEAR.
THAT IS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SO
CLEARLY WHILE THERE WAS A
MAJOR IMPACT AND EXACERBATE
THE PROBLEM AND THEN TO KNOW
WHO IS FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING
THE WORKFORCE.
AND THROUGH FEDERAL RESEARCH
SUPPORT THROUGH FELLOWSHIPS
THROUGH THE F 30 CHOOSE THAT
NONFEDERAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN
GROWING ACCOUNTING FOR
40 PERCENT AND FOR THOSE
POSTDOCTORAL WORKFORCE AND
LOOK AT WITH THOSE OF WORDS
SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE F
32 APPLICATIONS THAT ARE
SUBMITTED INDEPENDENTLY YOU
CAN SEE THAT AND THAT AFTER
THE TWO FELLOWSHIP HAS
DECREASED OVER TIME.
BUT WHAT IS EVEN MORE TELLING
THE DARK BLUE BAR THE NUMBER
OF APPLICATIONS WE ARE
RECEIVING ALSO HAS DECREASED
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SUCCESS
RATES THAT ARE FAIRLY HIGH.
CONSISTENT SINCE THE EARLY
2000'S IS JUST UNDER
30 PERCENT BUT THESE TRENDS
EXTEND BEYOND THAT THE DATA
SHOWS NOT ONLY ARE THE NUMBERS
OF POSTOP DECLINING BUT SOME
OF THOSE ON TRAINING GRANTS?
SO WHAT WE SEE THE NIH POOL OF
POSTOP REGARDLESS OF A FUNDING
MECHANISM IS DWINDLING AND
WHAT WE ARE SHOWING HERE ARE
ABSOLUTE NUMBERS NOT
PERCENTAGE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS
WE ARE SUPPORTING.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE
PEOPLE ARE GOING RIGHT OUT OF
GRADUATE SCHOOL, WHAT WE SEE
HERE IS THE PERCENTAGE OF PHD
WITH POSTGRADUATE PLANS THERE
IS A SLIGHTLY INCREASING
PERCENTAGE OF NEW PHD'S WHO
ARE GETTING A JOB AND THEY ARE
SKIPPING POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
SO IN 2021 OVER 40 PERCENT BUT
IF YOU GO BACK TO 1985 TO
BEGINNING OF THE CHART THIS
PERCENTAGE IS CLOSER TO
35 PERCENT IT IS A HUGE CHANGE
BUT IT IS A CLEAR SEEING.
THAT IF WE BREAK THIS DOWN
FURTHER TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE
GOING AFTER NOT DOING PERIOD
WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE THE DATA
SHOWS AN INCREASING PERCENTAGE
OF PHD'S GOING INTO INDUSTRY
OR BUSINESS AND NOW THE LARGER
SHARE THOSE THAT HAVE DEFINITE
COMMITMENTS SO IN
202157 PERCENT WENT INTO
INDUSTRY AND ONLY 26 PERCENT
WENT INTO ACADEMIA NOT ALL
INDIVIDUALS COULD BE DOING
POSTDOCS BUT IT IS IMPORTANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THE GROWING TREND
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING
I EMPHASIZED LAST TIME A
DISTRIBUTION OF SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING GOING INTO A RANGE
FEEL THAT IS A GOOD THING I
WENT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS THE
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE ON THIS
SLIDE IT IS POSITIVE BUT IT'S
HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THE
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING AND
WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HELP
US FIGURE OUT WHY AND HOW WE
RESPOND TO THAT.
PART OF THIS REASON I HAVE
HEARD NUMEROUS TIMES AND
SHELLEY HAS OCCURRED ECHOED
SIMILAR SENTIMENTS IS PEOPLE
HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR
BILLS AND LIVE IN A SHELLEY
WILL BREAK DOWN DATA BUT
COST-OF-LIVING IS A MAJOR
FACTOR IN THIS EQUATION IF YOU
LOOK AT THE STIPENDS THOSE
HAVE STEADILY BEEN GROWING
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS NOW IT
IS ABOUT $55000 SOMEBODY JUST
STARTING OUT.
SO THOSE WHO ARE IN THEIR MOST
EXPERIENCED POSTDOCTORAL YEARS
THEY ARE MAKING CLOSER TO
66000 AND IT'S GREAT
PROCEEDING THE GROWTH THAT WE
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE WHOLE
ENVIRONMENT AND IF WE LOOK AT
HOW THAT COMPARES TO INDUSTRY
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS
BETWEEN 73 AND 84000 ACCORDING
TO THE JOB SEARCH SITES THAT'S
A CONSIDERABLE JUMP ABOVE
FIGHT $55000 ABOVE THE STIPEND
AND VERY RECENTLY IN RESPONSE
TO DIFFICULTIES OF HIRING
POSTDOC AND GROWING CONCERN
BOTH MIT AND SAINT JUDE HAVE
RAISED THEIR SALARIES TO 65
AND 70000 RESPECTIVELY.
AND THE NSF SURVEY THE DATA
HIGHLIGHTS THE SALARY GAP EVEN
FURTHER SO THEY SUGGEST HIGHER
DISCREPANCY BETWEEN SECTORS
BASED ON THE WAGES OF THOSE
SURVEYED WHEN GRAD STUDENTS
ARE CONTEMPLATING THE NEXT
STEP MAY BE A POSTDOC OR MAYBE
NOT THEY HEAR THAT THEY CAN GO
TO SIX FIGURES GOING INTO
INDUSTRY IF YOU THINK OF THAT
COMPARED TO 55 THAT IS A BIG
DIFFERENCE ESPECIALLY FOR
THOSE STARTING FAMILIES OR
WITH OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE CAN RECOGNIZE ALL THE
FACTORS INFLUENCING HOW WE
MIGHT IMPROVE THE PATHWAY AND
THE ECOSYSTEM SO NOW SHELLEY
WILL ELABORATE FURTHER ON THE
RECENT DATA.
>> SO THIS IS CLEARLY A MULTI-
EFFECT REAL CHALLENGE THERE
ARE MANY ELEMENTS COMING INTO
PLAY THAT ARE AFFECTING
RELATING TO THIS ISSUE OF WHAT
GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE PLANNING
ESPECIALLY IN THE BIOMEDICAL
FIELD.
ONE IS THE LOW SALARY DURING
THIS LINK THE STUDENT LIFE OF
POSTDOC AND THAT PERIOD OF
TIME HAS BEEN GROWING SO THAT
TRAINEES HAVE BEEN FACING
THESE LOW SALARIES FOR MUCH
LONGER TIME THAN IN PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS.
I THINK THE BIOTECH AND PHARMA
INDUSTRY HAS BEEN BURGEONING
THE LAST FIVE OR TEN YEARS AND
SO THAT HAS LED TO THE DIRECT
RECRUITMENT GRADUATE STUDENTS
INTO INDUSTRY SO THE NUMBERS
AT SEPARATE THOSE FROM
BIOMEDICAL THAT WOULD BE
INTERESTING FOR US TO TAKE A
LOOK AT.
CREDIT HAS AMPLIFIED THE TREND
TREMENDOUSLY AND TALKING TO
HER OWN STUDENTS WITH THE
DRAMATIC EFFECT OF THAT AND WE
WILL GET TO THOSE NUMBERS SO
IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN LOWERED
FOR MANY REASONS NOT ONLY
COVID THAT IMMIGRATION
POLICIES AND RESEARCH AND
BRIDE HAS BEEN IMPROVING THINK
THAT HAS ACCELERATED THE TREND
AND ENOUGH WE CAN DO ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS BUT THE TIME TO
PUBLISH HAS BEEN EXPANDING.
I KNOW THE JOURNALS ARE TRYING
TO ADDRESS THIS BUT IT IS NOT
AN EASY FIX I THINK THE
STUDENTS AND POSTDOC SEE THAT
AS AN ISSUE THAT TOP HEAVY
ACADEMIA THEY SEE THE ENTRY
INTO FACULTY POSITIONS ARE
DIFFICULT AS A CAREER PATH.
SO THE NATURE SURVEY 2020 THIS
IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF COVID
SO WHAT WE SEE HERE IN THESE
NUMBERS ARE WORSE OF THIS
SURVEY WOULD BE REPEATED SO WE
CAN START AT THE TOP IT IS
POSTDOC CAREER SATISFACTION IN
2020 AND THIS IS WORLDWIDE THE
BOTTOM LINE POSTDOCS ARE
EXPERIENCING DISTRESS ABOUT
THEIR CAREER WORKLOAD AND
CULTURE SEE YOU CAN SEE
WORLDWIDE IN US DOLLARS THE
ANNUAL SALARY 30000 TO 80000
PROBABLY BECAUSE INTERNATIONAL
SALARIES ARE LOWER THAT
CLUSTERING AROUND THERE.
THEN IN THE BOTTOM LEFT THE
PAST YEAR WITH YOUR LEVEL OF
SATISFACTION IF YOU LOOK AT
THE TOP TWO CATEGORIES THAT IS
50 PERCENT OF POSTDOC HAS
REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY
WORSENED LEVEL OF SATISFACTION
SO THAT IS PRETTY HIGH THE TOP
RIGHT IN SPITE OF ALL OF THAT
THERE IS A HOPE OVER
60 PERCENT HOPING TO PURSUE
THAT IS THEIR CONFIDENCE THEY
CAN PURSUE AND THOSE ARE
REFLECTED HAD HE FEEL ABOUT
YOUR JOB PROSPECTS EXTREMELY
NEGATIVE AND SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE
OVER 50 PERCENT SO THAT IS
PRETTY EYE-OPENING AND THEN AT
THE BOTTOM RIGHT MAYBE THERE
WERE STATISTIC OF ALL CLOSE TO
80 PERCENT SAY THE JOB
PROSPECTS ARE SOMEWHAT WORSE
OR MUCH WORSE THAN PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS.
SO THAT SOUNDS PRETTY DISMAL.
IS A GRADUATE STUDENTS WE
REALLY NEED TO DO AGAIN BUT
HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT
GRADUATE STUDENTS SOME
FINANCIAL PRESSURES THAT THEY
FEEL IS FROM THE 2022 SURVEY
IT'S HARD TO FOCUS ON WRITING
PAPERS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF
YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR FOOD
AND FINANCIAL DISTRESS IS IN A
RIGHT OF PASSAGE IT CAN BE AN
EXISTENTIAL THREAT.
SO THAT DOES SOUND PRETTY
DISMAL SO NOW MOVING TO THE
GRADUATE STUDENT TRAINING
SURVEY FROM THE CAREER FEATURE
FROM ANOTHER SURVEY PHD AND
MASTER STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH
WORK LIFE BALANCE
COST-OF-LIVING AND MENTAL
HEALTH SO AT THE TOP LEFT WHAT
ARE YOUR CONCERNS AND YOU
STARTED A GRADUATE WORK TO
MAINTAIN A WORKLIFE BALANCE?
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FUTURE
EMPLOYMENT 65 PERCENT AND AS A
RESULT OF UNDERTAKING A
GRADUATE DEGREE 57 PERCENT
INABILITY TO FINISH STUDIES IN
THE TIME PERIOD I SET OUT
51 PERCENT.
HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH
YOUR EXPERIENCE IN SPITE OF
ALL THAT GOOD NEWS HOW
SATISFIED WITH THE EXPERIENCE
HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU WORK
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 40 AND 60
HOURS WHAT IS THE MOST
DIFFICULT FOR A GRADUATE
STUDENT IN THE COUNTRY YOU ARE
STUDYING?
AND 57 REPORT COST OF LIVING
AND WITH THE WORKLIFE BALANCE
AND LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND THEN BOTTOM RIGHT GETTING
INTO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HOW
MANY RECEIVED HELP FOR ANXIETY
OR DEPRESSION THAT HAVE NOT
YET GOTTEN IT 40 PERCENT AT
MASTERS LEVEL AND 50 PERCENT
FOR A PHD THAT'S PRETTY HIGH.
SO FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE
STUDENTS WHAT ARE THEY
EXPERIENCING?
THEY REPORT FINANCIAL
STRUGGLES SO THE SURVEY
STARTED WITH ARE YOU STUDYING
IN THE COUNTRY YOU GREW UP
IN?
AND OVERALL IT IS YES
71 PERCENT AND THEN YOU CAN
SEE THE BREAKDOWN UNDERNEATH
THAT.
SO WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO STUDY
OUTSIDE YOUR COUNTRY OF
UPBRINGING MORE JOB
OPPORTUNITIES SO HAVE YOU
EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION OR
HARASSMENT THESE NUMBERS ARE
HIGH INTERNATIONAL 26 PERCENT
DOMESTIC STUDENT 17 PERCENT.
IF YOU EXPERIENCED
DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT
AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION IS
BEHIND THAT.
SO IN SPITE OF ALL OF THIS THE
MAJORITY OF STUDENTS REPORTED
SATISFACTION WITH THEIR
EXPERIENCE THIS IS OVERALL
INTERNATIONAL NUMBERS REPORTED
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND
DOMESTIC NECESSITY 5 PERCENT
OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND
DOMESTICALLY 61 PERCENT
SATISFIED THAT IS GREAT.
SO THE CHARGE TO THE WORKING
GROUP TO EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE
OF THE PERCEIVED SHORTAGE I
THINK WE REALLY NEED TO
EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE WE CAN
SEE THERE IS POSITIVE AND SOME
NEGATIVE EVIDENCE THAT THERE
IS A TREND TOWARD A SHORTAGE
AND WITH THE PERSISTENCE OF
THE ISSUE TO REVIEW AND
COMPARE OTHER APPROACHES SO
HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
CONSIDERING THE STRUCTURAL
CHANGES THE WAY POSTDOC
TRAINING IS SET UP WITH
ANOTHER TIER OF TRAINING FOR
POSTDOC IN CONSIDER WAYS TO
SUPPORT THE WORKLIFE BALANCE
TO INCREASE RETENTION AND WE
WANT TO ENGAGE IN INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS THERE IS
A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN
THIS ISSUE NATIONWIDE AND
WORLDWIDE.
SO PROPOSED ACTIVITIES EARLY
2023 WE WILL GATHER COMMUNITY
FEEDBACK WITH A LISTENING
SESSIONS AND CONSULT EXPERTS
AND ECONOMISTS AND WHAT
HAPPENS IF WE ALTER THE
SALARIES AND HOW DO WE TACKLE
THIS ISSUE?
YOU WANT TO TALK TO HAD TO
GRADUATE STUDENTS AND I HAVE
DONE QUITE A BIT OF THAT AND
IT IS VERY CLEAR FOR GRADUATE
STUDENTS THERE IS A BIG SHIFT
AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
AND REPORTING AND WITH THOSE
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN
REVIEWABLE DATA AS MENTIONED
THIS UPDATE TO JOIN THE
SURVEYS IS EXPECTED IN
DECEMBER 2022 MANY ARE
CONDUCTING POLLS WITH THOSE
PUBLISHED STUDIES FROM THE
NATURE WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING
AT.
>> SO SHE AND HER TEAM HAVE
BEEN GATHERING THE DATA
HELPING TO SET UP THE WORKING
GROUP.
>> WE HAD BEEN INCREDIBLY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT IN THIS GROUP WE ARE
LUCKY TO HAVE STRONGER MEMBERS
OF VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS THAT
HAVE AGREED TO PARTICIPATE AND
YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THEM HERE.
THE WORKING GROUP INCLUDES A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE
AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WE
HAVE MEMBERS WHO ARE GRAD
STUDENTS AND POSTDOC EARLY
CAREER AND ECONOMIST WITH THE
POSTDOC ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS
MEMBERS OF VARIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING AAU
AND WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM INDUSTRY AND NIH.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE TO
MEMBERS WHO AGREED TO JOIN
THOSE E-MAILED ME IN NOVEMBER
EVEN BEFORE WE FINISHED THE
PRESENTATION AND SAID WE ARE
INTERESTED AND THEY ARE
JOINING US FOR THIS EFFORT.
WE ALSO HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU
FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO LOOK
AT THAT PERSPECTIVE WITH
MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WHO CAN
BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE WE DID
REACH OUT TO ONE ORGANIZATION
SPECIFICALLY AND ARE STILL
WORKING TO GET A
REPRESENTATIVE.
BUT AS SHELLEY MENTIONED WE DO
INTEND TO HAVE EXPERTS COME
TALK TO THE GROUP ON THE AD
HOC BASIS SO THEY CAN CONSULT
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INSIGHT
AND OF COURSE WE WILL GET A
LOT OF FEEDBACK TO THE
LISTENING SESSIONS AND OTHER
MECHANISMS.
SEVERE OFF TO A REALLY GREAT
START PRESENTING THIS CONCEPT
LAST MONTH AND INVITED THE
WORKING GROUP MEMBERS OF THE
LAST FEW WEEKS COMMITTED AND
ON BOARD AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE
THE MEANING KICKING OFF THE
GROUP THAT ALLOWS US TO GO
FORTH THEN THE HARD WORK WILL
BEGIN.
WE WENT TO ENSURE WE HAVE
HEARD FROM VOICES THAT WILL BE
IMPACTED BY THE CURRENT
SITUATION THAT'S REFLECTED IN
ANY DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS SO
TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH THE
COMMUNITY BETWEEN DECEMBER AND
THE NEXT ACD MEETING IN JUNE
AND AT THAT POINT WE HOPE TO
HAVE SOME DRAFT
RECOMMENDATIONS AND GET YOUR
REACTION AND WORK THROUGH THEM
TO PUT TOGETHER A FINAL
RECOMMENDATION BY THIS TIME
NEXT YEAR.
SPENT THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING
IN THIS CONVERSATION FROM
OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE
REALLY WELCOME THE FEEDBACK.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY PART OF
THE INSPIRATION FROM THE EARLY
STAGE INVESTIGATOR INITIATIVE
WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF HOW A HUGE IMPACT
CAN BE MADE TO THAT EFFORT I'M
OPTIMISTIC THAT WE NEED
CREATIVE IDEAS I'M EXCITED
ABOUT THE RANGE VOICES ON THE
WORKING GROUP TO BRING IDEAS.
>> WE WILL DO OUR BEST WITH
THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION AND
TRY TO GET SPECIFIC.
>> AND ALSO REACHING OUT TO
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY AT THEIR
RECENT MEETING THIS WAS A HOT
TOPIC AND ACROSS THE NATION
REFLECTIVE OF THIS DISTRESS
WITH UNIONIZATION ATTEMPTS SO
CLEARLY WE NEED TO BE THINKING
ABOUT MAKING THIS BETTER JOB
FOR PEOPLE.
>> WITH RESPECT TO THE
ACADEMIES WE TALKED ABOUT THIS
COUPLE OF TIMES EVEN AS
RECENTLY AS LAST NIGHT.
BECAUSE AS YOU SAID THEY HAVE
A GROUP.
>> .
>> SO I HEARD ABOUT THIS
MEETING IN THE WORKING GROUP
AND THOUGHT THIS IS RIGHT UP
MY ALLEY I WAS ON THE NEXT
GENERATION.
SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IN
ADDITION HOW IT INTERFACES
WITH THE GRADUATE STUDENTS AND
ESI.
IT IS GOOD WE ARE FOCUSING ON
POSTDOC BUT I WONDER WHETHER
OR NOT WE BROUGHT IN THAT WHAT
ARE THE DIFFERENT CAREER
OPTIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
WHEN THEY LEAVE PHD?
STAFF SCIENTIST IS ANOTHER
POSSIBILITY THERE BE DIFFERENT
TRACKS IF YOU GO TO POSTDOC
FOR TWO YEARS IN PREPARATION
SO THINGS WE HAVE NOT THOUGHT
ABOUT AND ARE NOT ARTICULATED
IN A WAY THAT GRADUATE
STUDENTS CAN HEAR THEM AND IF
WE CAN ARTICULATE DIFFERENT
TRACKS IT MAY HELP THEM SEE
THIS IS A PATH THEY CAN FOLLOW
RATHER THAN POSTDOC OPEN ENDED
WHO KNOWS WHAT I WILL HAND ON
-- END UP.
I'M HOPING WE CAN BE THINKING
BROADLY ABOUT DIFFERENT TRACKS
THE GRADUATE STUDENTS CAN GO
WIN.
SO HOPEFULLY IN GRADUATE
SCHOOL THAT PASSION IS
NURTURED AND WILL CONTINUE
FOLLOWING IT AND FOLLOW IT IN
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS BUT
STILL FOLLOW THAT PASSION AND
WHERE IT WILL BE?
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO THINK
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PATH FOR
THE CLASSIC POSTDOC RULE PATH
IS BROKEN RIGHT NOW.
WE COULD REPLACE IT THAT'S
CALLED POSTDOC BUT HAS MORE
STRUCTURE AND THAT MIGHT BE A
WAY TO HELP THE WHOLE
ENTERPRISE.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE
CHANGES IN THE WAY NIH IS
FEELING POSTDOC TRAINING AND
AND THAT IS THE UMBRELLA TERM
A LOT OF THE READING I HAVE
DONE JUST TO DEFINE WHAT THE
POSTDOC IS IS A CHALLENGE.
SO WE HAVE TO START WITH THAT
AND THINK ABOUT HOW TO DEFINE
THE POSTDOC.
IT DOES ENCOMPASS THE CATEGORY
BUT THE QUESTION IS CAN WE
FIND A WAY TO THINK OF A
FUNDING CATEGORY AFTER THE
TRADITIONAL POSTDOC AS WE
THINK OF IT NOW TO FIND A WAY
TO MAYBE APPROACH OR TO DEFINE
OR FIND A WAY TO EXTEND A
FUNDING MECHANISM FOR IT.
AND MORE STATUS IN THE
ACADEMIC COMMUNITY THESE ARE
THE CONSIDERATIONS WE NEED TO
LOOK AT.
>> I THINK YOU COVERED IT WELL
GOING TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
LENSES HOW WE CAN SUPPLEMENT
AND SUPPLANT AND DO THE MENTAL
PART EXERCISE AND WHAT THAT
WOULD MEAN AND THEN
CONSIDERING THE COUPLE OF PATH
THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF NIH WHAT CAN NIH DO
FROM POLICIES OR PROCESS OR
ACTION AND WHAT CAN IT DO
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DO NOT
CONTROL THE WHOLE SECTOR THAT
WE CAN HAVE A LARGE INFLUENCE
ON THE ECOSYSTEM.
>> THIS IS A TIMELY TOPIC I'M
GLAD FOR TAKING THIS ON THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ALL
TEN CAMPUSES THE POSTDOC
STUDENTS ARE ON STRIKE OVER
THESE EXACT ISSUES SO THIS
BRINGS UP SEVERAL POINTS.
FIRST I THAT THE COMMITTEE
WITH THE SYSTEMIC IMPACT
BECAUSE IF THE GRANTS STAY THE
SAME SIZE AND POSTDOC SALARIES
GO UP AND THERE ARE FEWER
AVAILABLE THAN THAT OF THAT'S
A NET POSITIVE OR NOT IF IT
DOESN'T KEEP UP WITH THAT AND
HAS TO GO DOWN SO THEN THE PAY
LINES ARE AFFECTED THE SECOND
COMMENT RELATES IF IT GOES TO
POSTDOC EQUALLY OR WITH
EXPERIENCE THOSE WITH A
CERTAIN SKILL SET THERE IS
INTENSE INDUSTRY DEMAND IF
ANYBODY WALKS AROUND WITH THAT
EXPERTISE WITH THAT STANFORD
MONIKER THEY CAN GET COACHED
AND HAVING FLEXIBILITY OF
DIFFERENT PAY SCALES.
>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT A
LOT.
SO WHEN YOU MAKE CHANGES THAT
MEANS THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE
TO CONSIDER IS WHAT ARE THE
OTHER INCENTIVES -- INCENTIVES
THAT IS MORE THAN JUST A
SALARY INCREASE TO HAVE A BIG
IMPACT AS WELL?
SO WORKING AT THIS THERE ARE A
LOT OF ANGLES.
>> I'M HOPING FOR SOME
CREATIVE IDEAS HOW TO BRING
ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO PLAY MY
PERSONAL BIAS I'M NOT SPEAKING
FOR NIH.
WE ARE THE TRAINING GROUND FOR
INDUSTRY FOR NIH FUNDED LABS
WE PROVIDE A STRONG TRAINING
FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
THAT.
AND INDUSTRY IF WE APPROACH IT
THE RIGHT WAY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ALL THE LEGISLATION AND
THE MANDATE THAT NIH AND
APPEAL TO THE IDEA WE CAN
ENHANCE TRAINING FURTHER BY
KEEPING STUDENTS IN POSTDOC
LONGER AND NOT SELECTING FOR
EVERYONE WITH THE BIOMEDICAL
HEALTH AND INNOVATION SO I
WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO THINK OF
SOME CLEVER AND CREATIVE WAYS
WITH THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF
THE PROBLEM WHICH I THINK ARE
A MAJOR SOURCE OF ANXIETY FOR
GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOC.
>> AND NOW YOUR SECOND
QUESTION ON THE DEFERENTIAL
PAY SCALE.
SO FIRST I DON'T KNOW THE
DEGREES OF FREEDOM ARE BUT I
THINK THERE ARE SOME PRACTICAL
IMPLICATIONS BUT THEN I WANT
TO MAKE SURE TO EMPHASIZE YOU
HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN THE
CONTEXT OF ENSURING EQUITY
CONSIDERED SO BY TRYING TO
SOLVE ONE EQUITY ISSUE WE
CREATE ANOTHER.
IS JUST ONE THING I WENT TO
EMPHASIZE.
>> STARTING OFF WITH A SMALL
DEFINITION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
CLEARLY POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS, EVERYBODY
CALLS THEM POSTDOC.
THE INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY
WHETHER OR NOT WHICH IS VERY
COMMON WHETHER IF THEY ARE
INSTITUTIONALLY PERMITTED OR
EVEN IF THEY WISH TO.
AND THEN TO BE MOVED TO
ANOTHER STATUS WILL BE
REQUIRED.
I'M GUESSING MY INSTITUTION IS
NOT THE ONLY ONE SO THAT WILL
MESS WITH THE NUMBERS SO
HOPEFULLY WE CAN UNWRAP AND
THINKING OF COMPENSATION AND
ACHIEVING SCIENTIFIC
EXCITEMENT AND COMPASSION
THERE IS A CULTURAL ELEMENT TO
THE STAFF SCIENTIST TRACK IF
YOU ARE.
THERE BY A REQUIRED
INSTITUTION OR BY CHOICE.
SO OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE
ASKED IF THEY ARE GRANULAR
ENOUGH THAT IT WOULD BE NICE
TO UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE PEOPLE
OF THE CURRENT GENERATION VIEW
A STAFF SCIENTIST OR ACADEMIA
THAT IF YOUR PAID ACTS THEN
SOMETHING THAT THE CULTURE SO
THAT OTHER PIECE FLOATING IN
THE BACKGROUND WHAT ELSE WHAT
HAPPENED IS AN INTERESTING
PLACE.
>> A TOTALLY AGREE.
I FEEL THAT WE HAVE TO
ADVERTISE ALL OF THE
ADVANTAGES OF WHAT WE DO.
IT ISN'T DISCUSSED ENOUGH WERE
TALKING ABOUT IT ON AND OFF A
GREAT MANY REWARDS FOR DOING
IT.
AND TO FIND A WAY TO CREATE
ANOTHER CATEGORY THAT IS
VALUED AND FEELS VALUED AND
THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE GETTING
AT.
>> YES.
A RECOGNITION IN EVERY OTHER
WAY OPERATING IN THAT MODE.
>> SOMEHOW I FEEL LIKE THE
EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATOR
SOLUTIONS THAT WE COULD FIND A
WAY TO EMPOWER THAT LEVEL WITH
THE LATER STAGE THAT HAS TO BE
PRESTIGE SO SOMETIMES WE HAVE
TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT WE
WILL DISCUSS HOW TO CONSIDER
THAT.
I COME FROM COMPUTER SCIENCE.
AND THEN WITH THE POSTDOC FOR
ONE DAY AND THEN THEIR MAIN
REASON COMPUTER SCIENTISTS CAN
FIND A JOB VERY EASILY AND
WITH THE PHD AND IT'S HARD TO
COMPETE AGAINST MARKET FORCES.
WE CAN ALWAYS ATTRACT
EVERYTHING THAT IS IN PRESTIGE
BUT PEOPLE TO BE INTERESTED IN
A REASONABLE LIFE HAVING
FAMILY THAT THERE WILL BE A
SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO
ATTRACT USING OTHER
MECHANISMS.
SO OBVIOUSLY COMPUTER SCIENCE
WITHOUT A LARGE NUMBER OF
POSTDOC AND HOW THINGS WORK IN
OTHER FIELDS AND THEN LOOK AT
THIS AS A POSITIVE THING AND
THEN TO BE EFFECTIVE AND THEN
TO BE A PART OF THE WORKFORCE.
>> SO IT IS QUITE DIFFERENT
WITH BENCH RESEARCH.
AND THEN TO CONDUCT RESEARCH
IS GREATER I HAVE SAMPLED MANY
COLLEAGUES WHAT PART OF
TRAINING HAS HAD THE MOST
IMPACT ON THE WAY YOU CONDUCT
RESEARCH YOURSELF?
AND ALMOST EVERYONE WILL SAY
IN RESEARCH THROUGH BENCH
RESEARCH IS POSTDOC WE CAN
SAMPLE TO SEE IF THAT'S THE
CASE.
SO IT TAKES A BIGGER GROUP TO
CARRY OUT THE RESEARCH AND
THAT IS STRATIFIED BY
SOPHISTICATION AND KNOWLEDGE.
IT TAKES LONGER TO ACCUMULATE.
SO IS IT POSSIBLE SHOULD WE
CONSIDER WE ARE AT THE
INFLECTION POINT THAT IS
SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD.
BECAUSE THE DATA WHETHER
ANECDOTAL OR MORE QUALITATIVE
OR QUANTITATIVE DATA SHOWS
THAT IF WE ARE NOT AT AN
INFLECTION POINT WE ARE
GETTING THERE SO THEN THAT IS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE
DISCUSSIONS.
>> I REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU HAD
TO SAY AND I WISH THAT WERE
TRUE IN OUR FIELDS AS WELL.
I THINK IT USED TO BE TRUE AND
ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES IS MANY
UNIVERSITIES DO NOT WANT TO
HIRE SOMEONE WHO IS FACULTY
UNLESS THEY HAVE PRELIMINARY
RESULTS TO PULL IN TO ONE --
TWO OF THE OUR ZERO ONE I HAVE
A LOT OF POSTDOCS GO OUT TO
JOB INTERVIEW AND THEY HAVE
BEEN ASKED ABOUT OUR ZERO ONE
AND THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS.
THAT IS PART OF THE JOB
PROCESS WHICH TO ME IS BAD IN
A LOT OF WAYS.
AND PERHAPS THAT IS THE MOST
CREATIVE TIME AND THEY SHOULD
BE OFF IN THEIR OWN LABS.
SECOND, IT MEANS THEY ARE
TETHERED TO THE SCIENCE IN
POSTDOC BUT THEY CANNOT GO OUT
AND EXPAND BEYOND THAT.
TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF
PROBLEMS THEY WANT TO START.
SO THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE AND
ONE THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO ADDRESS.
IT IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE NOT
JUST FOR POSTDOC BUT FOR THE
SYSTEM.
AND WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES
AND THE MOST CREATIVE AND
GROUNDBREAKING SCIENCE THAT
YOU SPEND THE WHOLE POSTDOC
WITH PRELIMINARY RESULTS AND
SPEND YOUR WHOLE ASSISTANT
PROFESSORSHIP FOLLOWING THOSE
UP.
THAT IS STAGNANT.
THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW IS NOT
THE BEST FOR SCIENCE.
>> I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
LARRY FOR THE FINAL WORD THEN
YOU CAN CLOSE.
>> TAKE YOU FOR A VERY RICH
DISCUSSION I APOLOGIZE MISSING
A PORTION IN THE BEGINNING.
SO TO YOUR LAST POINT WE DO
HAVE AN AWARD WE ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO SUBMIT PRELIMINARY
DATA FOR THAT PRECISE REASON
SO THAT YOU ARE NOT TETHERED
TO YOUR MENTORS EFFORTS.
BECAUSE IT IS A ZERO-SUM GAME
THE SCALE OF RESOURCES THAT
YOU NEED FROM SOME OTHER
SOURCE OF INDUSTRY OR
FOUNDATION THAT IS SIGNIFICANT
LOOKING AT THE BACK OF THE
ENVELOPE CALCULATIONS
SUSPENDING OUR WAY OUT OF THIS
SO WE HAVE THIS CONTRACT WITH
ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTERS AND
FUNDAMENTALLY THAT IS PART OF
THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEM.
THE CONTRACT SAYS ONE GRAND
ISN'T ENOUGH ANYMORE WE
CONTINUE TO TRAIN PEOPLE IN
OUR IMAGE AND THOSE WHO HAVE
GONE ON TO INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC CAREERS
THAT ARE NOT AT THE BENCH OR
THE BEDSIDE BUT INTO POLICY
HAD TO FORGE THEIR OWN WAY
THEY HAD TO FIGHT AND CLAW AND
FIGURE OUT FOR THEMSELVES
WITHOUT TOO MUCH HELP FROM
ACADEMIA IN FACT I HOPE IT HAS
CHANGED NOW BUT FOR A LONG
TIME WAS LOOKED THAT YOU ARE
NOT REALLY A SCIENTIST.
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THEIR
CAREERS IN SCIENCE
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY HAVE
ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY FOR
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.
WE HAVE TO RETHINK THAT.
I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE
HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS BECAUSE
OF NEVER BEEN POSTDOC IT'S
INTERESTING TO LEARN THAT'S
WHY.
[LAUGHTER]
I AM ALWAYS LEARNING STUFF
ABOUT MYSELF.
BUT I THINK THE RICHNESS OF
THE CONVERSATION UNDERSCORES
THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS WE HAVE
TO PUT THIS INTO TANGIBLE VERY
SPECIFIC THINGS IF IT WAS EASY
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIGURED OUT
ALREADY.
THE OUTFIT THAT YOU WILL SEEK
AND SOUND WILL BE GREAT SOME
WILL BE NOT SO GREAT BUT YOU
HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT ALL
BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE LAYOUT THE POTENTIAL
OPTIONS.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM FOR ALL THE
REASONS PEOPLE ALLUDED TO IS
NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE AND THEN
IF YOU SPRINKLE IN THOSE
CHALLENGES THEN WE ALL
COLLECTIVELY WORRY I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING THE INTERIM
DISCUSSION IN JUNE AND THEN
WHEN THE GROUP COMES UP WITH
THE FINAL DELIBERATIONS I HAVE
NO DOUBT IF AND WHEN THE
TRANSITION TO A PERMANENT
DIRECTOR TO BE VERY INTERESTED
IN THIS TOPIC SO WE EMBRACE
THIS AS A GREAT SERVICE.
WE ARE PAST TIME.
THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH
US WE HAVE MORE TOMORROW I
HAVE A GREAT EVENING I
CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO
TOMORROW'S SESSION.