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Why our biggest science breakthroughs may not be coming from NIH grants For more from Alexis, please visit her substack at https://alexisogdie.substack.com/ In my last post, I asked: What do taxpayers actually get from NIH-funded research? Today, I want to unpack another theme from the Bhattacharya–Huberman conversation: we’re not innovating enough—at least not with NIH funds. I’m fortunate to work in a place where incredible things are happening every day. New ideas become t

In my last post, I summarized the Bhattacharya–Huberman interview and listed key themes from their discussion. Now, I want to start unpacking them—beginning with a big one: How do taxpayers get their money’s worth from NIH-funded research? During the interview, several concerns came up: What’s the return on public investment? Is NIH funding really making us healthier? Are chronic diseases getting too much attention at the expense of overall population health? Is there enough

You might ask, “What made you watch a four-hour interview!?” (especially those of you who are waiting for me to respond to an email…) Jet lag. I was in Barcelona on day two of a meeting this past week, wide awake at 11 p.m., and stumbled on this NIH discussion while looking for clues about what’s coming next. I watched the first half that night and the rest on my flight home. I’ve also since listened to Bhattacharya’s Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on June 10 regardi

I still remember the moment I fell in love with rheumatology. I was in my internal medicine rotation at Georgetown and was assigned to work with these two rheumatologists on Friday afternoons at the Washington Hospital Center in DC. Because it was literally the first week of internal medicine for me, I just shadowed the rheumatologist and fellow (rheumatologist in training) as they met a woman who had this crazy array of symptoms occurring. I couldn’t imagine what could tie a

If you lead research right now, you can feel it in the air: the ground is shifting. Funding feels harder to predict. Review cycles feel more opaque. Institutional priorities are in motion. Meanwhile, biotech and health tech are accelerating full of opportunity, but increasingly crowded, noisy, and fast. Even when budgets stabilize, the next cycle can reopen the conversation, which means uncertainty isn’t a temporary glitch. So here’s the reframe: Uncertainty isn’t a detour. I

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your responsibilities as a leader? (If not, please tell me your secret.) Delegation is one of the most important skills for maximizing productivity and building a strong team, but it’s also one of the hardest to practice in real life. I recently listened to a talk by Leo Hopf, author of Stop Competing and Start Winning; The Business of Coaching and he said something that stuck with me: when we choose not to delegate and instead “just do it o

All research professionals struggle with tight deadlines and overloaded teams. It's part of the job. In today’s fast-paced environment, efficiency and access to expert resources have never been more crucial. Understanding the intricacies of staffing and research services can streamline your projects and reduce the pressures of research endeavors. Research Pathfinder adds tremendous value to the research ecosystem by saving time, cutting costs, and providing immediate access t

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed with a to-do list that stretches well beyond your available resources? In today’s fast-paced research environment, capacity and skills gaps can impede progress and strain teams. With the workload exceeding your team’s bandwidth or lacking the necessary expertise, navigating these gaps is essential for successful project execution. In this post, we will address how to effectively tackle these challenges by utilizing short-term contracto

In a world that values innovation more than ever, research professionals are often constrained by traditional methods of staffing and project management. Did you know that approximately 65% of researchers feel overwhelmed with their workload? This statistic highlights a significant pain point in the research community. In this blog post, we will delve into how adopting a flexible staffing model can transform the research landscape, making work not only more efficient but also

Managing a research project can feel like juggling flaming torches. Deadlines, data, collaborators, and countless moving parts demand your full attention. But guess what? You don’t have to do it alone. The right research coordination tools can transform chaos into clarity. They help you stay organized, communicate seamlessly, and keep your project on track. Ready to discover the best tools that will make your research life easier? Let’s dive in! Why You Need Research Coordin