Interdisciplinary Research

Overview

Health research traditionally has been organized much like a series of cottage industries, lumping researchers into broad areas of scientific interest and then grouping them into distinct, departmentally based specialties. But, as science has advanced over the past decade and the molecular secrets of life have become more accessible, two fundamental themes are apparent: the study of human biology and behavior is a wonderfully dynamic process, and the traditional divisions within health research may in some instances impede the pace of scientific discovery.

To lower these artificial organizational barriers and advance science, this set of NIH Roadmap initiatives will establish a series of awards that make it easier for scientists to conduct interdisciplinary research. These new awards include funding for: training of scientists in interdisciplinary strategies; creation of specialized centers to help scientists forge new and more advanced disciplines from existing ones; supplements to existing awards which encourage interdisciplinary depth for an ongoing project; and planning of forward-looking conferences to catalyze collaboration among the life and physical sciences, important areas of research that historically have had limited interaction. For more information about the Exploratory Centers for Interdisciplinary Research, please go to http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/interdisciplinary/exploratorycenters/.

In addition to funded initiatives, the Interdisciplinary Research initiatives include non-funded projects that aim to change NIH policies and procedures. Chief among these is a change in how leadership of collaborative efforts is recognized. Rather than recognizing only a single Principal Investigator (PI) for every award, the NIH is moving toward recognition of multiple PIs for any award. This is a critical element for Interdisciplinary Research since this type of research so often begins and/or is maintained as team science. In addition, alternate review strategies for Interdisciplinary Research are being considered, since many interdisciplinary projects may not “fit” traditional review groups.

Interdisciplinary research integrates the analytical strengths of two or more often disparate scientific disciplines to create a new hybrid discipline. By engaging seemingly unrelated disciplines, traditional gaps in terminology, approach, and methodology might be gradually eliminated. With roadblocks to potential collaboration removed, a true meeting of minds can take place: one that broadens the scope of investigation into biomedical problems, yields fresh and possibly unexpected insights, and gives rise to new interdisciplines that are more analytically sophisticated. By establishing new awards aimed at building interdisciplinary research teams, NIH hopes to help accelerate research on diseases of interest to all of its components with an eye toward improving the nation's public health.

For more information on the Research Teams of the Future Interdisciplinary Research initiatives, contact Norman Braveman, Assistant to the Director, (301) 594-2089, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Braveman@nidcr.nih.gov.

Up to Top