Toward a sustainable biomedical research enterprise: Finding consensus and implementing recommendations

Area of Science:

• Biomedical research
• Research policy
• Science administration

Background:

• The US research enterprise is experiencing significant strain due to stagnant funding, workforce expansion, and complex regulations.
• These challenges increase costs and slow the pace of scientific discovery and innovation.
• Previous recommendations for resolving these issues have often lacked consistent implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze nine key reports on the US research enterprise published since 2012.
• To consolidate over 250 recommendations into a set of eight consensus recommendations.
• To propose implementation strategies for these consensus recommendations and identify areas needing further agreement.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and synthesis of nine reports addressing the US research enterprise.
• Consolidation of over 250 individual suggestions into thematic consensus recommendations.
• Identification of areas with and without community consensus.

Main Results:

• Eight consensus recommendations emerged from the analysis of nine reports.
• Key areas for improvement include funding, regulation, and workforce development.
• Specific challenges remain in achieving consensus on workforce diversity and stakeholder engagement.

Conclusions:

• Consensus recommendations offer a path forward for addressing systemic issues in US research.
• Implementation strategies are crucial for translating recommendations into tangible improvements.
• Further dialogue and consensus-building are needed for critical issues like workforce diversity.