The Relationship Between OREF Grants and Future NIH Funding Success

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Research
• Medical Funding
• Scientist Career Development

Background:

• The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) is a key US funder for orthopaedic research.
• OREF aims to help investigators secure larger extramural funding, such as from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• This study evaluates OREF grant success in leading to subsequent NIH funding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the rate at which OREF faculty-level grants translate into NIH funding.
• To identify factors influencing the conversion of OREF grants to NIH funding.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of OREF grants awarded to orthopaedic surgeons (1994-2014).
• Analysis of grant types (basic science, clinical, epidemiological), awardee sex, scholarly productivity, and publication history.
• Assessment of subsequent NIH funding acquisition using NIH RePORTER.

Main Results:

• 22% of OREF grant awardees (27 of 126) received NIH funding.
• Career Development Grant winners had a 46% NIH funding conversion rate, significantly higher than other awardees (12%).
• Basic science grants were more likely to lead to NIH funding (OR, 4.70) and awardees had higher scholarly productivity.

Conclusions:

• OREF grants effectively identify and support researchers pursuing federal funding.
• The 22% overall and 46% Career Development Grant conversion rates compare favorably to the NIH success rate (18% in 2014).
• OREF funding serves as a valuable benchmark for developing orthopaedic clinician-scientists.