Orthopedic surgeon-scientist representation is low among National Institutes of Health grants for rotator cuff research

Nareena Imam ¹, Suleiman Y Sudah ², Joseph E Manzi ³

⁰Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.

Jses International +

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February 5, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for rotator cuff research is increasing, but orthopedic surgeons have low representation. Further research is needed to understand funding barriers for orthopedic surgeon-scientists.

Area Of Science

Orthopedics
Health Services Research
Medical Funding

Background

Rotator cuff tears and repairs are common orthopedic conditions.
Understanding funding trends is crucial for advancing research in this field.

Purpose Of The Study

To characterize National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for rotator cuff research.
To evaluate the impact and representation of orthopedic surgeons within this funding portfolio.

Main Methods

Utilized the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results database.
Analyzed rotator cuff repair and tear grants from fiscal years 2011-2021.
Calculated compound annual growth rates and compared funding by Principal Investigator (PI) characteristics.

Main Results

NIH funding for rotator cuff research grew by 11.0% annually, outpacing the overall NIH budget.
Orthopedic surgeon-scientists received 22.9% of the total funding, primarily through R01 grants.
Orthopedic surgeon-scientists demonstrated a higher h-index compared to other researcher types.

Conclusions

Despite overall growth, orthopedic surgeon involvement in NIH-funded rotator cuff research remains limited.
Investigating barriers to funding for orthopedic surgeon-scientists is essential for future research endeavors.

Keywords:

National institutes of health funding Research funding Research grants Rotator cuff Rotator cuff pathology Rotator cuff tear Surgeon-scientists