Health research in academic health systems: time for a new model

Research, along with patient care and education, is a core element of the academic health system's tripartite mission; it is essential to the academic health system's societal commitment to advancing the public's health. Research at academic health systems in the United States is increasingly resource-constrained and, in important ways, the underlying financial model supporting it has reached a point of unsustainability. This commentary reviews the roles that health research at academic health systems plays in society, describes the ways in which the current model of health research is under strain, and proposes an evolved model and series of organizational and operational steps to consider in moving health research forward.