New NASPGHAN Research Agenda to Target the Public

Abstract

In March 2013, the US federal budget sequestration went into effect. The government-wide mandate imposed a 5% ($1.55 billion) cut in the fiscal year budget for 2013 of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A direct result is that approximately 700 fewer extramural grants will be awarded (1). Because funding success rates were already in decline (Fig. 1) (2), sequestration has only exacerbated the trend.FIGURE 1: The trend for the number of grant applications (blue), awards (green), and success rates (red) at the National Institutes of Health from 1998 to 2012 (2).In the face of diminishing federal funds, what can a professional organization dedicated to pediatric gastroenterology do to help sustain vital research? The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) has taken a proactive and multipronged approach. To augment research funding, the NASPGHAN Foundation offers several competitive grant awards annually to young and established investigators. Grant writing and career development workshops are in place to facilitate more successful extramural grant applications. The annual NASPGHAN meeting, research publications such as the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN), and annual fellow conferences offer a forum to promote the research findings of our members. In addition to these offerings, NASPGHAN leadership decided that an additional platform was necessary to convey to the public and policy makers critical priorities for research in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition. The NASPGHAN Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Agenda was, thus, developed (www.naspghan.org). It is a concise document, written for a lay audience by topic experts from the NASPGHAN membership, which highlights the pressing research needs in our field. The 7 topic areas are inflammatory bowel disease, functional and motility disorders, liver disorders, pancreatic disorders, allergy, intestinal failure and infection, and nutritional disorders. Although far from being exhaustive, we hope the colorful, succinct brochure will serve as a springboard for discussion with legislators, funding agencies, philanthropic organizations, industry, and other professional societies. It may also serve as a useful framework for trainees to identify promising research directions. NASPGHAN has already started using the Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Agenda. In June 2013, members of the research and advocacy committees met federal lawmakers at the US Capitol and members at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. The Agenda was positively received by both bodies. We also look to the JPGN readership as crucial ambassadors of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Agenda for the wider community. We hope you will use the Agenda to advocate for the research support needed to advance the diagnosis, care, and treatment of our patients. Suggested uses of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Agenda are as follows: Display copies in your clinic waiting area. Share a brochure with department and hospital leaders at a business meeting. Provide a copy to trainees who want broad ideas for research projects. Give copies to your hospital philanthropic foundation. Share copies with patient families who are interested in making a donation to local or national pediatric gastroenterology research initiatives. Share a copy with local, state, and national representatives.