Research is the foundation of countless achievements in science and medicine—and the shared calling of many in the orthopaedic community around the globe. In this post, we spotlight recent news with potentially broad implications for future research endeavors.
Of note, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has issued a special publication on the current state of the U.S. biomedical research enterprise, highlighting critical challenges it now faces and proposing solutions to avert a crisis: The State of the U.S. Biomedical and Health Research Enterprise: Strategies for Achieving a Healthier America.
As emphasized in the report, the United States’ global leadership in research is at risk of decline after decades of driving key advances in science and health that have had far-reaching impacts across multiple sectors. The U.S. biomedical research enterprise—defined as “individuals and organizations that conduct basic research, applied research, and experimental development as well as the pharmaceutical industry, health care, and public health”—also serves as an important economic engine.
The report points to a number of complex challenges that can hinder the ability of the research enterprise to achieve all it can, including a lack of high-level coordination and structural issues such as workforce instability and fragmented funding. Existing health inequities and evolving health threats compound these challenges.
The current situation and a proposed road map to sustain U.S. leadership are further discussed in a recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine by Reece and Dzau, members of the group that authored the report: Toward a Biomedical Research Enterprise That Better Serves the United States. Based on the analysis, they write, the group calls for “a bold reimagining and reconfiguration” to ensure that the research enterprise continues to serve the nation.
To revitalize the U.S. biomedical research enterprise, the NAM report proposes action in 5 priority areas: creating a national strategic vision, streamlining and coordinating funding, prioritizing health equity, improving federal coordination and applying convergence science, and developing a workforce for the future.
Reflecting on the report and analysis, JBJS Editor-in-Chief Dr. Mo Bhandari notes that “The challenges faced in biomedical research apply broadly to all surgical specialties, including musculoskeletal research advancements. Research with impact ensures a coordinated vision, a collaborative effort, and the development of highly qualified scientists to drive big ideas.”
Read the special publication from the National Academy of Medicine: The State of the U.S. Biomedical and Health Research Enterprise: Strategies for Achieving a Healthier America.