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The Road From NIH Training Grants for Surgeons: What is the Return on Investment?

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Title: The Road From NIH Training Grants for Surgeons: What is the Return on Investment?
Authors: Demblowski LA; Office of Surgeon-Scientist Career Development, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD., Larrain C; Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD., Coxen A; Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD., Somervell H; Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD., Choo-Wosoba H; Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Office of the Clinical Director, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD., Steinberg SM; Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Office of the Clinical Director, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD., Zeiger MA; Office of Surgeon-Scientist Career Development, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
Source: Annals of surgery [Ann Surg] 2025 Dec 01; Vol. 282 (6), pp. 900-905. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 May 28.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0372354 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1528-1140 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00034932 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ann Surg Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Philadelphia, PA : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
MeSH Terms: National Institutes of Health (U.S.)*/economics , Surgeons*/education , Surgeons*/economics , Research Support as Topic*/economics , Biomedical Research*/economics , Biomedical Research*/education , Financing, Organized* , Training Support*/economics, United States ; Humans
Abstract: Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Objective: This study examines the success of surgeon-scientists compared with nonsurgeon physician-scientists in obtaining National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding after participation in a research training grant.
Background: Dedicated research time during postgraduate training for physician-scientists is advantageous for obtaining future independent funding from NIH.
Methods: NIH Reporter was used to identify F32 and T32 grants awarded to internal medicine and surgery departments from 2005 to 2015, and an internal NIH database was used to determine funding outcomes. Success rates were recorded for surgeon versus internist PIs who applied for either a mentored career grant or research project grant (RPG). The median time in years from the final year of the training grant and clinical graduation to the first awarded grant was investigated. χ 2 tests, Fisher exact tests, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used.
Results: A greater proportion of surgeons transitioned directly to an RPG, 27% (68 internist PIs) compared with 72% (63 surgeon PIs) ( P <0.001). Both T32 and F32 trained surgeons were able to obtain an RPG sooner than internists, taking a median of 5 years from the end of clinical training versus a median of 7 years for internists [ P =0.033 (F32), P =0.034 (T32)].
Conclusions: Although fewer F32 and T32-funded surgeons apply for subsequent NIH funding compared with nonsurgeons, more surgeons apply for an RPG instead of a K-grant. Remarkably, surgeons obtained independent funding sooner after clinical graduation compared with internists, despite the extensive gap in time between postgraduate training and first faculty appointment, an amazing accomplishment given their clinical training and surgical practice challenges.
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: NIH funding; academic surgery; surgeon scientists; training grants
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20250528 Date Completed: 20251113 Latest Revision: 20251113
Update Code: 20251113
PubMed Central ID: PMC12594105
DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006769
PMID: 40433685
Database: MEDLINE
Description
Abstract:Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest.<br />Objective: This study examines the success of surgeon-scientists compared with nonsurgeon physician-scientists in obtaining National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding after participation in a research training grant.<br />Background: Dedicated research time during postgraduate training for physician-scientists is advantageous for obtaining future independent funding from NIH.<br />Methods: NIH Reporter was used to identify F32 and T32 grants awarded to internal medicine and surgery departments from 2005 to 2015, and an internal NIH database was used to determine funding outcomes. Success rates were recorded for surgeon versus internist PIs who applied for either a mentored career grant or research project grant (RPG). The median time in years from the final year of the training grant and clinical graduation to the first awarded grant was investigated. χ 2 tests, Fisher exact tests, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used.<br />Results: A greater proportion of surgeons transitioned directly to an RPG, 27% (68 internist PIs) compared with 72% (63 surgeon PIs) ( P &lt;0.001). Both T32 and F32 trained surgeons were able to obtain an RPG sooner than internists, taking a median of 5 years from the end of clinical training versus a median of 7 years for internists [ P =0.033 (F32), P =0.034 (T32)].<br />Conclusions: Although fewer F32 and T32-funded surgeons apply for subsequent NIH funding compared with nonsurgeons, more surgeons apply for an RPG instead of a K-grant. Remarkably, surgeons obtained independent funding sooner after clinical graduation compared with internists, despite the extensive gap in time between postgraduate training and first faculty appointment, an amazing accomplishment given their clinical training and surgical practice challenges.
ISSN:1528-1140
DOI:10.1097/SLA.0000000000006769