Read Tony’s perspective piece in the latest issue of Molecular Biology of the Cell about encouraging innovation in American scientific research by altering the funding system.
“Innovation is central to the scientific endeavor, and yet the current system of funding in the United States discourages innovation, especially in the young. Subtle alterations to the funding system, guided in part by the success of the European Research Council, could have major effects on encouraging innovation.”
Tony goes on to discuss the idea of turning the NIH K99 award system into an innovator award system for scientists at the postdoc level. He also discusses the advantages of the European group-leader system (exemplified here at the MPI-CBG), as well as the success of the European Research Council grant program, which encourages novel, interdisciplinary research.