American Gastroenterological Association - Advancing the Science and Practice of Gastroenterology

Importance of Training Young Scientists

by James J. Galligan, PhD, AGAF

The AGA strives to enhance the research enterprise directed at improving gastrointestinal health and treating gastrointestinal diseases. An effective research enterprise requires a critical mass of investigators who have the knowledge and skills required to answer complex biomedical questions. Sustaining this critical mass requires an influx of new investigators into gastroenterology research. The primary source would be young scientists, who are developing the skills required for a successful scientific career. Influx of established investigators from other fields of biomedical research would also enhance the pool of gastroenterology investigators. Several policies can be implemented to provide training for investigators focused on gastrointestinal functions and disorders.  

1. Biomedical research is interdisciplinary with an emphasis on near term outcomes that impact human health. Research training must emphasize an interdisciplinary approach and target basic, clinical and translational investigators. Training should include exposure to a variety of disciplines that include the physical sciences, engineering, computational biology epidemiology and public health and advanced imaging technologies. 
2. Trainee awareness of the broad impact on human health and the costs to the health care system caused by gastrointestinal diseases will heighten the profile of these problems. AGA will become engaged in activities that will increase the profile of gastrointestinal diseases amongst medical and other professional students engaged in biomedical education in order to showcase gastroenterology research opportunities.
3. Attracting new investigators to gastroenterology research would be facilitated by the perception that this is a vibrant, dynamic and well-supported field. Availability of research training support from a variety of funding agencies in the form of student and postdoctoral fellowships would strengthen this perception. There are limited opportunities for pre-doctoral students, particularly PhD students, to compete for fellowship funds at this time. Enhancement of these opportunities would strengthen gastroenterology research training and increase the pool of young investigators interested in this important topic area.
4. National funding agencies emphasize translational research with outcomes that improve human health. This shift in emphasis requires redirecting research activities to those that will have near-term impact on human health. Effective translational research requires productive collaborations between basic scientists and clinicians. AGA will act to enhance translational training activities to facilitate basic science-clinical research collaborations.  
5. The AGA will establish working relationships with professional societies (American Physiological Society for example) that have shared interests relevant to research training. This would help make use of limited resources to support training activities for young or established investigators studying gastrointestinal disease. 
6. Effective investment in research training requires a model that describes the optimal number of investigators and related personnel that will be needed now and in the future in order to advance science and promote human health. This will require knowledge of the current number of gastroenterology investigators and an assessment of future needs. The model will also require an assessment of current and future availability of domestic and international trainees. It will be critical to match investments in training with anticipated employment opportunities and research funding. AGA will work with federal agencies and other relevant organizations to establish a model that will guide appropriate investment in research training. 
7. The AGA will support and encourage training efforts that lead to a diverse research workforce and that represents the diversity of the patient population whose health the AGA seeks to improve. Diversity in research training efforts will target gender, ethnicity, those with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged. The AGA will support and encourage research training throughout the broad academic community. This will ensure that a broad spectrum of investigators have opportunities to contribute to the gastroenterology research enterprise.