IOM Begins Study of NIH Research
Centers
February 14, 2003 - The Institute of Medicine (IOM)
has convened a committee of researchers and health advocates
to examine the role of "centers of excellence" in
NIH extramural research. The Committee, chaired by Dr. Ronald
Estabrook of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical
School convened its first public meeting in Washington, DC
on Feb. 6. Congress asked the IOM to review NIH centers in
response to numerous requests from patient and public health
advocates to create centers targeting various diseases or
other areas of medical research. Congress hopes to understand
the criteria and process by which NIH determines if research
centers might effectively address new scientific opportunities
or medical needs, and whether NIH addresses these criteria
appropriately and consistently. Presenters to the committee
included Ken Berns, M.D., of Mt. Sinai Medical Center and
School of Medicine, Ruth Kirschstein, M.D., Special Assistant
to the NIH Director, Judy Vaitukaitis, M.D., Director of the
National Center for Research Resources, Roger Bulger, M.D.,
President of the Association of Academic Health Centers, and,
David Korn, M.D., AAMC Senior Vice President for Biomedical
and Health Sciences Research.
Dr. Korn spoke in support of extramural research centers
as one of several mechanisms affording NIH flexibility in
accomplishing its multifaceted public health mission. He argued
that centers should not be established in the absence of a
strong base of research accomplishment and scientific opportunity,
and that NIH must exercise strong and decisive management
to ensure that centers sustain rigorous and competitive research
programs or that they be discontinued. Citing the AAMC's Task
Force on Clinical Research, Dr. Korn noted that NCI's Comprehensive
Cancer Centers exemplify the ability of centers to integrate
basic and clinical research with patient care and community
outreach. The IOM committee's questions to presenters and
its own discussions focused on a wide range of issues, including
the advisability of providing sunset provisions for newly
established centers and opportunities for empirically measuring
the performance of centers in comparison to other research
mechanisms.
Information:
Stephen Heinig, Senior Research Fellow
AAMC Biomedical Health Sciences Research
sheinig@aamc.org
(202) 828-0488
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