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The NRC would carry the sole responsibility for analysis of program data, support-
ing studies of several kinds, impact studies, "needs statements", comparisons with
a variety of test data, and recommendations. Under certain circumstances outside
organizations may be engaged to perform selected tasks. The results would be com-
municated to the Secretary in a series of annual reports, to be transmitted to the
Congress.
The Committee believes that the activities for which NRC has sole and shared
responsibility could be carried out with an annual budget initially of about $1 mil-
lion (Table 1). The anticipated number of professional staff members required would
be 12, and a supporting staff of 15 members would also be needed. me Committee
would meet monthly at the start, and the panels at quarterly intervals
TABLE 1. Estimate of Initial Annual Costs
_
Personal Services
Fringe Benefits
Consultants
Committee & Panel Travel
Consultant Travel
Staff Travel
Communications & Shipping
Materials & Services
Commissioned Studies
Data Processing
Indirect Costs
$435,000
56,600
12,500
66,ooo
4, 000
10,000
7,200
7,200
100,000
36,ooo
264,400
Total $998,900
Maintenance of administrative records of training awards would be the respon-
sibility of NIH/ADAMHA. Extramural performers operating under NIH/ADAMEA or orga-
nizations conducting commissioned studies for the NRC would address other needs for
data and analysis.
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS
A.
The Committee recommends that the National Academy of Sciences accept the
invitation of the Secretary to conduct the continuing study mandated by
Title I of the National Research Act. The recommendation is based on the
belief: (1) that within the methodologic limitations outlined in this re-
port a productive start can be made during the current fiscal year toward
meeting the requirements specified in the law; to N +
be expected in ~= ~ I-- 1 ~
hi) that improvements can
=~4 Logy -GO ga-G~er and utilize needed information as experi-
ence is gained over the next several years; and (3) that the National
Research Council through the experience of its Commission or Human Resources
and its ability to call upon the skills of the scientific community is the
most appropriate agency to conduct the continuing study. The recommenda-
tion further assumes that sufficient agreement can be reached on the con-
ditions for the study as outlined below
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The continuing study is viewed as a long-term undertaking with major costs
that may involve at least three-year obligations. It is the Committee's
view, particularly in light of the s~ngle-year authorization contained in
the Act, that discussions be conducted with Congressional and Departmental
staff regarding a three-year commitment for continued support of the study.
C. An appropriate level of effort for an undertaking of the magnitude envi-
sioned in this report calls not only for the continuing study by the
National Research Council but also for data collection by NIH/ADAMHA and
extramural research by other organizations. me Committee believes that
an amount up to one percent of the ceiling authorized by law can be justi-
fied to support such a level of effort, including a need in the initial
year for approximately $1 million to underwrite the National Research
Council's continuing study.
D. The current legislation contains several provisions with which NIH/ADAMHA
has had little or no experience in the administration of training programs.
The Committee recommends that the effect of these provisions on the program,
notably the need for annual renewal of authorization' payback requirements,
and the specification of 25 percent of the appropriation for direct award
to individuals, be examined carefully by the committee for the continuing
study. An additional point that will merit scrutiny is the 3-year limita-
tion on support of any individual, particularly its impact on activities
such as the Medical Scientist Training Program and most predoctoral gradu-
ate study programs.
E. The present report calls attention to limitations in the adequacy of meth-
ods for projection of need for biomedical and behavioral research person-
nel and for determination of suitable levels of training support. The Com-
mittee believes that some of these limitations can be significantly reme-
died through further studies and that others can be offset by appropriate
administrative measures affecting training programs, measures that are re-
sponsive to market forces and conditions.
. ~
. ~ .
Since future requirements for personnel cannot always be predicted, the
Committee recommends experimentation with programs at both the predoctoral
and postdoctoral levels that can encourage the post-train~ng movement of
biomedical/behavioral scientists into specific research areas as opportuni-
ties arise, with due regard for individual desires and aspirations.
G. The Committee has noted the National Research Council's current studies of
the Nation's population of biomedical and behavioral research personnel and
its studies of the number and type of graduate students planning careers as
biomedica1 and behavioral scientists. It suggests the additional need to
observe trends at the earlier- stages of education as a means of detecting
significant fluctuations in the supply of scientific manpower early enough
to determine the reasons and permit appropriate policy decisions.
*
Representative terms from entire chapter:
behavioral research
