Conclusions
Has CBCRP encouraged high quality researchers from a wide variety of disciplines?
The quality of the postdoctoral scholars funded by CBCRP during the first four years of the program can be assessed in part by publications and patents produced by the research and by the additional funds for breast cancer research obtained by the scholars (see conclusions below for data on these indicators). Data gathered from this study indicate that CBCRP did indeed fund a group of high quality, talented researchers during the first four years of the program. When examining the variety of disciplines represented by this group of postdoctoral scholars, we found that CBCRP funded at least one grant in each of the priority areas during the first four funding cycles; however, the portfolio lacks balance. The majority of the awards have gone to scholars focusing their research in pathogenesis. The CBCRP staff and Council are aware of this imbalance and have taken steps to address it. Evaluation of the postdoctoral program in another four to five years will help determine whether their efforts have been successful.
Has CBCRP helped to develop the careers of the postdoctoral scholars?
Three areas of the survey addressed this question. First, career gains identified by respondents indicate that more than half felt that the CBCRP fellowship helped them to gain recognition, self-confidence, a higher level position and skills to become a better principal investigator among others. Also, about half of the respondents said the fellowship helped them secure a faculty position (or equivalent) in research. Publications, presentations, patents and awards resulting from the CBCRP funded research also helped develop the careers of the recipients. Over 80% have published at least one paper from their CBCRP funded postdoctoral research and as a group they have published over 108 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Finally, almost half of the respondents have been able to obtain additional funding for breast cancer research based on the work they did with their CBCRP funds. These data indicate that CBCRP funding has enhanced several success parameters associated with career development.
Has CBCRP recruited new researchers into breast cancer research?
Data from this study show that CBCRP has recruited new researchers into breast cancer. Forty-four percent of the respondents used the CBCRP postdoctoral fellowship to gain first time experience in breast cancer research. Of these, over 70% have stayed in the field. Additionally, 27% said they would not be involved in breast cancer research today without the CBCRP support. These results suggest that a significant proportion of CBCRP postdoctoral scholars utilized the CBCRP postdoctoral fellowship to move into and then stay in breast cancer research.
Has CBCRP helped to retain breast cancer researchers?
About half of the respondents were already doing breast cancer related research when they applied for the postdoctoral fellowship. This suggests that CBCRP has funded a significant amount of researchers already committed to breast cancer research. Furthermore, 67% of the respondents are still involved in breast cancer research. Importantly, 62% said that the fellowship helped them to stay in the field by giving them the chance to write and publish papers, provided groundwork for the rest of their career, giving them background and training, and helping them to continue working on a project they had already begun.
Has CBCRP helped to fund promising new avenues of breast cancer research that have continued?
The indicators that most answer this question include how much respondents were able to publish and present their work and whether or not additional funds were obtained based on the work funded by CBCRP. As was stated above, over 80% of respondents published at least one paper based on the work they did with the CBCRP funds and over 108 papers were published in total. Additionally, respondents revealed that they gave more than 78 presentations based on the research they conducted with CBCRP funds, thus, sharing their progress with colleagues. When examining funding obtained based on findings from the postdoctoral fellow's work, we found that 51 grants totaling over $36 million dollars continued, at least partially, the avenues of research begun with the CBCRP funding. These figures indicate that CBCRP's investment in this small group of postdoctoral scholars has helped to begin and/or continue promising avenues of research.
