New horizons for future research-Critical issues to consider for maximizing research excellence and impact
New horizons for future research-Critical issues to consider for maximizing research excellence and impact
Date
2018
Authors
Roger Adan, 0000-0001-8994-0661
John Card, 0000-0002-6148-7364
Derek Daniels, 0000-0003-3216-5128
Annette de Kloet, 0000-0002-7213-6957
Suzanne Dickson, 0000-0002-3822-5294
Eric Krause, 0000-0002-2718-3113
Christelle Le Foll, 0000-0002-6677-5488
Thomas Lutz, 0000-0002-5056-8548
Gustavo Pacheco-Lopez, 0000-0002-3458-197X
Linda Rinaman, 0000-0001-5999-8811
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Description
We live in an era in which the pace of research and the obligation to integrate new discoveries into a field’s conceptual framework are rapidly increasing. At the same time, uncertainties about resources, funding, positions and promotions, the politics of science, publishing (the drive to publish in so-called high-impact journals) and many other concerns are mounting. To consider many of these phenomena in depth, a meeting was recently convened to discuss issues critical to conducting research with an emphasis on the neurobiology of metabolism and related areas. Attendees included a mix of senior and junior investigators from the United States, Latin America, and Western Europe, representing several relevant disciplines. Participants were initially assigned to small groups to consider specific questions in depth, and the results of those deliberations were then presented and discussed over several plenary sessions. Although there was spirited discussion with sometimes differing opinions on some issues, in general there was good consensus among individuals and the various groups. While the discussions were wide-ranging, we have condensed the topics into three (albeit often overlapping) major areas: 1) General research issues applicable to multiple areas of translational research; for instance, animal models, sex and gender differences, examples of emerging technologies, as well as the issue of data reproducibility and related topics. 2) Funding issues, such as how to secure industry funding without compromising research direction or academic integrity, and the training of students and fellows, with a focus on how to optimally prepare trainees for the diverse potential career paths available. 3) Finally, specific research topics of interest were discussed, including whether peptides or other signaling compounds, or specific brain areas, have “thematic functions” or the challenges associated with investigating the function of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in the brain. We consider each in turn.
Keywords
BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA