A 25-year analysis of the American College of Gastroenterology research grant program: factors associated with publication and advancement in academics.
OBJECTIVE
The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) has awarded research grants for 25 years. We assessed the characteristics of grant recipients, their current academic status, and the likelihood of publication resulting from the grant.


METHODS
Demographic data, the year and amount of award, title of project, and recipient's institution were extracted from ACG databases. Using ACG reports and medical literature search engines, we assessed publication based on grant-funded research, as well as career publication record. We also determined the current position of awardees. A similar analysis was performed for recipients of junior investigator awards.


RESULTS
A total of 396 clinical research awards totaling $5,374,497 ($6,867,937 in 2008 dollars) were awarded to 341 recipients in the 25 years between 1983 and 2008. The most commonly funded areas of research were endoscopy (22% of awards) and motility/functional disorders (21%). At least one peer-reviewed publication based on grant-funded research occurred with 255 of the 368 awards (69%) for 1983-2006 [corrected]. Higher award value was associated with subsequent publication. Of the 313 awardees over the same period, 195 (62%) are currently in academic positions [corrected]. Factors associated with staying in academics included higher award value (P < 0.01), a Master's degree (P = 0.02), and publishing grant-funded research (P < 0.01). The junior faculty career development award was granted to 27 individuals for a total of $3,000,000 (3,398,004 in 2008 dollars). Publication resulted from 90% of the funded projects, and 95% of awardees have remained in academics. Overall, the mean cost in grant dollars per published paper based on the research was $14,875.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of ACG grant recipients published the results of their research and remained in academics. Higher amount of award, holding an advanced degree, and publication were associated with careers in academics. The ACG research grant award program is an important engine of investigation, publication, and academic career development in the field of gastroenterology.
Crockett
Seth D
SD
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7080, USA.
Dellon
Evan S
ES
Bright
Stephanie D
SD
Shaheen
Nicholas J
NJ