On October 16-17, 2023, the National Academies Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation in collaboration with the Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine, convened a public workshop for participants to consider what is needed to support the next generation workforce – one that is resilient, culturally aware, and interdisciplinary. Workshop participants considered the types of expertise and disciplines needed to achieve the aspirations for a transformed clinical trials enterprise in 2030 and enable a workforce that can better support the evolving needs of drug discovery, development, and translation.
Background
In 2021, the Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a public workshop, Envisioning a Transformed Clinical Trials Enterprise for 2030, which served as a venue for people working across the drug research and development (R&D) lifecycle to reflect on the lessons learned over the past 10 years and during the COVID-19 pandemic and consider opportunities for the future. Workshop participants considered goals and priority action items that could advance the vision of a 2030 clinical trials enterprise that is more efficient, effective, person-centered, inclusive, and integrated into the health care delivery system so that the outcomes and experiences for all stakeholders are improved. To achieve this vision, it must be supported by a resilient, interdisciplinary, inclusive, and culturally aware workforce capable of supporting the evolving needs of drug discovery, development, and translation.
A planning committee of the National Academies organized a public workshop to explore the opportunities and challenges for preparing the next generation of experts in the field.
The public workshop featured invited presentations and discussions to:
- Examine the current landscape of U.S. academic, government, industry, and professional society training programs for preparing the next generation of drug R&D researchers and clinicians.
- Identify what types of expertise are needed and what disciplines should be included (e.g., nurses, physicians assistants, genetic counselors, research assistants, data scientists, engineers) to achieve the aspirations for a transformed clinical trials enterprise in 2030 and enable a workforce that can better support the evolving needs of drug discovery, development, and translation.
- Consider issues related to the lack of workforce diversity and approaches for engaging and preparing a more diverse person-centered drug R&D workforce, particularly at the clinician/principal investigator-level.
- Explore ways that stakeholders can better prepare the next generation workforce, including opportunities to develop career paths and incentives for academics, primary care, and community-based practitioners.
The planning committee organized the workshop, developed the agenda, selected and invited speakers and discussants, and moderated or identified moderators for the discussions. A proceedings of the presentations and discussions at the workshop will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.
Resources
Workforce Training Programs Spreadsheet
This spreadsheet is a non-exhaustive list of ongoing efforts compiled by the National Academies' staff to help inform workshop discussions. Supplemented by input from interested stakeholders, staff conducted an online search of U.S.-based in-person and virtual degree programs, certificates, symposiums, and other types of training opportunities aimed at preparing the future workforce in drug research & development. Following the workshop, the spreadsheet may be updated with relevant training programs. On the spreadsheet, use the "Filter" at the top of the screen to search and sort data.
If you would like a program added to the list, please contact Noah Ontjes (nontjes@nas.edu) for consideration.
Planning Committee
Cherié Butts (co-chair), Biogen
Jonathan Watanabe (co-chair), University of California Irvine School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Olujimi Ajijola, University of California, Los Angeles
Dowin Boatright, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Tammy Collins, Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Lola Fashoyin-Aje, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA
Marcus Hodges, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH
Heather Pierce, Association of American Medical Colleges
Damani Piggott, Johns Hopkins University
Amir Tamiz, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH
Pamela Tenaerts, Medable Inc.
Lamont Terrell, GSK
Benjamin Wilfond, University of Washington School of Medicine