Factors affecting R01 grant funding among academic neurosurgeons over the last decade

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery Vol. 55; pp. 260 - 264
• Main Authors: Cuoco, Joshua A., Klein, Brendan J., Kar, Ayesha, Gosnell, Hailey L., Guilliams, Evin L., Benko, Michael J., Apfel, Lisa S., Entwistle, John J., Marvin, Eric A., Witcher, Mark R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Academic medicine; Allopathic physician; Medical education; Neurosurgery; Original Research; Osteopathic physician; Academic medicine; MPH; MS; Osteopathic physician; Neurosurgery; DO; NIH; PhD; MBA; Allopathic physician; R01; MA; MD; Medical education; MHS; MS, Master of Science; DO, Doctor of Osteopathic medicine; NIH, National Institutes of Health; MA, Master of Arts; MD, Doctor of Allopathic medicine; R01, Research Project Grant; PhD, Doctor of Philosophy; MHS, Master of Health Science; MPH, Master of Public Health; MBA, Master of Business Administration
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.06.002

Recent studies have reported a gender and medical degree disparity for those receiving Research Project Grants in surgical specialties. The aim of the present study is to analyze factors among academics neurosurgeons that correlate to higher amounts of R01 grant monies awarded. The National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results database was queried for neurosurgery funding between 2008 and 2018. Grant recipients were categorized among type of degree, secondary degree(s), professorship, gender, and h - index. Statistical analysis was performed. The National Institutes of Health awarded 480 R01 grants totaling $182,482,644 to 81 allopathic neurosurgeons between 2008 and 2018. No osteopathic neurosurgeons were awarded an R01 grant during this timeframe. There was a significant difference for type of professorship on the total awarded amount at the p < 0.05 level for the three types of professorship [F (2,78) = 4.85, p < 0.01)]. There was a significant difference for magnitude of h – index on total R01 monies (p < 0.00001). Males accounted for the majority of R01 monies (93.99%); however, no significant difference between average amount awarded and gender was identified (p = 0.86). A secondary degree was without significant difference for R01 amount awarded (p = 0.75). The present study establishes a medical degree disparity for academic neurosurgeons who receive an R01 grant. Statistically significant factors found to affect amount of R01 grant monies awarded were limited to type of professorship and magnitude of h – index. •$182,482,644 in R01 monies was awarded to allopathic neurosurgeons between 2008 and 2018.•No osteopathic neurosurgeons were awarded an R01 grant between 2008 and 2018.•There was a significant difference for type of professorship on total R01 monies.•There was a significant difference for magnitude of h – index on total R01 monies.