Advisory Panel on Research (APR)

The following charter of the AAMC Advisory Panel on Research was approved in November 1998.  For more information on the APR, contact Stephen Heinig, AAMC Division of Biomedical and Health Sciences Research, at 202-828-0488 or sheinig@aamc.org.

Charter

Background

Biomedical and health sciences research ranks among this nation's most critical priorities and key public investments.  The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and its membership recognize the importance of this investment and are committed to ensuring the continued strength of a broad-based national research program to improve the nation's health.  Congress and the American public have also affirmed their strong support for continued progress in medical research.  This is exhibited through generous increases in appropriations for the National Institutes of Health, which is the primary source of federal support for biomedical and health sciences research.  Substantial funds are also appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the Health Research Services Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  These and other agencies in turn are principal sponsors of research at AAMC medical schools and teaching hospitals.  Given the importance of this federal-academic partnership in medical research, it is incumbent upon the AAMC to represent the views of research institutions and individual scientists effectively and authoritatively, and to fulfill all responsibilities that this representation entails.

To assist the Association in meeting this mandate, the AAMC established in 1991 an Advisory Panel on Biomedical Research (APBR) to guide the Association's efforts in biomedical research advocacy, education, policy formulation, and strategy development.  The APBR has been highly productive over the years, making significant contributions to the development of Association positions and enabling important initiatives, such as the AAMC Group on Graduate Research, Education, and Training (GREAT).  Historically, this body has focused largely on the basic biomedical and behavioral research programs of the NIH and has not explicitly addressed other patient-oriented, health services, and epidemiologic research issues.  Profound changes in the organization, delivery and financing of health care have sharply intensified public interest in and concern with the latter areas of medical research.  To reaffirm the Association's recognition of the importance and critical interdependence of all these areas of scientific endeavor in advancing medical knowledge and promoting the public's health, the AAMC hereby renames the APBR as the Advisory Panel on Research (APR) and expands the number and representation of its membership.

Membership

The new membership of the Panel shall be composed of 20 members with roughly an equal proportional of members expert in the following areas:

• basic biomedical sciences;
• patient-oriented research; and
• health services and epidemiological research.

Members shall be appointed to staggered three-year terms (except initial appointees, whose terms may be shorter to allow for partial turnover in membership).  The chair shall be appointed to a three-year term, as well, by the President, AAMC.

Schedule and Agenda for the Panel

The APR will meet a least twice each year to discuss both research issues of immediate concern and those of a more chronic, long-term nature.  Projects and activities for the group include:

• Recommending and reviewing AAMC policy initiatives;
• Reviewing relationships with other organizations;
• Meeting and interacting with Federal agency officials and Congressional members and staff;
• Identifying new themes and concepts for advocacy efforts;
• Developing reports to articulate AAMC positions and priorities relevant to biomedical and health sciences research;
• Sponsoring forums to review current issues in biomedical and health sciences research; and
• Identifying areas for analysis or review.

The APR will provide guidance on the issues, among others:

• Research and funding priorities and policies;
• Organization and funding of medical research in academic medical centers (AMCs);
• Research relationships with industry;
• Research training issues (primary responsibility for training now rests with the GREAT Group);
• Research career development and mentoring;
• Sustaining the nation's research manpower pool.
• Broadening participation in medical research careers (with emphasis on women and minorities);
• Linkages between basic, patient-oriented, health services, and epidemiologic research;
• Promoting the ethical foundations of human subjects research, other ethical issues (in concert with other AAMC committees concerned with these matters);
• Public awareness of and education in research; and
• Promoting the humane use of animals in research;

Staffing of the Panel

The major staff support for the Panel is being provided by the Association's Division of Biomedical and Health Sciences Research under the direction of Dr. David Korn, AAMC Chief Scientific Officer (202-828-0509; dkorn@aamc.org).  Stephen Heinig, Lead Science Policy Analyst, is the staff director (202-828-0488; sheinig@aamc.org).  He is assisted by other members of the Division and Association staff.  When interactions with Congress are necessary, staff members of the Office of Governmental Relations will provide any necessary support.

Interaction with AAMC Officers

The Chairman and Chairman-Elect of the Association are ex-officio members of the Panel and will attend as many meetings as possible.  In addition to the individuals mentioned above, Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., Association President and CEO, and other AAMC executive staff will attend meetings of the Panel as available.  The Panel will report to the Association through several members who are on the Association's governance bodies, as well as through the Chairman and President.  Appropriate liaison will be maintained with the AAMC Council of Academic Societies, Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems and Council of Deans.