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

Joshua A Cuoco; Brendan J Klein; Ayesha Kar; Hailey L Gosnell; Evin L Guilliams; Michael J Benko; Lisa S Apfel; John J Entwistle; Eric A Marvin; Mark R Witcher

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2020.06.002

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

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020 Jun 4:55:260-264. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.06.002. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Authors

Joshua A Cuoco^{1

2

3}, Brendan J Klein^{1

2

3}, Ayesha Kar², Hailey L Gosnell², Evin L Guilliams^{1

2

3}, Michael J Benko^{1

2

3}, Lisa S Apfel^{1

2

3}, John J Entwistle^{1

2

3}, Eric A Marvin^{1

2

3}, Mark R Witcher^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Carilion Clinic, Section of Neurosurgery, 1906 Belleview Ave, Roanoke, VA, 24014, USA.
² Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA.
³ Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.

Abstract

Background: 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.

Materials and methods: 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.

Results: 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).

Conclusions: 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.

Keywords: Academic medicine; Allopathic physician; DO, Doctor of Osteopathic medicine; MA, Master of Arts; MBA, Master of Business Administration; MD, Doctor of Allopathic medicine; MHS, Master of Health Science; MPH, Master of Public Health; MS, Master of Science; Medical education; NIH, National Institutes of Health; Neurosurgery; Osteopathic physician; PhD, Doctor of Philosophy; R01, Research Project Grant.