Working Group on Science of Science
Introduction
As the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, NIH is the driving force behind decades of advances that have expanded scientific knowledge and improved health. As stewards of public funds, NIH continues to seek new ways to engage the research community, including science of science, which applies rigorous and empirical analysis to study how science is done, to help us understand the impacts of NIH policies and programs. NIH has a long history of engaging with researchers to generate evidence to inform improvements to its programs, policies, and processes. This includes making a wide array of grants-related data and statistics publicly available through the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT) website and providing outside researchers access to NIH administrative data. NIH also supports research to strengthen NIH decision making through the NIGMS Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise Program. Recently, the Office of Extramural Research and the Office of Evaluation, Performance, and Reporting launched a pilot NIH Science of Science Scholars Program that will pair science of science researchers with NIH staff to conduct in-depth analyses on NIH processes, programs and outcomes of NIH-supported research. In light of these efforts and other advancements in biomedical research, NIH is seeking continual improvement in generating evidence to inform its work and to drive more discoveries to improve health.
Charge of the Working Group
To maximize NIH’s use of evidence in decision-making, DPCPSI is seeking advice from experts to identify scientific areas with the greatest potential for improving upon NIH’s programs, policies, and operations. Specifically, the Council of Councils Working Group on Science of Science is charged with:
- Reviewing the efforts that NIH has undertaken to generate evidence about its programs, policies, and processes.
- Identifying significant gaps in knowledge where leveraging science of science and related research may better influence NIH decision-making.
- Providing recommendations on potential approaches that NIH could consider to enhance its use of the science of science and ensuing results.
- Providing recommendations for how NIH can engage the science of science research community and communicate results of science of science research.