Lack of Strategic Funding and Long-Term Job Security Threaten to Have Profound Effects on Cardiovascular Researcher Retention in Australia.

Climie, RE; Wu, JHY; Calkin, AC; Chapman, N; Inglis, SC; Mirabito Colafella, KM; Picone, DS; Tan, JTM; Thomas, E; Viola, HM; Wise, SG; Murphy, AJ; Nelson, MR; Nicholls, SJ; Hool, LC; Doyle, K; Figtree, GA; Marques, FZ; Australian Cardiovascular Alliance,

Lack of Strategic Funding and Long-Term Job Security Threaten to Have Profound Effects on Cardiovascular Researcher Retention in Australia.

Climie, RE Wu, JHY Calkin, AC Chapman, N Inglis, SC Mirabito Colafella, KM Picone, DS Tan, JTM Thomas, E Viola, HM Wise, SG Murphy, AJ Nelson, MR Nicholls, SJ Hool, LC Doyle, K Figtree, GA Marques, FZ Australian Cardiovascular Alliance,

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Heart, lung & circulation, 2020, 29, (11), pp. 1588-1595
Issue Date:: 2020-11

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Climie, RE
dc.contributor.author	Wu, JHY
dc.contributor.author	Calkin, AC
dc.contributor.author	Chapman, N
dc.contributor.author	Inglis, SC
dc.contributor.author	Mirabito Colafella, KM
dc.contributor.author	Picone, DS
dc.contributor.author	Tan, JTM
dc.contributor.author	Thomas, E
dc.contributor.author	Viola, HM
dc.contributor.author	Wise, SG
dc.contributor.author	Murphy, AJ
dc.contributor.author	Nelson, MR
dc.contributor.author	Nicholls, SJ
dc.contributor.author	Hool, LC
dc.contributor.author	Doyle, K
dc.contributor.author	Figtree, GA
dc.contributor.author	Marques, FZ
dc.contributor.author	Australian Cardiovascular Alliance,
dc.date.accessioned	2021-06-18T04:48:00Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-24
dc.date.available	2021-06-18T04:48:00Z
dc.date.issued	2020-11
dc.identifier.citation	Heart, lung & circulation, 2020, 29, (11), pp. 1588-1595
dc.identifier.issn	1443-9506
dc.identifier.issn	1444-2892
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149628
dc.description.abstract	<h4>Background</h4>Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. Investment in research solutions has been demonstrated to yield health and a 9.8-fold return economic benefit. The sector, however, is severely challenged with success rates of traditional peer-reviewed funding in decline. Here, we aimed to understand the perceived challenges faced by the cardiovascular workforce in Australia prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Methods</h4>We used an online survey distributed across Australian cardiovascular societies/councils, universities and research institutes over a period of 6 months during 2019, with 548 completed responses. Inclusion criteria included being an Australian resident or an Australian citizen who lived overseas, and a current or past student or employee in the field of cardiovascular research.<h4>Results</h4>The mean age of respondents was 42±13 years, 47% were male, 85% had a full-time position, and 40% were a group leader or laboratory head. Twenty-three per cent (23%) had permanent employment, and 82% of full-time workers regularly worked >40 hours/week. Sixty-eight per cent (68%) said they had previously considered leaving the cardiovascular research sector. If their position could not be funded in the next few years, a staggering 91% of respondents would leave the sector. Compared to PhD- and age-matched men, women were less likely to be a laboratory head and to feel they had a long-term career path as a cardiovascular researcher, while more women were unsure about future employment and had considered leaving the sector (all p<0.05). Greater job security (76%) and government and philanthropic investment in cardiovascular research (72%) were highlighted by responders as the main changes to current practices that would encourage them to stay.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Strategic solutions, such as diversification of career pathways and funding sources, and moving from a competitive to a collaborative culture, need to be a priority to decrease reliance on government funding and allow cardiovascular researchers to thrive.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
dc.relation.ispartof	Heart, lung & circulation
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.hlc.2020.07.010
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Cardiovascular System & Hematology
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pneumonia, Viral
dc.subject.mesh	Coronavirus Infections
dc.subject.mesh	Cardiovascular Diseases
dc.subject.mesh	Biomedical Research
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Research Personnel
dc.subject.mesh	Employment
dc.subject.mesh	Financial Management
dc.subject.mesh	Financing, Government
dc.subject.mesh	Organizational Culture
dc.subject.mesh	Planning Techniques
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Research Support as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Betacoronavirus
dc.subject.mesh	Workforce
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Betacoronavirus
dc.subject.mesh	Biomedical Research
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Cardiovascular Diseases
dc.subject.mesh	Coronavirus Infections
dc.subject.mesh	Employment
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Financial Management
dc.subject.mesh	Financing, Government
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Organizational Culture
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Planning Techniques
dc.subject.mesh	Pneumonia, Viral
dc.subject.mesh	Research Personnel
dc.subject.mesh	Research Support as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Workforce
dc.title	Lack of Strategic Funding and Long-Term Job Security Threaten to Have Profound Effects on Cardiovascular Researcher Retention in Australia.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	29
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-06-18T04:47:57Z
pubs.issue	11
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	29
utslib.citation.issue	11

Abstract:

Background

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. Investment in research solutions has been demonstrated to yield health and a 9.8-fold return economic benefit. The sector, however, is severely challenged with success rates of traditional peer-reviewed funding in decline. Here, we aimed to understand the perceived challenges faced by the cardiovascular workforce in Australia prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We used an online survey distributed across Australian cardiovascular societies/councils, universities and research institutes over a period of 6 months during 2019, with 548 completed responses. Inclusion criteria included being an Australian resident or an Australian citizen who lived overseas, and a current or past student or employee in the field of cardiovascular research.

Results

The mean age of respondents was 42±13 years, 47% were male, 85% had a full-time position, and 40% were a group leader or laboratory head. Twenty-three per cent (23%) had permanent employment, and 82% of full-time workers regularly worked >40 hours/week. Sixty-eight per cent (68%) said they had previously considered leaving the cardiovascular research sector. If their position could not be funded in the next few years, a staggering 91% of respondents would leave the sector. Compared to PhD- and age-matched men, women were less likely to be a laboratory head and to feel they had a long-term career path as a cardiovascular researcher, while more women were unsure about future employment and had considered leaving the sector (all p<0.05). Greater job security (76%) and government and philanthropic investment in cardiovascular research (72%) were highlighted by responders as the main changes to current practices that would encourage them to stay.

Conclusion

Strategic solutions, such as diversification of career pathways and funding sources, and moving from a competitive to a collaborative culture, need to be a priority to decrease reliance on government funding and allow cardiovascular researchers to thrive.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149628