Translational Science Benefits
Policy & legislative benefits (Advisory activities)
Definition
Participation in advisory, standards, or other governmental or nongovernmental committees. Researchers may contribute to a wide range of committees, such as advisory committees, ethics or oversight committees, or topic-specific subcommittees. Participation is often voluntary, but sometimes paid, and can be a significant time commitment in addition to regular scientific activities.
Rationale
Through participation in expert committees, researchers can contribute to recommendations for a range of levels, including operations of institutions, grant funding, device manufacture, and drug regulation.
Guidance
Advice from authors on searching for information:
Data sources provided here are only a few examples of local, federal, and discipline-specific committee types. Committee lists are often found in the “Governance” sections of websites.
Resources & Data
Organizations, repositories, websites, and other sources where you can find more information:
Local
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science. The ICTS leadership structure has several governance committees to assess the progress and future strategies of the institute. Committees include a Governing Council, External Advisory Committee, Executive Committee, and Operations Committee.
General
- American Society of Hematology. ASH has several scientific committees that set research and policy agendas and identify research opportunities.
- National Institutes for Health. The NIH Center for Scientific Review houses study sections that review research grant applications submitted to NIH. Study sections are tightly focused to ensure adequate expertise from peer reviewers (i.e., AIDS Molecular and Cellular Biology, Pathobiology of Kidney Disease, etc.). The NIH also has many councils and federal advisory committees on which scientists serve.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has several topic-specific advisory committees whose members are experts in their field. Members serve on panels to provide recommendations. Committees include medical devices, patient engagement, pediatrics, and tobacco products.
Data Limitations
Challenges you may encounter while searching for information:
Websites vary in the degree to which they make the list of committee members public, and if so, whether the list is current. Direct contact with the institution may be required.
Publications
Articles, books, and other publications in translational science using the benefit:
- Atici EA, Erdemir AD. Ethics in a scientific approach: The importance of the biostatistician in research ethics committees. J Med Ethics. 2008 Apr;34(4):297-300. doi: 10.1136/jme.2006.019349.
- Kendler KS. A history of the DSM-5 scientific review committee. Psychol Med. 2013 Sep; 34(9): 1793-1800. doi: 10.1017/S0033291713001578.
- McComas KA, Tuite LS, Sherman LA. Conflicted scientists: The “shared pool” dilemma of scientific advisory committees. Public Underst Sci. 2005 Jul; 14(3): 285-303. doi: 10.1177/0963662505052891.
- Tan CE, Kyriss T, Glantz SA. Tobacco company efforts to influence the Food and Drug Administration-commissioned Institute of Medicine Report Clearing the Smoke: An analysis of documents released through litigation. 2013;10(5):e1001450. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001450.
Case Studies
Guiding Healthcare Workers and Governments on Treating Any Child with Cancer, Anywhere.
The ARIA Guide provides cancer management guidelines for a range of geographic and resource-diverse settings, freely available to healthcare providers worldwide through the ARIA Guide web portal
Clinical & medical benefits
Community & public health benefits
Economic benefits
Policy & legislative benefits
Building Collaborations to Improve the Care and Treatment of Children with Cancer in Mexico
Strengthens childhood cancer care in Mexico by expanding access to specialized diagnostics, fostering collaboration among healthcare institutions, and driving policy changes to improve treatment and outcomes.
Clinical & medical benefits
Community & public health benefits
Economic benefits
Policy & legislative benefits
Promoting Emotional Stability to Improve Cardiovascular Health in Chicago’s South Side Community
Adapting a mindfulness-based intervention for African American adults in faith-based organizations
Clinical & medical benefits
Community & public health benefits
Economic benefits
Policy & legislative benefits