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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 25
| Issue : 1 | Page : 3 |
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| Dental research-looking for funding and beyond |
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SM Balaji
Executive Editor, Indian Journal of Dental Research, Secretary General, ISDR/IADR India Division, Director, Balaji Dental and Craniofacial Hospital, Teynampet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 21-Apr-2014 |
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How to cite this article:
Balaji S M. Dental research-looking for funding and beyond. Indian J Dent Res 2014;25:3 |
A typical researcher is being "funded" to think more deeply in a structured and accepted scientific way about the mysteries of dentistry. Since dentistry was accepted as a separate fraternity, the tools of research/science have exorbitantly advanced, but sadly the approach to it has been static since then. The working of science funding is basically in a stand still mode and still relies on the "peer-review" mode. This has culminated to a situation that the most frustrating part of performing a research is getting the funding for research. There has been a common, misplaced, constant notion among academic circles that agencies fund on the merit of the individuals rather than merit and impact of the projects.
I would say that we typically "pass the buck" to the system. At the turn of the 21 st century, Indian research reports indicate that India's premier biomedical funding agency, the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) funding pattern was placed in such a way that of all projects funded, <10% was published in Indexed Journals and only 41 of 88 institution granted funding, published. The report further elaborated that lack of funds is not the problem. [1]
Funding actual research has never been a problem. Indian Government through its 321 universities, during 1996-2011, has spent 0.762% on its gross domestic product per capita [2] and the Government of India has promised to step it's expenditure in research. Creation of a separate research funding body is in progress, to set up Rs. 2000 crore fund for this process in the latest budget. [3] The agencies are now aware of the powers of crowd computing, multi-centric trials, open peer-review and massive collaborations.
This is the right time for funded research in India. More awareness in terms of Intellectual rights, [4] introspections [5],[6],[7] and conflict of interest [8] is gaining momentum in India. Government of India sponsored agencies in the likes of ICMR, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Biotechnology, etc., are periodically offering huge funds, which sadly remain unutilized. [9],[10] The factors that hinder proper allocations and utilization include "red tape, complex mandatory requirements, ignorance and almost zero percolation of the schemes to the grass-root level act as dampeners to access of funds that are aplenty." [4]
In this regard, it remains the collective duty of researchers to call for a strong and transparent funding process from existing systems. Announcement of priorities areas of work, creation of qualified and committed mentors and most importantly integrating research in to main stream education [11] is a need of the hour. Our society is much committed to bring in such a series of necessary steps. Hope this would be achieved with the support of all our members.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Nundy S. What can be done about Indian medical research? Natl Med J India 1998;11:1-2. 
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| 2. | Meo SA, Al Masri AA, Usmani AM, Memon AN, Zaidi SZ. Impact of GDP, spending on R and D, number of universities and scientific journals on research publications among Asian countries. PLoS One 2013;8:e66449.
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| 3. | Available from: http://www.profit.ndtv.com/news/budget/article-government-to-set-up-scientific-research-funding-agency- 380921. [Last accessed on 2014 Feb 24].
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| 4. | Satyanarayana K. The Indian public funded IP bill: Are we ready? Indian J Med Res 2008;128:682-5.
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| 5. | Kasoju N, Bora U. Improving the standards of scientific publishing in India. Indian J Med Res 2010;132:523-4.
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| 6. | Kumar L. What ails the medical research publications in India? Indian J Res Rep Med Sci 2012;2:1-2.
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| 7. | Thomas V. Misconducts in the publication of biomedical articles. Calicut Med J 2011;9:e1.
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| 8. | Das KK, Vallabha T, Ray J, Murthy PS. Conflict of interest-Serious issue on publication ethics for Indian medical journals. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2013;52:357-60.
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| 9. | Available from: http://www.icrier.org/page.asp?MenuID=24 and SubCatId=177 and SubSubCatId=309. [Last accessed on 2014 Feb 24].
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| 10. | Available from: http://www.atip.org/atip-publications/atip-reports/2007/6225-atip07-008-%20science-and-technology-funding-in-india.html. [Last accessed on 2014 Feb 24].
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| 11. | Reddy MV. Need to integrate student research in the medical course curriculum in India. Health Agenda 2013;1:45-8.
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Correspondence Address:
S M Balaji
Executive Editor, Indian Journal of Dental Research, Secretary General, ISDR/IADR India Division, Director, Balaji Dental and Craniofacial Hospital, Teynampet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.131045
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| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
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