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Lack of strategic funding and long-term job security threaten to have profound effects on cardiovascular researcher retention in Australia



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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 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.
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: | Climie, RE and Wu, JHY and Calkin, AC and Chapman, N and Inglis, SC and Mirabito Colafella, KM and Picone, DS and Tan, JTM and Thomas, E and Viola, HM and Wise, SG and Murphy, AJ and Nelson, MR and Nicholls, SJ and Hool, LC and Doyle, K and Figtree, GA and Marques, FZ |
Keywords: | cardiovascular, funding, tender equity, workforce |
Journal or Publication Title: | Heart Lung and Circulation |
Publisher: | Elsevier Australia |
ISSN: | 1443-9506 |
DOI / ID Number: | 10.1016/j.hlc.2020.07.010 |
Copyright Information: | Copyright 2020 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) |
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