Editorial Reaching Out to Young Investigators Roberto Bolli
I
t is self-evident that the future of biomedical research depends on the development of the next generation of investigators. Supporting young investigators has always been a core mission of the American Heart Association, one of its most distinguished and noble accomplishments. As an official journal of the American Heart Association, the editors and I think that Circulation Research must also contribute to this mission. Our view that young investigators are a key audience of the journal has already resulted in several initiatives.1 For example, a major reason for the introduction of Profiles in Cardiovascular Science was our desire to highlight role models that could inspire and guide early career investigators.2 More recently, the introduction of New Leaders in Cardiovascular Science3,4 was similarly motivated by our desire to offer outstanding examples to scientists who are beginning their journey in biomedical research.5 To help young investigators, we have also published “How to Obtain a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-Sponsored K08 and K99/R00 Grant in the Current Funding Climate.”6 In addition, every year, we invite the finalists of the Marcus and Katz Awards to submit their articles to Circulation Research. In keeping with this tradition, we are pleased to publish, in this issue of Circulation Research, two Letters to a Young Investigator. The first, by Maria Kontaridis,7 is a treasure trove of sage advice to early career scientists investigators who wish to apply for a K award. The second, by Yibin Wang,8 deals with the difficult issue of rejection; this insightful and delightful essay teaches survival skills that are essential when investigators face the inevitable frustration of having a grant or an article rejected. Rejection is hard on everybody, but it is harder on younger individuals who are not accustomed to it and often do not have enough resources to overcome it. Both of these articles offer precious advice and practical suggestions that we think will be useful not only to young but also notso-young readers. The idea of publishing Letters to a Young Investigator arose from presentations made at the 2013 meeting of the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Science Council in Las Vegas and thus highlights the close ties between the journal and Council it serves. As the official journal of the Basic Cardiovascular Science Council, Circulation Research strongly endorses the Council’s focus on programs and initiatives targeted at young investigators. The common theme of the two articles is that the development of a successful career requires a well-defined set of
qualities (which, sadly, are becoming increasingly rare in young generations): hard work (by far, the most important), perseverance, patience, ability to postpone gratification, attention to detail, excellent writing skills, and willingness to make sacrifices. Although our contemporary culture often promotes their opposites, these virtues and skills remain the pillars on which a successful early career is built. Without them, it is impossible to succeed, no matter how talented a person may be. The absolute importance of these qualities becomes even more apparent in the current funding environment, in which the probability of rejection is greater than ever, and in the current medical environment, in which physicians find it more difficult than ever to have protected time for research. Only those with strong will, iron-clad motivation, willingness to sacrifice, and above all, tenacity and hard work will make it. The most important advice I can offer to young investigators is this: If you want to succeed, there are no short cuts, no easy ways around, no tricks; the secret is just good old-fashioned hard work and sacrifice. As Thomas Edison famously said, “Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” I hope that early career investigators, as well as more senior investigators, will find these articles useful. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Disclosures None.
References 1. Bolli R. The new circulation research: a manifesto. Circ Res. 2010;106:216–226. 2. Bolli R, the Editors. Circulation research introduces profiles in cardiovascular science. Circ Res. 2010;106:419. 3. Williams R. Stefanie dimmeler: passionate, persistent, and highly productive. Circ Res. 2013;113:962–964. 4. Williams R. Jeffery molkentin: delves into cell death. Circ Res. 2014;114:239–241. 5. Bolli R. Announcing “New Leaders in Cardiovascular Science.” Circ Res. 2013;113:1098. 6. Houser SR. How to obtain a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored K08 and K99/R00 grant in the current funding climate. Circ Res. 2012;110:907–909. 7. Kontaridis MI. How to get a K award: it is not just about the science. Circ Res. 2014;114:941–943. 8. Wang Y. Blind dates in sciences: dealing with rejection in peer review. Circ Res. 2014;114:944–946. Key Words: Editorials
The opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily those of the editors or of the American Heart Association. From the Division of Cardiology, University of Louisville, KY. Correspondence to Roberto Bolli, Division of Cardiology, University of Louisville, ACB Third Floor, 550 S. Jackson St, Louisville, KY. (Circ Res. 2014;114:930.) © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc. Circulation Research is available at http://circres.ahajournals.org DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.303709
Downloaded from http://circres.ahajournals.org/ at NY UNIV MED CTR LIBR on May 31, 2015 930
Reaching Out to Young Investigators Roberto Bolli Circ Res. 2014;114:930 doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.303709 Circulation Research is published by the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 Copyright © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0009-7330. Online ISSN: 1524-4571
The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the World Wide Web at: http://circres.ahajournals.org/content/114/6/930
Permissions: Requests for permissions to reproduce figures, tables, or portions of articles originally published in Circulation Research can be obtained via RightsLink, a service of the Copyright Clearance Center, not the Editorial Office. Once the online version of the published article for which permission is being requested is located, click Request Permissions in the middle column of the Web page under Services. Further information about this process is available in the Permissions and Rights Question and Answer document. Reprints: Information about reprints can be found online at: http://www.lww.com/reprints Subscriptions: Information about subscribing to Circulation Research is online at: http://circres.ahajournals.org//subscriptions/
Downloaded from http://circres.ahajournals.org/ at NY UNIV MED CTR LIBR on May 31, 2015
I
t is self-evident that the future of biomedical research depends on the development of the next generation of investigators. Supporting young investigators has always been a core mission of the American Heart Association, one of its most distinguished and noble accomplishments. As an official journal of the American Heart Association, the editors and I think that Circulation Research must also contribute to this mission. Our view that young investigators are a key audience of the journal has already resulted in several initiatives.1 For example, a major reason for the introduction of Profiles in Cardiovascular Science was our desire to highlight role models that could inspire and guide early career investigators.2 More recently, the introduction of New Leaders in Cardiovascular Science3,4 was similarly motivated by our desire to offer outstanding examples to scientists who are beginning their journey in biomedical research.5 To help young investigators, we have also published “How to Obtain a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-Sponsored K08 and K99/R00 Grant in the Current Funding Climate.”6 In addition, every year, we invite the finalists of the Marcus and Katz Awards to submit their articles to Circulation Research. In keeping with this tradition, we are pleased to publish, in this issue of Circulation Research, two Letters to a Young Investigator. The first, by Maria Kontaridis,7 is a treasure trove of sage advice to early career scientists investigators who wish to apply for a K award. The second, by Yibin Wang,8 deals with the difficult issue of rejection; this insightful and delightful essay teaches survival skills that are essential when investigators face the inevitable frustration of having a grant or an article rejected. Rejection is hard on everybody, but it is harder on younger individuals who are not accustomed to it and often do not have enough resources to overcome it. Both of these articles offer precious advice and practical suggestions that we think will be useful not only to young but also notso-young readers. The idea of publishing Letters to a Young Investigator arose from presentations made at the 2013 meeting of the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Science Council in Las Vegas and thus highlights the close ties between the journal and Council it serves. As the official journal of the Basic Cardiovascular Science Council, Circulation Research strongly endorses the Council’s focus on programs and initiatives targeted at young investigators. The common theme of the two articles is that the development of a successful career requires a well-defined set of
qualities (which, sadly, are becoming increasingly rare in young generations): hard work (by far, the most important), perseverance, patience, ability to postpone gratification, attention to detail, excellent writing skills, and willingness to make sacrifices. Although our contemporary culture often promotes their opposites, these virtues and skills remain the pillars on which a successful early career is built. Without them, it is impossible to succeed, no matter how talented a person may be. The absolute importance of these qualities becomes even more apparent in the current funding environment, in which the probability of rejection is greater than ever, and in the current medical environment, in which physicians find it more difficult than ever to have protected time for research. Only those with strong will, iron-clad motivation, willingness to sacrifice, and above all, tenacity and hard work will make it. The most important advice I can offer to young investigators is this: If you want to succeed, there are no short cuts, no easy ways around, no tricks; the secret is just good old-fashioned hard work and sacrifice. As Thomas Edison famously said, “Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” I hope that early career investigators, as well as more senior investigators, will find these articles useful. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Disclosures None.
References 1. Bolli R. The new circulation research: a manifesto. Circ Res. 2010;106:216–226. 2. Bolli R, the Editors. Circulation research introduces profiles in cardiovascular science. Circ Res. 2010;106:419. 3. Williams R. Stefanie dimmeler: passionate, persistent, and highly productive. Circ Res. 2013;113:962–964. 4. Williams R. Jeffery molkentin: delves into cell death. Circ Res. 2014;114:239–241. 5. Bolli R. Announcing “New Leaders in Cardiovascular Science.” Circ Res. 2013;113:1098. 6. Houser SR. How to obtain a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored K08 and K99/R00 grant in the current funding climate. Circ Res. 2012;110:907–909. 7. Kontaridis MI. How to get a K award: it is not just about the science. Circ Res. 2014;114:941–943. 8. Wang Y. Blind dates in sciences: dealing with rejection in peer review. Circ Res. 2014;114:944–946. Key Words: Editorials
The opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily those of the editors or of the American Heart Association. From the Division of Cardiology, University of Louisville, KY. Correspondence to Roberto Bolli, Division of Cardiology, University of Louisville, ACB Third Floor, 550 S. Jackson St, Louisville, KY. (Circ Res. 2014;114:930.) © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc. Circulation Research is available at http://circres.ahajournals.org DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.303709
Downloaded from http://circres.ahajournals.org/ at NY UNIV MED CTR LIBR on May 31, 2015 930
Reaching Out to Young Investigators Roberto Bolli Circ Res. 2014;114:930 doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.114.303709 Circulation Research is published by the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 Copyright © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0009-7330. Online ISSN: 1524-4571
The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the World Wide Web at: http://circres.ahajournals.org/content/114/6/930
Permissions: Requests for permissions to reproduce figures, tables, or portions of articles originally published in Circulation Research can be obtained via RightsLink, a service of the Copyright Clearance Center, not the Editorial Office. Once the online version of the published article for which permission is being requested is located, click Request Permissions in the middle column of the Web page under Services. Further information about this process is available in the Permissions and Rights Question and Answer document. Reprints: Information about reprints can be found online at: http://www.lww.com/reprints Subscriptions: Information about subscribing to Circulation Research is online at: http://circres.ahajournals.org//subscriptions/
Downloaded from http://circres.ahajournals.org/ at NY UNIV MED CTR LIBR on May 31, 2015
