Purpose
To provide strategic direction to the Board of Directors regarding research policy, advance ID research and federal funding priorities, strengthen the ID physician-scientist workforce, and establish IDSA as a leading voice on issues related to research on infectious diseases, including emerging research topics and barriers to research.
Responsibilities
- Make recommendations to the Board of Directors to promote ID research and develop and advance research policy objectives and positions.
- Engage with relevant federal agencies, Congress and other stakeholders to inform research policy and advance IDSA objectives.
- Monitor developments and make recommendations related to federal support for biomedical research.
- Develop new policy proposals as needed (e.g. legislative, funding, or regulatory proposals) to advance ID research.
- Review federal funding and biomedical research workforce policy proposals and develop IDSA responses for review by IDSA leadership.
- Develop white papers and other documents as appropriate to define emerging research and ID physician-scientist workforce policy challenges and opportunities and raise awareness among IDSA members, policymakers, media and other stakeholders.
- When requested, serve as media spokespeople on research policy issues, as allowable by members’ employers and in accordance with individual members’ areas of expertise.
- A commitment to ensuring that principles of inclusion, diversity, access and equity are applied throughout IDSA governanance.
Ideal Qualifications
Members should have expertise in at least one broadly-defined area of ID research including topics such as AMR, vaccines, precision medicine, host-pathogen interactions, HIV and other viral infections, fungal and parasitic infections, zoonotic infections and emerging infectious diseases, federal funding, and physician-scientist workforce and training.
Number of Members
Minimum of 12
Composition
Members shall include a Chair, Vice Chair and at least 12 members. HIVMA shall assign a voting representative. PIDS shall assign a non-voting liaison member. A non-voting industry advisor, Fellows Subcommittee liaison, and National Institutes of Health seat are also assigned to this committee.
Meeting Frequency
Two in-person meetings annually: full-day Spring Research Committee meeting (May/June) and two-hour
IDWeek meeting (October). Teleconferences to be held roughly quarterly, as needed, for a total of 3-5 meetings per year. Committee members will be asked to respond to email communications on a regular or as needed basis to provide input on emerging research policy issues and to help draft or provide feedback on draft IDSA research policy documents. Committee members may also be asked to represent IDSA at meetings with policymakers or other stakeholders. Committee members may also be invited to attend the annual IDSA-NIAID Research Careers Meeting, held immediately following the Spring Research Committee meeting. The RC Advisory Group will be invited to at least one committee meeting or event annually.
Estimated Time Commitment
1-2 hours per month; additional time may be required if member agrees to lead a project (e.g. drafting a white paper) or to represent IDSA at an external meeting.
Method of Appointment
The members shall be appointed by the Board of Directors with input from the President-elect in consultation with the CEO, committee chair, and staff liaison. Appointments will consider the need for a balance of individual areas of research expertise.
Term of Office
The Chair and Vice Chair shall serve for two years. Reappointment for one additional, consecutive, one-year term is permissible. Members shall serve three-year terms with no option for consecutive reappointment.
Accountability
Reports to Board of Directors
Staff Liaison
Director, Science and Research Policy