Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Of course, it is possible, perhaps likely, that the judgment of the administra-
tors for these scientifi c and medical problems was correct and those of us
working on these collaborative projects needed to move on or quit doing this
research. Only time and further research will answer these questions.
Nonetheless, when such decisions are made in the midst of novel productive
collaborative research, it has an immediate and lasting impact on the future
aspirations, especially of the more junior people involved. From my experience
the young graduate and medical students and postdocs involved in these
“failed” projects move away from research and take other career paths. In a
few cases, they completely leave science. Is this relevant to the future of col-
laborative research? Who can say?
7.3
CONCLUDING DISCUSSION
Virtually all important and lasting science is a group and collective enterprise.
Great advances in the understanding of our universe have been the result of
efforts of many individuals often from diverse areas of science. If this is the
case, then it would seem obvious that we would make greater progress in
science, especially for highly complex scientifi c problems such as the underly-
ing mechanism of human health and disease and how we might most effec-
tively promote the former and be able to prevent and, if not prevent, treat the
latter, if we more often and more effectively collaborate with each other. This
clearly will require some fundamental changes in our personal behavior but
even more so in our cultural, institutional, and power structures. Psychologists
and other scientists who study human behavior have found that most humans
fi nd greatest happiness and fulfi llments when they do things and accomplish
things with their fellow human beings. It seems increasingly clear that promot-
ing and rewarding collaborative research result in a win-win situation for both
the scientists who do the research and the society which benefi ts from it.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank my many scientifi c collaborators who have made my scientifi c career both
productive and satisfying. I am grateful for their friendship and kindness, but especially
for their criticisms and challenges to my scientifi c ideas and hypotheses. These espe-
cially have led to new ideas, new approaches, and new insights into the chemistry and
biology of life for which I am eternally grateful.
REFERENCES
1. Hruby VJ . Peptide science: Exploring the use of chemical principles and interdis-
ciplinary collaboration for understanding life processes. J Med Chem 2003 ; 46 :
4215 - 4231 .
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