Statements The Changing Biomedical Research and Health Care Environments: Implications for Basic Science Graduate Education and Research in Pharmacy

Both the U.S. biomedical research environment and health care system are undergoing simultaneous change. Changes in these broad areas will impact professional education, graduate education, and research in schools of pharmacy. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the need for re-examination of the mission and value of research and graduate education programs in basic sciences1 in schools of pharmacy. Reviews of recent U.S. biomedical research funding trends and the present status of U.S. graduate education in basic sciences is presented. These reviews are followed by a discussion of the mission and value of research and graduate education programs in basic sciences in schools of pharmacy in light of both the changing biomedical research climate and the changing mission of professional practice in our evolving health care system. The continued necessity and viability of traditional research and graduate education programs in basic sciences in schools of pharmacy is questioned. The discussion reviews contributions of basic science research programs to pharmacy education, pharmacy practice, and the national research enterprise followed by a review of contributions of graduate education programs. Finally, recommendations are presented to guide schools of pharmacy in discussion of future directions for research and graduate education programs in basic science