Albert Einstein College of Medicine ( http://www.einstein.yu.edu/home/default.asp ) of Yeshiva University has updated its Strategic Research Plan ( http://www.einstein.yu.edu/home/downloads/strategic-research-plan-update-2010.pdf ), the guidepost by which research priorities for the College of Medicine are set and measured. The update is designed to keep Einstein's research enterprise on course, to determine which investigative areas should be expanded or redirected, and to identify new areas that were underappreciated when the original research plan was formulated. The release of the updated plan comes as Einstein NIH funding for federal fiscal year 2010 hit a milestone--nearly $200 million, a 32% increase over 2009 funding.
Einstein's first Strategic Research Plan, released in April 2007, has led to numerous advances—in stem cell research, genetics, epigenomics ( http://www.einstein.yu.edu/genetics/home.aspx ) and many other research areas. The revised plan identifies initiatives that will strengthen those areas while identifying new areas of research emphasis.
"The revised strategic research plan will have major implications for Einstein," said Allen M. Spiegel ( http://www.einstein.yu.edu/home/faculty/profile.asp?id=10431 ), M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean, who initiated the updating effort. "For example, it will influence which new researchers we recruit and affect our hospital affiliations ( http://www.einstein.yu.edu/home/affiliates.asp ) and campus master plan as well as our fundraising efforts, because gifts can create research programs."
The Strategic Research Plan Update identified seven high-priority research initiatives. The plan describes how each initiative will benefit human health, identifies potential opportunities for Einstein and outlines resources needed to successfully execute the plan including new equipment, additional laboratory space and new recruits.
The high-priority initiatives are:
Watch Dean Spiegel's remarks on NIH funding increase and strategic plan update. ( http://www.einstein.yu.edu/video/?VID=254&ts=einsteinon&tsa=tabs-3#top )