Background

The past decades have seen a transformational shift in the understanding and treatment for neurological diseases affecting infants and children. These advances have been driven in part by the pediatric neurology physician-scientist workforce and its efforts. However, pediatric neurology research faces significant challenges from internal and external forces including work-life balance demands, COVID-19 pandemic effects, and research funding. Understanding the impact of these challenges on the perceptions, planning, and careers of pediatric neurology physician-scientists is needed to guide the research mission.

Methods

Our objective was to survey the research challenges, goals, and priorities of pediatric neurologists. In 2020 we conducted a cross-sectional, 28-question survey emailed to 1,775 members of the Child Neurology Society.

Results

One hundred fifty-one individuals responded to the survey. Most respondents were grant investigators (52%) and conducted clinical research (69%). Research areas included epilepsy (23%), neurodevelopmental and autism (16%), neurocritical care and stroke (11%), neurogenetics and neurometabolics (9%), neonatal neurology (8%), and others. The most common funding source was the National Institutes of Health (37%). Shared major research concerns were funding, utilization of remote technology, overcoming disparities, natural history and multicenter studies, global neurology, and diversification of the research portfolio. Commitment to continuing and increasing research efforts was evident.

Conclusions

Our survey demonstrates obstacles for physician-scientist researchers in pediatric neurology, but it also shows optimism about continued opportunity. Creative approaches to address challenges will benefit the research mission, maximize the current and future pool of researchers, and help improve the lives of children with neurological disorders.

中文翻译：

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儿科神经病学2020研究劳动力调查：挑战时期的乐观情绪

背景

在过去的几十年中，对影响婴儿和儿童的神经系统疾病的理解和治疗发生了转变。这些进步部分是由儿科神经病医师科学家的工作队伍及其努力推动的。但是，儿科神经病学研究面临着来自内部和外部力量的重大挑战，包括工作与生活的平衡需求，COVID-19大流行的影响以及研究经费。需要了解这些挑战对儿科神经病医师科学家的观念，计划和职业的影响，以指导研究任务。

方法

我们的目的是调查小儿神经科医师的研究挑战，目标和重点。2020年，我们进行了28个问题的横断面调查，通过电子邮件发送给儿童神经病学学会的1,775名成员。

结果

一百一十五个人回答了调查。大多数受访者是赠款调查员（52％）并进行了临床研究（69％）。研究领域包括癫痫症（23％），神经发育和自闭症（16％），神经重症监护和中风（11％），神经遗传学和神经代谢（9％），新生儿神经病学（8％）等。最常见的资金来源是美国国立卫生研究院（37％）。共同的主要研究关注点是资金，远程技术的利用，克服差距，自然历史和多中心研究，全球神经病学以及研究组合的多样化。致力于不断增加研究工作的决心显而易见。

结论

我们的调查显示了儿科神经病学对医师科学家的障碍，但也显示了对持续机会的乐观态度。解决挑战的创新方法将有益于研究任务，最大限度地利用当前和将来的研究人员，并有助于改善神经系统疾病儿童的生活。