The Council for Pediatric Research

Comments THE COUNCIL FOR PEDIATRIC R E S E A R C H This Council, essentially a special committee of the Academy of Pediatrics, presented at the Academy meeting in Cincinnati its final report f o r the trial period covered by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. This report, while perhaps disappointing from the financial point of view, indicated clearly that there are important possibilities in the Council's plan of operation, and that a continuance of its activities, accompanied by a search for more reliable methods of financing them, is highly desirable. The Council's work has been along several lines. Its first effort, which has been cqntinuous, was to obtain as complete information as possible, by means both of personal visits and responses to questionnaires, regarding research facilities in pediatric clinics and laboratories in the United States and Canada: This information covers equipment, including financial support and its sources; and personnel, their training and special interests; and research in progress, contemplated or possible when funds are available. While the data are not actually complete, there is at hand a really excellent directory of these clinics and laboratories, cross-indexed to make such information readily available. A similar effort has been made to become acquainted with leading manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, foods, etc., .who cater to the pediatric trade, and who are potential sources of grants for research. Agreeable relations have been established with many such firms. Attempts to establish connections with philanthropic foundations or individual philanthropists who might subsidize research through the Council have not so far been especially successful. The chief aim of the Council has been, of course, to obtain grants for research to be allocated by the Council to clinics and laboratories best fitted to handle the particular project in view. Progress in this line was slow, as was to be expected. During the first year of the Council's existence a number of inquiries were received, but little practical was accomplished. During the second year more tangible results were obtained, and at the end of the trial period the Council has to its credit a number of important grants from such well-known companies as Mead, Johnson and Co., the Borden Company, Schering & Glatz, and the Staley Manufacturing Company. These grants have totaled approximately $22,500.00 of which $20,000 has gone to the clinics and laboratories, and $2250 to the Council in fees for its services. These grants have been of great 137

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importance to the recipients. In nearly every case they have helped to keep in operation clinics rather hard pressed for funds, and in every instance have enabled promising young investigators to continue their studies when otherwise they might ha~e been obliged to drop them and take to practice. The Council has in several cases beon able to assist the donor by advice as to the type or the details of the investigation to be followed, and has been of service in guiding studies into lines which promise information of real scientific value as well as serving the immediate commercial purpose of the donor. The plan of supporting the Council and collecting " f r e e f u n d s " for research by fees charged to donors of grants has not been wholly satisfactory. I t is perfectly legitimate in the case of firms which need the kind of assistance which the Council is in position to render, but does not appeal to those who have competent research directors of their own. There is, however, a definite understanding on the part of such firms that, aside from the humanitarian motive, they have an important financial stake in the constant progress of research, even outside of their special fields; and that, as support of investigation by foundations and privat e philanthropies continues to decline, we must look more, and more to commercial sources for a constant supply of funds for research ' activities. In its search for more certain means of s u p p o r t / t h e Council is considering an appeal to some of the most prominent of these firms and associations, most of which spend money freely for research, to contribute regularly to the support of the Council's activities r a t h e r than helping it b y an occasionM, sometimes really unnecessary, fee. Some of the companies have been approached regarding such a plan, and have seemed to look on it with approval. The Academy of Pediatrics has shown itself sufficiently convinced of the soundness of the Council's ideas to vote it funds which will enable it to carry on until J u l y 1, 1940. It should be possible in this period to determine ~vhat is the best method for f u t u r e operation.