Mike Lauer

Mike Lauer, a former Deputy Director for Extramural Research at NIH and a cardiologist, shares his insights on the current woes of NIH grant funding. He reveals the alarming drop in funding rates from 60% to 10%, and how 'soft money' careers create stress for researchers. Lauer advocates for block grants, claiming they could boost innovation by reducing paperwork and allowing long-term projects. He also discusses the inefficiencies caused by fragmented institutes and the necessity of reforming funding structures to support bold scientific exploration.