One of the joys of working to develop the scientific workforce is exploring with other NIH leaders how their unique perspectives have influenced their careers. It was particularly gratifying to reach out to Annica Wayman, Ph.D., M.S., because she is a new leader at NIH.
Dr. Wayman champions how varied perspectives are crucial for science to make a societal impact. Her career is a case in point.
She was a Meyerhoff Scholar, led the implementation of the career mentoring component under the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and is now the deputy director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).
We delved into her background, why she was attracted to NCATS, the NIH Engagement and Access for Research-Active Institutions (EARA) initiative, and a valuable assumption.
A Diverse Career
“The common thread through my career has been how my science and engineering background could create a societal impact,” she said.
Dr. Wayman has combined her experience in the private sector, federal service, and academia to pursue NCATS’ “big, audacious goal.”
She explained, “It made sense to come work at NCATS where we have a big, audacious goal—to get more treatments to all people more quickly. Meeting this goal requires engaging with diverse communities throughout the research process to make sure what we're doing will land well and help all people as intended.”
This goal also involves Dr. Wayman working to implement NCATS’ strategic plan with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging.
“As an engineer, I love design thinking to explore how we can become more inclusive from an ethnic perspective, an economic perspective, a geographic perspective, and for diverse neurodivergent thinkers, for example,” she said.
NCATS offers opportunities under their Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program Diversity, Re-training, Re-integration, and Re-entry Supplements for individuals associated with a CTSA institution. Nearly 40% of their CTSAs include partners from rural institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)—similar to many of the
Research-Active Institutions (RAIs) involved in the NIH EARA pilot project and in keeping with the CHIPS and Science Act. In addition, a CTSA Program notice of funding opportunity recently launched (PAR-24-272), which facilitates new partnerships among CTSA institutions and local colleges and universities.
Throughout her career, Dr. Wayman has witnessed the benefits of partnerships. At the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Wayman saw firsthand how local scientific perspectives led to better solutions for using diagnostic tools for malaria, Ebola, and other diseases. In the private sector, she served in research development and engineering roles.
As a leader in the field of translational science, NCATS is a good fit for Dr. Wayman’s collaborative approach to science.
EARA: What’s Possible
Developing collaborations is also important to EARA, which provides information about NIH resources and opportunities to RAIs and seeks to broaden their participation in the NIH funding ecosystem.
The EARA pilot project takes an organized, intentional approach to reaching scientists at RAIs. These institutions have been variously labeled in the past, including being considered resource limited.
Dr. Wayman compared what the EARA pilot can do for RAIs to how internships can benefit students.
“When students are required to complete an internship, they gain exposure and connections and feel empowered,” she said. “EARA provides the space, time, and exposure so that RAIs can understand what's possible and learn to strategically leverage resources”
A Valuable Assumption
Throughout her career, Dr. Wayman has been guided by a valuable assumption: “Everyone wants to grow professionally.”
Whether she’s been working with students or her staff, Dr. Wayman asks, “Where do you want to be in five or even 10 years? What do you like to do? What gets you excited?”
She encourages young scientists, particularly those from underrepresented populations, to consider how their science impacts communities. Dr. Wayman emphasized, “This intersection can be particularly motivating.”
I agree with Dr. Wayman. It’s wise to assume that everyone wants to grow professionally and to see the value in understanding how science will affect patients, communities, and populations.
At this stage in my career, I find it motivating to encourage other NIH leaders who bring their unique perspectives to research and help broaden our perspectives. The EARA initiative is a shining example of how NIH is opening connections throughout the greater biomedical and behavioral research enterprise.