SEGMENT 2: Dr. Warren J. Leonard talks about his experiences as an NIH intramural researcher and his concerns about career possibilities for the next generation of scientists.
NOTE: This transcript was edited for clarity.  

Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:  I know that you’ve spent much of your career here at the NIH and I was wondering as someone who is actually a relative newcomer to the intramural program having spent most of my career at the extramural side where the – how you would describe the research environment here and perhaps some of the things that you like most about being an investigator in the intramural program?

Dr. Warren J. Leonard, Division of Intramural Research, NHLBI:  I think the things that are best about this place are the wealth of the scientific community, the tremendous colleagues that I have-- in the field of immunology, we have a tremendous number of sensational people across many institutes. Within that particular context, we have an annual immunology retreat, a weekly lecture series, and a listserv for easy sharing of reagents. It also is very easy to collaborate with people across institutes and to just call people up on the phone and stop by and see them on very short notice most of the time. So I think that the community is really one of the greatest strengths that this place has had to offer over the years and has made it a great place to do research. 

Dr. Gibbons:  So having grown up here at NIH what would you say to young investigators, that next generation, given the current fiscal political climate as well as the scientific opportunities that exist? What would you say to postdoctoral fellows at that stage?

Dr. Leonard:  I think I would say that in terms of the ability to discover new things and the excitement of things that are possible, the opportunities are phenomenal. I worry about the level of funding that is generally available at NIH and in the extramural community, especially going down the road, the uncertainty of exactly what it will be, and that whereas there will always be opportunities for at least some and presumably the very best, I worry that the range of opportunities for those who are really excellent may not always be what they most want. There fortunately are also opportunities in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as a range of other potential career options, but I worry that, whereas at one time excellent scientists would always be able to pursue their first choice careers, that that may not be possible, including for some really terrific people who can make considerable advances if they’re given the proper opportunity.

Dr. Gibbons:  Okay. Well said. 

Dr. Gibbons:  I think we hit a number of elements of your program and a lot of the interesting things you’re doing so I appreciate this time with you. Thank you.

Dr. Leonard:  I appreciate the time with you.