Metascience

How can we change the incentives and funding structures within science to produce more breakthrough research?

The U.S. federal government is the single largest source of science funding in the world. Despite how much we’re spending, we know surprisingly little about how the structures, incentives, and organizational models within science impact the results we get.

We need more experimentation and diversification in the way the U.S. government funds cutting-edge science. And we need to do a better job of funding young and talented scientists to work on their most ambitious, highest expected value ideas.

Metascience
Latest Publication
Progress Deferred: Lessons From mRNA Vaccine Development
We can restructure science funding to help breakthrough research translate more quickly
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February 20th 2024
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Metascience
The ARPA Model: A Reading List
A comprehensive syllabus on the ARPA model and its family tree
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January 31st 2024
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Metascience
To Speed Up Scientific Progress, We Need to Understand Science Policy
Three ways to bridge the divide between researchers and policymakers
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September 11th 2023
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Metascience
Funding Delays Are Slowing Scientific Progress
It shouldn't take scientists 20 months to navigate the grant process
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August 28th 2023
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Metascience Research Team

Matthew Esche
Matthew Esche
Metascience Fellow
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Tim Hwang
Tim Hwang
Senior Technology Fellow
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Heidi Williams
Heidi Williams
Director of Science Policy
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Metascience
How the NSF Moved Faster than the NIH During COVID-19
The pandemic highlighted how flexible funding authority can save lives during a crisis
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July 17th 2023
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Metascience
How DARPA Can Anticipate Downside Risk
A response to DARPA's request for information on assessing ethical, legal, and societal implications of emerging technologies
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June 15th 2023
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Metascience
How DARPA Can Proactively Shape Emerging Technologies
A response to DARPA's request for information on assessing ethical, legal, and societal implications of emerging technologies
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June 15th 2023
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Metascience
Building a Better NIH
A series of short papers outlining the growth potential for our nation's premier health R&D funder
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May 17th 2023
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Metascience
Can Policymakers Trust Forecasters?
Experts, modelers, and forecasters try to predict events, but which of them are most reliable?
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March 7th 2023
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Metascience
But Seriously, How Do We Make an Entrepreneurial State?
Some practical strategies for rebuilding state capacity
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November 30th 2022
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Metascience
How to Translate Research Findings into Policy
Recommendations for successfully communicating with policymakers
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October 20th 2022
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Metascience
Drug Pricing Reforms Could Hurt Innovation
Here Are Three Ways to Prevent That
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August 26th 2022
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Metascience
Heidi Williams Joins IFP as Director of Science Policy
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June 27th 2022
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Metascience
Expanding Pathways for Career Research Scientists in Academia
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June 2nd 2022
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Metascience
Introducing the Endless Frontier Fellowship
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April 14th 2022
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Metascience
Piloting and Evaluating NSF Science Lottery Grants: A Roadmap to Improving Research Funding Efficiencies and Proposal Diversity
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February 2nd 2022
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