NCI Tobacco Research Implementation Plan Research infrastructure assures the availability of necessary human, financial, and technological resources, systems for collaboration, and mechanisms for information dissemination and feedback to provide a strong foundation upon which effective research may be designed and conducted.
Infrastructure provides the foundation for research, much as a foundation supports a house.
Adequate staff, laboratories, other core support, and training are all needed to assure the long-term stability and success of the research enterprise. Consequently, investments in infrastructure are extremely important for the social sciences as well as for genetics, epidemiology, and the other sciences associated with the study of nicotine addiction. Achieving the tobacco research goals detailed in this report will require a major investment in such infrastructure. The organization of research can have a major impact on its productivity and outcomes. Across a range of scientific disciplines, the ideal research model is based on transdisciplinary teams of scientists working in settings that facilitate collaboration and promote productivity.