To achieve the health goals of the 21st century, researchers from multiple disciplines must bridge their differences and together address the challenging problems that face us. The next generation of scientists must be prepared to integrate the advances of rapidly progressing fields.
Although interdisciplinary work cannot replace the valuable contributions that have and will come from efforts within a single discipline, integrated approaches should be explored when scientific problems grow beyond what one discipline alone can solve. In response to the need for such approaches, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee was asked to examine the needs, obstacles, and strategies for interdisciplinary training in the brain, behavioral, and clinical sciences.
The committee's report, Bridging Disciplines in the Brain, Behavioral, and Clinical Sciences, contains recommendations that delineate, enhance, and accelerate a process that is already reflected in many training and research programs. Although this report focuses on examples from brain and behavioral science, the principles presented may be broadly applicable in scientific research and training.