What connects these scientists, in addition to a shared interest in the sensory world, is the freedom to explore new areas of research, freedom given to them as HHMI investigators. We are committed to the Institute's long-standing philosophy of picking people not projects—that is, of identifying creative scientists and then freeing them to pursue challenging questions. It takes our scientists—like Bruce Walker of the Massachusetts General Hospital—as far as the bedside of a patient in South Africa in a quest to understand how the AIDS virus exhausts the immune system. It allows Craig Mello of the University of Massachusetts Medical School to make connections between interrelated research interests—RNA interference and embryonic development. It fosters bold thinking.

We are poised to add a dash of salt—in this case,two competitions for new HHMI investigators—to sharpen the Institute's flagship research program and ensure its characteristic liveliness. Late last year, we announced a focused competition for physician-scientists who bridge the gap between clinical medicine and basic science, and we hope to name 15 researchers by fall 2007. A second, general competition will be announced this spring with the expectation that another 50 investigators will be selected in 2008. In both competitions—and for the first time in HHMI's history—we will accept direct applications from scientists at eligible institutions across the nation. Institutional vetting of nominees generated excellent candidates in prior competitions, but we believe this open approach will generate an even richer, broader pool of potential investigators.

This infusion of fresh scientific talent—and potentially new fields of inquiry unrepresented among our current cadre of investigators—offers HHMI an extraordinary opportunity to refresh our commitment to original and creative biomedical research. Our support can also be a career-defining opportunity for scientists at a critical stage in their careers, at a moment when they hunger for flexible funding, recognition, and access to great colleagues. Like salt, when added in the right proportions, it can make all the difference.

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