The Burroughs Wellcome Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences: challenges to and prospects for estimating the causal effects of career development programs.

The Career Award in Biomedical Sciences (CABS) was launched by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to assist talented scientists to cross the "bridge" that connects postdoctoral training with independent investigator status. This study examines the causal effects of CABS, using both conventional methods and a newer method (propensity score analysis) in attempting to account for selection biases (e.g., selecting the "best and the brightest") in estimating the award's impact. The results indicated that grantees outperformed unsuccessful applicants in obtaining a faculty position, competing for an R01 grant, and publishing in prestigious journals. However, it was nearly impossible to remove all the effects of selection bias from estimates of program effects. Because selection bias is a pervasive problem in assessing these programs, recommendations for improving evaluations of similar merit-based programs are offered.