The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research productivity of K-awardees.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many aspects of academic research, particularly for early career investigators striving for independence. This study examines geographic heterogeneity in the pandemic's impact on the publication productivity of recipients of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute K01, K08, and K23 awards within Departments of Medicine across different states in the US using data from the National Institutes of Health RePORTER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID data tracker from 2015 to 2022. Findings indicate that while publication productivity increased steadily until 2020, it plateaued soon after. K-awardees in states with an early peak in COVID-19-related deaths maintained relatively stable productivity levels post-2020, whereas those in states with a late peak experienced a decline. The observed geographic differences may stem from variations in pandemic response measures, resource availability, and institutional support. These findings highlight the need for careful consideration of geographic heterogeneity when designing targeted interventions, such as funding support and tenure extensions, to mitigate the pandemic's impact on early career investigators. Addressing additional factors, including career stage, personal responsibilities, and institutional environments, is essential for a comprehensive understanding of disparities in publication productivity.