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In our fast-paced modern world there is an expectation that scientific breakthroughs occur quickly and efficiently.

We are bombarded with headlines hyping new findings:聽.

Many scientists know how unrealistic such claims are.

My provides data confirming that ground-breaking research takes time, and that the basic research underpinning it is typically overlooked or under-valued.

During my undergraduate degree I was fascinated to learn that cutting-edge molecular biology techniques 鈥� those used for manipulating proteins, DNA and other molecules 鈥� come from nature. In this paper I analysed the development of聽, and showed they all were developed from basic biological research.

My case studies include the relatively new molecular technology known as (now known as a precise DNA cutting tool, but which comes from biologists discovering how bacteria build immunity to viruses), and older technologies like (developed thanks to biologists discovering how DNA copies itself).

Scientific breakthroughs do not happen overnight

I identified that the major breakthroughs in molecular technology take on average a quarter of a century from basic biological research to the practical payoff. This time frame is a lot longer than any election cycle or the funding period for a research project.

The long lead time before the payoff means it is difficult to calculate the exact benefit of funding basic biological research. But basic research has a major impact.

A loose estimate suggests that the return on investment of funding basic research is聽! In Australia, every $1 invested into our National Health and Medical Research Council returns $3.20 in聽.

Scientific glory is not bestowed upon basic research

I found the basic research that led to the development of new and important molecular technologies is not well recognised by the scientific community.

Basic research findings are not favoured by the science publication model. When you compare scientific articles describing basic research to applied research, the former is less likely to be published in high-profile journals or to be highly cited.

This is an important point, because scientific articles are key to聽. Scientists who dedicate their careers to basic research make vital contributions to science but find it harder to obtain funding and have fewer career advancement opportunities.

Molecular technologies transform the world, and that is why the eight case studies have all eventually been linked with the awarding of聽聽(or are expected to be, in the case of CRISPR-Cas).

However, I found that the researchers who conduct basic research are less likely to be awarded the Nobel Prize or the relevant patents for the development of these molecular biology techniques.

We need to ensure the contributions of basic research scientists are recognised.

Basic research made the modern world feasible

If basic biological research had never been pursued by scientists, then today鈥檚 world would be a very different and scarier place.

For instance, most of our current advances in human health would never have occurred. Consider the following examples:

• detection of pathogens causing infectious diseases (eg Zika virus)聽聽(a technique that copies DNA)
• medical therapies using聽聽(a technique that lowers accumulation of damaging proteins in a nerve disorder)
• identification of genetic diseases (eg cystic fibrosis) using聽
• editing the genome (including cancer therapies)聽.

Molecular technologies arising from basic biological research play a critical role in diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

These molecular technologies are also powerful research tools that are critical for the progress of further biomedical research, such as聽听补苍诲听.

Further, these molecular technologies have enabled many other aspects of our modern world: they are crucial for聽, have聽.

Basic research has major impacts on society, is worthy of investment, but is chronically聽.

Funders need to be like angel investors

It鈥檚 important that funding bodies have a realistic understanding of the time frame for basic research. Some appear to be聽聽鈥� in the sense that it will provide quick returns.

Scientists are also increasingly pressured to obtain funding from non-government sources such as聽.

We need a new investment approach from government funding agencies. The best strategy for high-risk ventures, such as basic research, is to provide stable funding to a wide variety of projects to diversify the risk. If we cast a wider net, we ensure we will always catch one of these 鈥渂ig fish鈥�.

Funders can think of themselves as angel investors who are investing in a portfolio of start-up businesses (another type of venture that is high risk but also high reward).

The expectation of government funding agencies needs to be that most investments in basic research will not provide a return on investment. Data suggests that for start-up businesses, the聽.

A few projects will return what was invested into them. But some research projects will be priceless scientific breakthroughs 鈥撀�. Our modern world is built upon them.

If funding agencies are not consistently funding today鈥檚 basic research projects, then the revolutionary technologies of tomorrow will never be developed.

by Dr Isobel Ronai who completed her PhD at the University of Sydney, was first published in聽.