NRSA Training Core

University Of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City KS

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Addressing the shrinking clinician-scientist workforce depends on the early recruitment of potential trainees along the clinical and translational training continuum. To address the future workforce needs in the Midwest and across the nation, the Frontiers TL1 program will continue to provide high-quality training in clinical and translational research to a dedicated group of trainees. This region needs additional researchers who can make national contributions to translational science while bringing new discoveries to the communities and patient groups that remain under-researched. Aim 1. Reinforce the clinician-scientist pipeline by recruiting a highly qualified, dedicated, and multidisciplinary pool of TL1 predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees to build the translational workforce. In Frontiers 1.0, we demonstrated success in recruiting pre-doctoral clinical trainees. During Frontiers 2.0, we expanded the training tracks to include 4 post-doctoral trainees per year. In Frontiers 3.0 we will focus on recruitment of trainees who bring perspectives and experiences not widely reflected in clinical and translational research, and whose work addresses communities with limited prior engagement in research. Aim 2. Enhance team science in translational science workforce development through the utilization of experienced and skilled multidisciplinary mentorship teams across Frontiers partners. We have expanded the list of experienced and funded mentors from multiple programs across the Frontiers institutions who are willing and capable of providing mentorship. These senior and mid-career mentors, along with newly added junior mentors, already work in interdisciplinary, translational research teams and will effectively demonstrate to our TL1 trainees the values of team science and collaborations built between Frontiers partners. Aim 3. Build upon our existing novel and competency-based clinical and translational research curricula. Our established, comprehensive, and successful Frontiers Training program will provide TL1 trainees with critical competencies to successfully conduct translational research. We will complement that degree program with a variety of innovative short-term and non-degree training opportunities that address the needs of our trainees and map to skills needed to launch independent research careers. Aim 4. Implement more rigorous individualized evaluation methods integrated with trainee individualized development plans to track success and enrich the training environment with efficiency and precision. We will utilize a mixed methods evaluation plan that integrates the trainee individualized development plan to track short- and long-term success of our trainees.