NUCATS CTSA K12 Program at Northwestern University

Northwestern University At Chicago, Evanston IL

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Leveraging our experience as a KL2 program, we submit this Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) K12 application in conjunction with the NUCATS UM1, T32, and R25 applications. Through a needs assessment, brainstorming sessions, and interviews, we identified key challenges – translational science (TS) competency training that is a foundation for life-long learning and high impact research, including scientists from all relevant disciplines – and solutions, training innovations which we have started to implement in our KL2 and will expand in the proposed K12. Our overarching goal is to train and nurture clinical and translational scientists from varied fields to be resilient leaders of high-functioning, interdisciplinary teams, leaders well positioned to tackle translational roadblocks and procure external funding, and who employ implementation science (IS) principles and partner with affected/interested groups and end-users. We propose these specific aims: Aim 1) Provide K12 structure including communication, advisory support, oversight, and integration with the UM1 and T32 and other institutional training programs, to optimize effectiveness and efficiency of operations; Aim 2) Model interdisciplinary collaboration through dedicated Program Faculty to help fill gaps in Scholar mentoring and require all faculty to complete mentor training; Aim 3) Promote academic variation of applicants through (a) outreach across the institution to encourage applications from all departments at the Feinberg School of Medicine and relevant departments at other schools, to help to ensure that applicants and Scholars come from different areas and are working in varied stages of translation, and (b) K12 application support; Aim 4) Build an ESI Academy, a near-peer community of K12 Scholars and any K- or R-aspirer, including ESI Academy Socials and a seminar series with core and elective content for the Scholars; Aim 5) Personalize Scholar training using (a) a baseline assessment of TS and translational research competencies, (b) identification of the desired mastery level for each competency, and (c) an individualized training roadmap, using a novel tool – which we call COMPASS (Competency Assessment and Pathway Development) – to prioritize and monitor proficiency development; Aim 6) Provide enhanced approaches such as: (a) an active learner model with Scholars as PI of their training roadmap, (b) training that is non-siloed, i.e., delivered by cross-disciplinary mentors, (c) hybrid and online delivery, archived for efficient and timely Scholar use, and (d) leadership training including seminars and coaching; Aim 7) Evaluate the K12 Program using continuous improvement evaluation cycles to: (a) help to ensure that we are at the forefront of best practices and to position us to innovate, and (b) assess outcomes, using a priori designated metrics; Aim 8) Disseminate best practices and knowledge gains to our institution, the other Chicagoland CTSAs, the larger Chicagoland community, and the national CTSA consortium, including through a digital repository open to all and discoverable, hosted by NUCATS and the Galter Health Sciences Library.