A systems approach to enable effective team science from the internal research program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

Abstract

This version may be subject to change during the production process.

Advancing translational science education

“…Translational science aims to develop solutions to the longstanding challenges or bottlenecks that stymie progress of all research along the translational spectrum 2 . Examples of these solutions include approaches to de‐risking undruggable targets or untreatable diseases, developing more predictive in vitro and in vivo models of efficacy and toxicity, improving methods for clinical trial recruitment and diversification of trial participants, and enhancing recognition for scientists who participate in large cross‐disciplinary research teams 3–6 . Through developing and disseminating evidence‐informed practices that overcome these challenges, translational science approaches are benefiting all research that aims to improve human health, by accelerating the transformation of discoveries into interventions and treatments.…”

“…2 Examples of these solutions include approaches to derisking undruggable targets or untreatable diseases, developing more predictive in vitro and in vivo models of efficacy and toxicity, improving methods for clinical trial recruitment and diversification of trial participants, and enhancing recognition for scientists who participate in large cross-disciplinary research teams. [3][4][5][6] Through developing and disseminating evidence-informed practices that overcome these challenges, translational science approaches are benefiting all research that aims to improve…”

Evaluation of an online case study-based course in translational science for a broad scientific audience: Impacts on students’ knowledge, attitudes, planned scientific activities, and career goals

“…The project team pursued this goal through highly innovative approaches including a clinical biomarker-based phenotypic approach, rather than a target-based approach specific to the metastatic process, that ultimately led to the identification of a novel target for the treatment of metastasis [8]. In addition, the case demonstrated the essential roles of cross-disciplinary team science, cross-agency collaborations, and an organizational environment that encourages both, to advance the science [9]. This case study offered the advantage that it could be taught by NCATS staff members who were leaders of the many scientific teams that contributed to the project, including biologists, chemists, toxicologists, and pharmacologists.…”

“…The course described here is one of a range of activities that the NCATS Education Branch has piloted toward broadening TS education and training opportunities. Other activities include intramural fellowships and internships in TS for postbaccalaureate, predoctoral, and postdoctoral participants and TS workshops [4,5,9,13,14]. In 2022, the Branch will be launching a summer internship program in TS with a specific focus on engaging trainees from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce.…”

Planning preclinical confirmatory multicenter trials to strengthen translation from basic to clinical research – a multi-stakeholder workshop report

“…As additional limitation, we foremost see that con rmatory projects are resources intense, and funders are less inclined to fund con rmatory research. Current developments with a funding line particularly for con rmatory studies in Germany and NIH initiatives [59] show that funding opportunities exist and probably will arise more frequently in the future. With such funding also recognition for con rmatory research will grow in a similar way.…”