Advancing translational science education

Abstract

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) in 2011 to "…pursue opportunities for disruptive translational innovation." 1 Through its extramural awards and internal research programs, NCATS is serving as this productive disruptor of research processes by catalyzing the development of innovative methods, approaches, and technologies to advance translational science. 2 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 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

Building Strong Health and Career Trajectories Through Translational Research

“…Eventually, such studies and teams improve disease prevention, expedite diagnosis/treatment 11 , and enrich population health 12 . Further, evidence from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) transformative research programmes demonstrates the role that TR can play in reducing systemic bottlenecks 13 . A key barrier to implementing research findings is uptake by professionals and policy makers 7 .…”

“…A key barrier to implementing research findings is uptake by professionals and policy makers 7 . Minimizing these bottlenecks helps to boost innovations that support public health demands 13 .…”

“…A proposed set of traits have been suggested as important for a researcher to possess to be effective at TR including: boundary crosser, domain expert, team player, process innovator, skilled communicator, systems thinker and rigorous researcher 5 . While any these competencies could apply to a skilled investigator, it is the full range of these skills, possessed by one individual, that is crucial to TR 5,13 .…”

DEIA is essential to advance the goals of translational science: Perspectives from NCATS

“…32 A central tenet of translational science is to prioritize research addressing unmet health needs. 33 Efforts to rectify historical inattention to minority health and health disparities require identification and correction of deficits in how priorities are set at each stage of the translational spectrum.…”

“…Strategy 3: Prioritizing research for the health needs of underserved groups A critical translational science challenge is addressing the health needs of underserved populations in the United States, which has been historically in need of support as reflected in funding and research [32]. A central tenet of translational science is to prioritize research addressing unmet health needs [33]. Efforts to rectify historical inattention to minority health and health disparities require identification and correction of deficits in how priorities are set at each stage of the translational spectrum.…”