Assessing and Communicating the Value of Biomedical Research: Results From a Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose Assessing the impact of research requires an approach that is sensitive both to the context of the research and the perspective of the stakeholders trying to understand its benefits. Here, the authors report on a pilot that applied such an approach to research conducted at the Collaborative Center for Health Equity (CCHE) of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Method The pilot assessed the academic impact of CCHE’s work; the networks between CCHE and community partners; and the reach of CCHE’s programs, including an attempt to estimate return on investment (ROI). Data included bibliometrics, findings from a stakeholder survey and in-depth interviews, and financial figures. Results The pilot illustrated how CCHE programs increase the capacity of community partners to advocate for their communities and engage with researchers to ensure research benefits the community. The results illustrate the reach of CCHE’s programs into the community. The authors produced an estimate of the ROI for one CCHE program targeting childhood obesity, and values ranged from negative to positive. Conclusions The authors experienced challenges using novel assessment techniques at a small scale including the lack of comparator groups and the scarcity of cost data for estimating ROI. This pilot demonstrated the value of research from a variety of perspectives – from academic to community. It illustrates how metrics beyond grant income and publications can capture the outputs of an academic health center in a way that may better align with the aims of the center and stakeholders.

The Health Equity Leadership Institute (HELI): Developing workforce capacity for health disparities research

“…A comprehensive presentation of evaluation data from HELI is beyond the scope of this manuscript and will be shared in a future publication [30]. Nevertheless, we highlight (1) overall feedback from the scholars Translational research and health equity 1.…”

“…A comprehensive presentation of evaluation data from HELI is beyond the scope of this manuscript and will be shared in a future publication [30]. Nevertheless, we highlight (1) overall feedback from the scholars garnered in the final surveys and feedback sessions over the past 2 years as HELI has reached maturity, and (2) follow-up data on the scholars that have participated in HELI since 2010.…”

Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal

“…Implementing a research metrics framework contributes toward quantifying the ROI on research both internally within an institution and externally in society. Illustrating the value of research is crucial in sustaining donor and taxpayer support, informing policies, and highlighting broader societal benefits of research (Guthrie et al, 2017 ). The use of value measures, with tangible and intangible benefits, can support advocacy for investments and give decision-makers the opportunity to draw on evidence to inform advocacy and prioritization of action (Hunter et al, 2018 ).…”