Development and Outcomes from a Translational Science Curriculum from Pre-Collegiate Students

Abstract

Translational science is the cornerstone of biomedicine that transfers laboratory and clinical research to the hospital bedside in various forms of therapeutic interventions. This scientific branch influences public health decisions, the economy, and ongoing research endeavors. The purpose of this study was to develop a youth-friendly Translational Science course that introduced students to translational science concepts, then examine course outcomes and effects on career choices. The seminar course involved 18-contact hours with 20 high-school juniors (n=10 / Summer 2016 & Summer 2017). The curriculum encompassed the fundamentals of the five translational science phases as well as how to understand scientific readings and conduct efficient research database searches. A concluding student-presentation on a topic of the student's choosing ensured each student had a sufficient understanding of translational science, use of PubMed for original research articles, and demonstrated the student's ability to apply the concepts individually. Analysis of end-of-course and follow-up surveys showed that the majority of students understood the material, felt the course met their expectations and influenced long-term professional goals. These data suggest that exposing students earlier in their career (pre-collegiate) to the importance and structure of translational science could have long-term benefits towards influencing career choices in STEM.