The CTSA Mentored Career Development Program: Supporting the Careers of Child Health Investigators

Abstract

Training translational scientists is a priority of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium. Objectives: 1) Describe the landscape of CTSA Mentored Research Career Development Awards (CDA) and 2) Evaluate participation and outcomes of child health investigators in these programs. Design: Survey of the CTSA Child Health Oversight Committee (CC-CHOC) and review of non-responders’ CTSA web sites. Results: Thirty-two of 53 CC-CHOC members (60%) responded and all non-responder websites were reviewed. Institutions supported 1166 CDA positions from 2006–2011, with 134 awarded to child health investigators (11.5%). Respondents reported a mean of 29.8 KL2 positions (95% CI 17.5–42.2) during their award period, with a mean of 2.8 (95% CI 1.8–3.8) awarded to child health investigators. The proportion of child health awardees varied from 0% to 50% across institutions. We identified 45 subsequent NIH awards to the 134 child health investigators (34%). Conclusions: The CTSA program contributes substantially to training the next generation of translational investigators. One-third of child health investigators obtained subsequent NIH awards in the short follow-up period demonstrating success of the CTSA CDA programs. Child health investigators are represented variably across the consortium. Pediatric institutions can partner with the CTSA program to further support training child health investigators.

Transition to Independence: Characteristics and Outcomes of Mentored Career Development (KL2) Scholars at Clinical and Translational Science Award Institutions

“…A KL2 scholar subsequently may apply for an individual mentored career development award (CDA) before transitioning to independent research funding or may apply for an independent research project grant directly following his or her period of KL2 support. The CTSA KL2 scholar population across institutions has been described with respect to supporting child health investigators, 9 but other characteristics have not been comprehensively described. A survey conducted early in the program’s history found that only 10% of scholars had applied for NIH R01 funding through 2010 10 ; the source and type of peer-reviewed funding attained by KL2 scholars has not been further delineated.…”

Developing sustainable research careers for KL2 scholars: The importance of an inclusive environment and mentorship

“…A common element in all CTSA hubs is the KL2 career development program for junior faculty members. The KL2 programs across the United States have trained more than 1000 scholars since 2006 [4]. These programs are resource intensive; yet, evaluations of best practices and outcomes of KL2 programs are limited [5].…”

Leading by Success: Impact of a Clinical and Translational Research Infrastructure Program to Address Health Inequities

“…The success of the CTSA programs impacted geographical regions based at the institutions involved with their respective CTSA programs 21–25 . On a smaller scale and owing to the limitations placed by the NIH IDeA Program, institutions from IDeA-eligible states developed clinical and translational research capacity at their institutions beginning in 2014 26 .…”