Opportunities for strengthening CTSA evaluation

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to describe the progress of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program to address the evaluation-related recommendations made by the 2013 Institute of Medicine’s review of the CTSA Program and guidelines published in CTS Journal the same year (Trochim et al., Clinical and Translational Science 2013; 6(4): 303–309). We utilize data from a 2018 national survey of evaluators administered to all 64 CTSA hubs and a content analysis of the role of evaluation in the CTSA Program Funding Opportunity Announcements to document progress. We present four new opportunities for further strengthening CTSA evaluation efforts: (1) continue to build the collaborative evaluation infrastructure at local and national levels; (2) make better use of existing data; (3) strengthen and augment the common metrics initiative; and (4) pursue internal and external opportunities to evaluate the CTSA program at the national level. This article will be of significant interest to the funders of the CTSA Program and the multiple stakeholders in the larger consortium and will promote dialog from the broad range of CTSA stakeholders about further strengthening the CTSA Program’s evaluation.

Participatory needs assessment and action planning for a clinical and translational research network

“…Additionally, there is limited information on how developing networks can use needs assessment to improve network infrastructure to facilitate translation of research into public benefit [12,17]. Further, although mixedmethod and participatory approaches that engage stakeholders are recommended, few studies have incorporated these strategies [10,18,19].…”

Framing Clinical and Translational Science: Examining the Strategic Social Media Communications of NCATS-funded CTSAs

“…In recognizing these discrepancies, the NIH created the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program in 2006 under the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) with funding for 12 academic health centers. 4 The NIH designed the CTSA program to conduct original clinical and translational science in collaborative teams across the country, also known as CTSA hubs. Following the creation of the CTSA program, the NIH added five to 14 new sites annually until the program reached capacity of 61 CTSA hubs in 2012.…”

“…In recognizing these discrepancies, the NIH created the CTSAs program in 2006 under the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) with funding for 12 academic health centers [4]. The NIH designed the CTSA program to conduct original clinical and translational science in collaborative teams across the country, also known as CTSA hubs.…”

“…Currently, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) manages the CTSA program. In addition, NCATS provides about 500 million dollars annually or 80% of its budget to the CTSAs [4]. Funding for CTSA hubs varies depending on their program goals, affiliated institutions, and size of the program, and funding cycles last for 5 years until CTSAs must reapply for renewal.…”

Opportunities for strengthening CTSA evaluation — CORRIGENDUM

“…In the above article by Patel et al [1], the affiliation of author William M. Trochim was incorrect. The correct affiliation is "Clinical and Translational Science Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA".…”