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Hoyo V, Nehl E, Dozier A, Harvey J, Kane C, Perry A, Samuels E, Schmidt S, Hunt J. A landscape assessment of CTSA evaluators and their work in the CTSA consortium, 2021 survey findings. J Clin Transl Sci 2024; 8:e79. [PMID: 38745877 PMCID: PMC11091919 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2024.526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
This article presents a landscape assessment of the findings from the 2021 Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Evaluators Survey. This survey was the most recent iteration of a well established, national, peer-led systematic snapshot of the CTSA evaluators, their skillsets, listed evaluation resources, preferred methods, and identified best practices. Three questions guided our study: who are the CTSA evaluators, what competencies do they share and how is their work used within hubs. We describe our survey process (logistics of development, deployment, and differences in historical context with prior instruments); and present its main findings. We provide specific recommendations for evaluation practice in two main categories (National vs Group-level) including, among others, the need for a national, strategic plan for evaluation as well as enhanced mentoring and training of the next generation of evaluators. Although based on the challenges and opportunities currently within the CTSA Consortium, takeaways from this study constitute important lessons with potential for application in other large evaluation consortia. To our knowledge, this is the first time 2021 survey findings are disseminated widely, to increase transparency of the CTSA evaluators' work and to motivate conversations within hub and beyond, as to how best to leverage existent evaluative capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Hoyo
- Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Eric Nehl
- Georgia CTSA, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ann Dozier
- University of Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jillian Harvey
- MUSC South Carolina Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Cathleen Kane
- NYU Langone Health Clinical and Translational Science Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Perry
- Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Elias Samuels
- Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Susanne Schmidt
- UT Health San Antonio, Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Joe Hunt
- Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Zawada SJ, Ruff KC, Sklar T, Demaerschalk BM. Towards a conceptual framework for addressing state-level barriers to decentralized clinical trials in the U.S. J Clin Transl Sci 2023; 7:e162. [PMID: 37528942 PMCID: PMC10388410 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2023.584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin C. Ruff
- Mayo Clinic Center for Digital Health, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Tara Sklar
- University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Arizona Telemedicine Program, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Bart M. Demaerschalk
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Mayo Clinic Center for Digital Health, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Carter-Edwards L, Leverty R, Bilheimer A, Bailey L, Adeshina B, Shrestha P, Yu Z, Dave G, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Kibbe W, Corbie G. Adapting the Evidence Academy model for virtual stakeholder engagement in a national setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Clin Transl Sci 2023; 7:e98. [PMID: 37250998 PMCID: PMC10225263 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2023.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic raised the importance of adaptive capacity and preparedness when engaging historically marginalized populations in research and practice. The Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics in Underserved Populations' COVID-19 Equity Evidence Academy Series (RADx-UP EA) is a virtual, national, interactive conference model designed to support and engage community-academic partnerships in a collaborative effort to improve practices that overcome disparities in SARS-CoV-2 testing and testing technologies. The RADx-UP EA promotes information sharing, critical reflection and discussion, and creation of translatable strategies for health equity. Staff and faculty from the RADx-UP Coordination and Data Collection Center developed three EA events with diverse geographic, racial, and ethnic representation of attendees from RADx-UP community-academic project teams: February 2021 (n = 319); November 2021 (n = 242); and September 2022 (n = 254). Each EA event included a data profile; 2-day, virtual event; event summary report; community dissemination product; and an evaluation strategy. Operational and translational delivery processes were iteratively adapted for each EA across one or more of five adaptive capacity domains: assets, knowledge and learning, social organization, flexibility, and innovation. The RADx-UP EA model can be generalized beyond RADx-UP and tailored by community and academic input to respond to local or national health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renee Leverty
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alicia Bilheimer
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lindsay Bailey
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bukola Adeshina
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | | | - Zhitong Yu
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gaurav Dave
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Warren Kibbe
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Giselle Corbie
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Volkov BB, Hoyo V, Hunt J. Engaging community in the translational process: Environmental scan of adaptive capacity and preparedness of Clinical and Translational Science Award Program hubs. J Clin Transl Sci 2022; 7:e1. [PMID: 36755545 PMCID: PMC9879920 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper is part of the Environmental Scan of Adaptive Capacity and Preparedness of Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hubs, illuminating challenges, practices, and lessons learned related to CTSA hubs' efforts of engaging community partners to reduce the spread of the virus, address barriers to COVID-19 testing, identify treatments to improve health outcomes, and advance community participation in research. CTSA researchers, staff, and community partners collaborated to develop evidence-based, inclusive, accessible, and culturally appropriate strategies and resources helping community members stay healthy, informed, and connected during the pandemic. CTSA institutions have used various mechanisms to advance co-learning and co-sharing of knowledge, resources, tools, and experiences between academic professionals, patients, community partners, and other stakeholders. Forward-looking and adaptive decision-making structures are those that prioritize sustained relationships, mutual trust and commitment, ongoing communication, proactive identification of community concerns and needs, shared goals and decision making, as well as ample appreciation of community members and their contributions to translational research. There is a strong need for further community-engaged research and workforce training on how to build our collective and individual adaptive capacity to sustain and improve processes and outcomes of engagement with and by communities-in all aspects of translational science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris B. Volkov
- University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Health Informatics and Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Verónica Hoyo
- Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Science (NUCATS) Institute, Chicago, IL, USA
- Clinical and Translational Research Institute, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Joe Hunt
- Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Volkov BB, Ragon B, Holmes K, Samuels E, Walden A, Herzog K. Leadership and administration to advance translational science: Environmental scan of adaptive capacity and preparedness of Clinical and Translational Science Award Program hubs. J Clin Transl Sci 2022; 7:e6. [PMID: 36755532 PMCID: PMC9879905 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 reinforced the need for effective leadership and administration within Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program hubs in response to a public health crisis. The speed, scale, and persistent evolution of the pandemic forced CTSA hubs to act quickly and remain nimble. The switch to virtual environments paired with supporting program operations, while ensuring the safety and well-being of their team, highlight the critical support role provided by leadership and administration. The pandemic also illustrated the value of emergency planning in supporting organizations' ability to quickly pivot and adapt. Lessons learned from the pandemic and from other cases of adaptive capacity and preparedness can aid program hubs in promoting and sustaining the overall capabilities of their organizations to prepare for future events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris B. Volkov
- University of Minnesota, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Health Informatics and Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Bart Ragon
- Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kristi Holmes
- Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elias Samuels
- Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anita Walden
- Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Keith Herzog
- Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Volkov BB, Ragon B, Doyle JM, Bredella MA. Adaptive capacity and preparedness of Clinical and Translational Science Award Program hubs: Overview of an environmental scan. J Clin Transl Sci 2022; 7:e31. [PMID: 36845304 PMCID: PMC9947610 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of research networks and individual institutions to effectively and efficiently prepare, respond, and adapt to emergent challenges is essential for the biomedical research enterprise. At the beginning of 2021, a special Working Group was formed by individuals in the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium and approved by the CTSA Steering Committee to explore "Adaptive Capacity and Preparedness (AC&P) of CTSA Hubs." The AC&P Working Group took a pragmatic Environmental Scan (E-Scan) approach of utilizing the diverse data that had been collected through existing mechanisms. The Local Adaptive Capacity framework was adapted to illustrate the interconnectedness of CTSA programs and services, while exposing how the demands of the pandemic forced them to quickly pivot and adapt. This paper presents a synopsis of the themes and lessons learned that emerged from individual sections of the E-Scan. Lessons learned from this study may improve our understanding of adaptive capacity and preparedness at different levels, as well as help strengthen the core service models, strategies, and foster innovation in clinical and translational science research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris B. Volkov
- University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Health Informatics, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Bart Ragon
- integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jamie Mihoko Doyle
- Division of Clinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Miriam A. Bredella
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Catalyst, The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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