This is the first in a series of blogs about the Research Strategy Refresh, intended to communicate major priorities and goals. To learn more about the Research Strategy Refresh or to review the 2021 Action Plan, visit this website. Or click here to view our second, third and fourth posts.
The central goal of our research efforts is to improve human health by advancing knowledge and transforming clinical practice. Our research community includes translational scientists, with translation meaning the process of turning observations in laboratory, clinic, and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public. Interventions range from therapeutics and diagnostics to medical procedures and behavioral medicine.
The Translational Research Impact Scale (TRIS) measures return on investment and the true impact of biomedical research for medical practice and population health. This translational spectrum is often described as “bench-to-bedside” and “bedside-back-to-bench.”
It starts (T0) at basic science, includes (T2) clinical trials to determine efficacy, and ends (05) at patient access. The framework represents our research efforts and depicts the bi-directional nature of research. The model highlights the importance of a multi-disciplinary team, including both basic and clinical scientists, in making important advances in preventing and treating diseases, and enhancing wellness.
Our research efforts are buttressed by our strong collaborative culture and through synergy with our other core missions: clinical care, education, and community engagement.
Broadly, our strategic planning efforts are focused in six areas: (1) Promote scientific excellence and innovation as core values (2) Translate scientific insights to improve human health (3) Extend research space and infrastructure to support success (4) Advance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (5) Support faculty and trainee success, and (6) Align finances to goals. Our prioritized goals weave these fundamental ideas together by highlighting inclusive aspirations that can only be achieved by attaining success across disciplines.
Over the next several months, we will be rolling out our strategy to the broader community through several avenues: the monthly Health Sciences Research Forum, our monthly 360 Connect newsletter, this website, and various leadership, departmental, and committee meetings as needed. We invite you to learn more about these efforts and engage with us as we move to accomplish our five-year goals.
As with all research, we view this plan as living and iterative. We strive to set a strong and steady course for the research mission, while remaining dynamic enough to continually evaluate and, as appropriate, rebalance our research efforts to optimize institutional growth and leverage emerging areas of importance. We welcome faculty and staff feedback to this strategic proposal.