Estimating return on investment in translational research: methods and protocols.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Translational Science
• Health Economics

Background:

• Assessing the impact of research funding on scientific translation is crucial for organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) aim to accelerate this process.
• Quantifying the return on investment (ROI) for specific CTSA programs, such as clinical research units (CRUs), is a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and describe a model for measuring the ROI of CRUs within the CTSA program.
• To provide a methodology for assessing the economic and social value generated by CRU activities.
• To offer an approach for CTSAs to evaluate NIH and institutional investments.

Main Methods:

• Developing a model to estimate economic and social inputs and outputs of a CRU.
• Defining multiple levels of ROI: investigator, program, and institutional.
• Proposing an evaluation protocol including data collection, filtering, analysis, and assessment.

Main Results:

• The proposed model allows for multi-level ROI estimation (investigator, program, institutional).
• A detailed methodology is outlined for assessing the value of CTSA functions.
• The approach facilitates the evaluation of economic and social returns on investment.

Conclusions:

• The proposed model offers a systematic way to assess the ROI of CRUs.
• This framework can help CTSAs demonstrate the value of their research activities.
• The approach supports evidence-based decision-making for research funding and resource allocation.