Project development teams: a novel mechanism for accelerating translational research

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Research
• Translational Science
• Research Collaboration

Background:

• Biomedical research increasingly relies on collaborative teams rather than individual labs.
• Assembling expert research teams is time-consuming and resource-intensive.
• The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI) established the Project Development Teams (PDTs) program to address this challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure and function of the Indiana CTSI's Project Development Teams (PDTs) program.
• To evaluate the impact of the PDT program on translational research and investigator careers.

Main Methods:

• The PDT program assembles multidisciplinary committees of experienced researchers.
• PDTs assist investigators at all research stages in developing translational research projects.
• The program offers resources including mentoring, protocol development, pilot funding, regulatory support, and biostatistics assistance.

Main Results:

• PDTs have become a central hub for interactions between basic and clinical scientists across four university campuses.
• The program has demonstrably aided in the career advancement of junior faculty.
• Investigators utilizing PDTs have shown increased success in obtaining external research funding.

Conclusions:

• The Indiana CTSI's PDT program effectively supports translational research by fostering collaboration and providing critical resources.
• PDTs are instrumental in advancing scientific careers and securing funding, highlighting their value in the biomedical research ecosystem.