Mobilizing cross-disciplinary teams to advance translational research using design thinking methods

Area of Science:

• Translational Research
• Team Science
• Research Collaboration

Background:

• Funding agencies increasingly favor team-based approaches for complex research.
• Mobilizing translational teams requires early strategic planning and shared vision.
• Cross-disciplinary synergy is crucial for large-scale grant applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate Research Jams as a method for fostering early-stage research collaboration.
• To assess the effectiveness of Research Jams in generating novel ideas and strategic plans for translational research teams.
• To explore the potential of Research Jams for diverse disciplinary domains.

Main Methods:

• Piloted seven Research Jams involving 129 researchers, staff, and partners.
• Utilized design thinking principles: divergence, convergence, visual thinking, and diversity amplification.
• Collected feedback through surveys to gauge session effectiveness and participant satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Overwhelmingly positive feedback received from participants.
• Majority of respondents found sessions helpful for surfacing shared ideas and visions.
• Emergence of new opportunities for collaboration and pursuit.

Conclusions:

• Research Jams are effective for cross-disciplinary groups needing to ideate and strategize on complex translational research problems.
• The model has broad applicability across various disciplinary domains to stimulate collaboration.
• Research Jams serve as a foundational intervention for a comprehensive research support pathway from ideation to grant submission.