Team science competencies across the career life course for translational science teams.

Introduction: Translational science (TS) teams develop and conduct translational research. Academic TS teams can be categorized under three constituency groups: trainees and faculty, clinical research professionals (CRP), and community partners. Our study objectives were to define individual and team competencies of these three constituency groups during their career life course and determine relative importance and the level of mastery of each of the competencies needed at different stages of their life course.

Team science competencies for clinical research professionals: A multileveled Delphi approach.

Background: The knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for clinical research professionals (CRPs) are described in the Joint Task Force (JTF) for Clinical Trial Competencies Framework as a basis for leveled educational programs, training curricula, and certification. There is a paucity of literature addressing team science competencies tailored to CRPs. Gaps in training, research, and education can restrict their capability to effectively contribute to team science.

Andragogy in Practice: Applying a Theoretical Framework to Team Science Training in Biomedical Research.

This study is the first to apply the theoretical principles of Malcolm Knowles' theory of andragogy to evaluate data collected from learners who participated in team science training workshops in a biomedical research setting. Briefly, andragogy includes six principles: the learner's self-concept, the role of experience, readiness to learn, orientation to learning, the learner's need to know, and intrinsic motivation. Using an embedded study design, the primary focus was on qualitative data, with quantitative data complementing the qualitative findings.

Enhancing the clinical research workforce: a collaborative approach with human resources.

Jobs for clinical research professionals (CRPs) have grown increasingly complex over the past 20+ years. This is due largely to additional administrative burden for investigators, study teams, sponsors, Clinical Research Organizations (CROs), and sites, particularly Academic Medical Centers (AMCs). Furthermore, National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reduced capacity to effectively fund research recognizing this is dependent on the overall congressional budget, which creates greater pressure for clinician scientists to secure external support.

Development of an undergraduate certificate in clinical and translational science: improving competence of the clinical research workforce.

Academic research centers often struggle to recruit and retain a well-trained and diverse clinical and translational science (CTS) workforce. In particular, the clinical research professional (CRP) career pathway is not well known to undergraduate students and other individuals outside of academic medicine despite being a potential career route. To address these workforce challenges, the CRP Task Force at the University of Cincinnati (UC) aims to train a competent and diverse CRP workforce through targeted educational programming in the UC undergraduate population.

Issues for recruitment and retention of clinical research professionals at academic medical centers: Part 1 - collaborative conversations Un-Meeting findings.

Background: Identification of evidence-based factors related to status of the clinical research professional (CRP) workforce at academic medical centers (AMCs) will provide context for National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) policy considerations and guidance. The objective of this study is to explore barriers and opportunities related to the recruitment and retention of the CRP workforce.

Materials And Methods: Qualitative data from a series of Un-Meeting breakout sessions and open-text survey questions were analyzed to explore barriers and recommendations for improving AMC CRP recruitment, retention and diversity.

Academic medical center clinical research professional workforce: Part 2 - Issues in staff onboarding and professional development.

Background: Defining key barriers to the development of a well-trained clinical research professional (CRP) workforce is an essential first step in identifying solutions for successful CRP onboarding, training, and competency development, which will enhance quality across the clinical and translational research enterprise. This study aimed to summarize barriers and best practices at academic medical centers related to effective CRP onboarding, training, professional development, identify challenges with the assessment of and mentoring for CRP competency growth, and describe opportunities to improve training and professionalization for the CRP career pathway.

Materials/methods: Qualitative data from a series of Un-Meeting breakout sessions and open-text survey questions were analyzed to explore the complex issues involved when developing high-quality onboarding and continuing education opportunities for CRPs at academic medical centers.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Critical Time Period Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a devastating, global public health crisis. Public health systems in the United States heavily focused on getting people to adhere to preventive behaviors, and later, to get vaccinated. January through May of 2021 was a critical and volatile time period for COVID-19 cases, deaths, and expanding vaccination programs coinciding with important political and social events which will have a lasting impact on how the public views science, places trust in our government, and views individual rights.

Kruppel-like factor 5 is required for formation and differentiation of the bladder urothelium.

Kruppel-like transcription factor 5 (Klf5) was detected in the developing and mature murine bladder urothelium. Herein we report a critical role of KLF5 in the formation and terminal differentiation of the urothelium. The Shh(GfpCre) transgene was used to delete the Klf5(floxed) alleles from bladder epithelial cells causing prenatal hydronephrosis, hydroureter, and vesicoureteric reflux.