Building Capacity Across the Spectrum of Research Translation: Centers of Excellence within the Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Abstract

The recognition that basic discoveries are frequently not translated to human applications (1) and that the process is unnecessarily slow (2) provides the rationale underpinning the current emphasis on translational research. It is apparent that an enormously broad scope of research is required for such translation. At the University of Rochester Medical Center, all externally-sponsored research projects are identified in a biennial Research Resource Inventory and the principal investigators are asked to classify the project as basic science (pre-clinical) or clinical. Investigators also classify the clinical research studies as T1 translation: “Applying basic science results to develop new diagnostic or therapeutic procedures in patients with specific health concerns;” T2 translation: “Testing the safety and efficacy of drugs and devices in specific patient groups;” or T3 translation “Testing drugs, devices, or other interventions in community settings to establish effectiveness and efficiency.” In 2009, investigators classified 1243 sponsored research projects as 41% basic and 59% clinical. Of the clinical research projects, 39% were classified as T1, 30% as T2, and 19% as T3, highlighting a broad scope of research requiring support by the University of Rochester Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UR-CTSI).