Maximizing Team Mentoring for Empowering Success in Multidisciplinary Research and Career Development

Abstract

The integration of basic, clinical and translational research has required new approaches to complex problem solving in neurosciences and other discipline. Often colleagues and trainees with very diverse expertise are needed to come together and share their unique vantage points to develop unique solutions to complex questions – what is now known as “team science”. Yet few basic and clinical investigators have been prepared in their training to work in this collaborative manner – and one that will be essential toward a wide distribution of new knowledge and improved clinical practice via translational research approaches. With support from the NIH Roadmap Initiative and the Clinical Science and Translational Award at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, we have developed a comprehensive program for mentoring trainees, including graduate students, postdocs, clinical fellows and junior faculty to help maximize their unique group of mentors who bring the necessary multidisciplinary perspectives to the research investigation at hand. This presentation will provide an overview of some of the elements that contribute to this new model of preparing individuals for success with team mentoring including 1) definitions of the roles of mentee and mentors, 2) the use of annual contracts to affirm commitment to the process, 3) the approaches and strategies used to train both mentees and mentors to ensure a successful launch of a new team, 4) approaches for monitoring, advising, adjusting and/or terminating mentoring relationships, if needed, and 5) strategies to keep the process focused on the mentee's career goals in clinical and translational research – typically a unique path that will differ from the path of the more experienced mentors.