Preventing Translational Scientists From Extinction: The Long-Term Impact of a Personalized Training Program in Translational Medicine on the Careers of Translational Scientists.

Margot M Weggemans,Marieke Van Der Schaaf,Norman D Rosenblum,Janet P Hafler,Manon Kluijtmans,Berent J Prakken

doi:10.3389/fmed.2018.00298

Abstract

Far too much biomedical research is wasted and ends in the so called “Valley of Death”: the gap that exists between biomedical research and its clinical application. While the translational process requires collaboration between many disciplines, current translational medicine focuses on single disciplines. Therefore, educational pathways that integrate clinical and research skills in interdisciplinary and interprofessional contexts are needed. The Eureka institute (http://www.eurekainstitute.org/) was founded to address these issues. The institute organizes an annual 1-week international certificate course to educate professionals in the domains of translational medicine.Study design: This study set out to investigate the impact of the Eureka certificate course on the alumni, focusing on their ability to engage in translational activities and thus become more proficient translational professionals. An explanatory, mixed-methods study was executed.Data collection: A questionnaire was distributed to collect quantitative data on the number of alumni who were able to apply what they learned during the Eureka course and engage in translational activities. Questionnaire data were also used to inform the semi-structured interviews that were conducted subsequently.Results: Fifty-one percent of the alumni reported that participating in the Eureka course played a role in their decision to change to a different job or in the way they were accomplishing their everyday work. Ten conditions for change that either hampered or supported the Eureka alumni's engagement in translational research activities were identified. Further, the learning outcomes of the Eureka course that impacted the alumni's professional activities were explored using Personal Professional Theory (PPT). The insight that alumni gained in the full translational spectrum and stakeholders involved stimulated reflection on their own role within that pathway. Further, according to the alumni, the course provided them with the skills and confidence to pursue a career as translational professional. These learning outcomes, in combination with conditions that supported alumni's engagement in translational activities, such as supportive professional partners, opportunities to network or collaborate, and a translational work environment, contributed to the large number of alumni that were able to engage in translational activities.

Highlights

For several decades, concerns have been raised about the large amount of biomedical research that end in the so-called “Valley of Death”: the gap that exists between biomedical research and its clinical application [1, 2]
The research questions are: [1] Are alumni of the Eureka certificate course better able to engage in translational activities?, [2] What conditions for change hamper or support Eureka alumni’s engagement in translational research activities? and [3] What are the learning outcomes for Eureka alumni that impacted their professional activities?
Our results suggest that this was likely due to a combination of conditions that are supportive for engaging in translational activities, such as supportive professional partners and working in a translational work environment, and the learning outcomes that resulted from alumni’s participation in the Eureka certificate course

Summary

Introduction

Concerns have been raised about the large amount of biomedical research that end in the so-called “Valley of Death”: the gap that exists between biomedical research and its clinical application [1, 2]. To better align biomedical research with clinical needs and allow for translation of discoveries to clinical practice, there is a need for improved collaboration between all disciplines that are part of the translational process [4, 6] This requires central figures with a full understanding of the translational spectrum, who are able to integrate the perspectives and needs of all involved These translational scientists—either PhDs with an interest in clinical research or clinician-scientists—need to have a broad set of knowledge and skills to help breaking down the barriers between the different disciplines and foster interdisciplinary communication and collaboration [8,9,10]

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Discussion

Conclusion