Committee Members Research Articles

Do Investors Undervalue Female Directors Due to Gender Role Stereotypes? Evidence from the United States

We show that female directors are associated with higher equity undervaluation after controlling for the effects of female managers, firm performance, corporate governance, risk, dispersion in analysts’ earnings forecasts, firm size, stock price informativeness, and earnings quality. This association is less pronounced after increased societal awareness of female directors. Our findings are robust to the use of alternative measures of key variables and various tests of endogeneity. We further find that female directors’ committee membership, committee chair role, board tenure, and board experience are positively associated with equity undervaluation. Additional results show that female directors’ age and ethnicity also impact equity undervaluation, and the undervaluation of female directors mostly occurs for firms operating in male‐dominated industries. Our results collectively suggest that investors’ negative gender role stereotyping of female directors contributes to equity undervaluation of firms with female directors. Negative stereotyping of female directors is less pronounced after investors become more aware of the benefits of female directors. Therefore, our findings provide insights for policy makers and suggests that further increased awareness of the benefits of female directors is essential. Policy makers may also consider taking appropriate actions to further minimize gender stereotyping of female directors.

Research ethics and artificial intelligence for global health: perspectives from the global forum on bioethics in research

BackgroundThe ethical governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health care and public health continues to be an urgent issue for attention in policy, research, and practice. In this paper we report on central themes related to challenges and strategies for promoting ethics in research involving AI in global health, arising from the Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR), held in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2022.MethodsThe GFBR is an annual meeting organized by the World Health Organization and supported by the Wellcome Trust, the US National Institutes of Health, the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the South African MRC. The forum aims to bring together ethicists, researchers, policymakers, research ethics committee members and other actors to engage with challenges and opportunities specifically related to research ethics. In 2022 the focus of the GFBR was “Ethics of AI in Global Health Research”. The forum consisted of 6 case study presentations, 16 governance presentations, and a series of small group and large group discussions. A total of 87 participants attended the forum from 31 countries around the world, representing disciplines of bioethics, AI, health policy, health professional practice, research funding, and bioinformatics. In this paper, we highlight central insights arising from GFBR 2022.ResultsWe describe the significance of four thematic insights arising from the forum: (1) Appropriateness of building AI, (2) Transferability of AI systems, (3) Accountability for AI decision-making and outcomes, and (4) Individual consent. We then describe eight recommendations for governance leaders to enhance the ethical governance of AI in global health research, addressing issues such as AI impact assessments, environmental values, and fair partnerships.ConclusionsThe 2022 Global Forum on Bioethics in Research illustrated several innovations in ethical governance of AI for global health research, as well as several areas in need of urgent attention internationally. This summary is intended to inform international and domestic efforts to strengthen research ethics and support the evolution of governance leadership to meet the demands of AI in global health research.

Preface: 2nd International Conference on Food Biotechnology and Environmental Technology (FBET 2024)

The 2024 2nd International Conference on Food Biotechnology and Environmental Technology (FBET 2024) was held on February 24-25, 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey. This event was attended by researchers from various area with papers mainly focused on food chemistry, nutritional science, agricultural technology, biotechnology, eco-technology, clean technologies, pollution control and environmental sustainability. The primary goal of FBET 2024 is to promote research and developmental activities in food biotechnology and environmental sciences. Another goal is to promote scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners working worldwide. The conference will be held every year to make it an ideal platform for people to share views and experiences in related areas. A total of 78 papers were submitted to FBET 2024, and most of them were approved by the conference committee members and international reviewers in a double-blind evaluation process. The conference was held entirely online over two days, which included the four session, four 30-minute keynote speeches, and twelve author presentation sessions. From the talks and presentations, it was evident that our research community remains active and produces cutting-edge research. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the entire conference committee. Their advice and support were fundamental to preparing for the conference. Likewise, a special thanks to the speakers and authors for considering FBET 2024 as a means of dissemination of their researchers, and to the invited researchers, whose talks and discussions brought us countless ideas for further discussion and development. Conference Committee of FBET 2024 Istanbul, Turkey

Preface: Special issue: 14th International Conference on Brain Energy Metabolism: Energy substrates and microbiome govern brain bioenergetics and cognitive function with aging.

This Preface introduces the Special Issue entitled, "Energy Substrates and Microbiome Govern Brain Bioenergetics and Cognitive Function with Aging", which is comprised of manuscripts contributed by invited speakers and program/organizing committee members who participated in the 14th International Conference on Brain Energy Metabolism (ICBEM) held on October 24-27, 2022 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. The conference covered the latest developments in research related to neuronal energetics, emerging roles for glycogen in higher brain functions, the impact of dietary intervention on aging, memory, and Alzheimer's disease, roles of the microbiome in gut-brain signaling, astrocyte-neuron interactions related to cognition and memory, novel roles for mitochondria and their metabolites, and metabolic neuroimaging in aging and neurodegeneration. The special issue contains 25 manuscripts on these topics plus three tributes to outstanding scientists who have made important contributions to brain energy metabolism and participated in numerous ICBEM conferences. In addition, two of the manuscripts describe important directions and the rationale for future research in many thematic areas covered by the conference.

Does the audit committee member’s accounting experience associated with key audit matter types?

Does the audit committee member’s accounting experience associated with key audit matter types?

Gender balance in Australian pharmacy organisations: Are we there yet?

IntroductionIn the dynamic landscape of healthcare, pharmacists play a critical role in ensuring the well-being of communities, and having solid professional organisations to support pharmacists is essential in crucial activities, including continuing education, advocacy and establishing service standards. Eight pharmacy organisations play vital roles in representing pharmacists in various sectors and collectively contribute to developing, regulating, and promoting the pharmacy profession in Australia. However, a notable lack of female representation in these organisations' leadership roles has led to an increased focus on gender balance and equity. ObjectiveTo determine if the gender distribution in pharmacy leadership aligns with the pharmacy workforce in Australia (64% women) and how it has changed in the five years since our last study on the issue. SettingAustralia. MethodEight key Australian pharmacy organisations were identified. The website for each organisation was accessed, and data were recorded for their 2023 boards/committees/councils based on annual reports. Data recorded include name, number of males, number of females, and the gender of the president/chair of each board/committee/council. ResultsData were obtained for 340 separate professional committee members from the eight organisations (including state/territory branches) in 2023. Gender balance in pharmacy organisations has increased significantly since 2018, with women's representation in leadership positions now at 58% (47% 2018). ConclusionGender equity within Australian pharmacy professional organisations has significantly progressed.

The experience of persons with disabilities as beneficiaries of Ghana's District Assemblies Common Fund.

Ghana's Disability Fund aims to build the capacity of persons with disabilities, particularly those outside of formal employment, to engage in livelihood generation activities as a way to reduce poverty. The objective of this paper is to investigate the kind of knowledge that exists on the District Assemblies Common Fund program, understand the experience of beneficiaries when they access the program, and examine the benefits on beneficiaries' livelihoods. The research consisted of five focus group discussions with 35 beneficiaries, key informant interviews with six member organizations of Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, and interviews with eleven Disability Fund Management Committees members. This research found the experiences of beneficiaries on the program are varied yet the program on the whole has had a positive outcomes on their livelihoods. Persons with disabilities who participated in this study demonstrated knowledge of the program. Beneficiaries further described issues relating to the quality of purchased items, the procurement process, as well as reductions and changes to requested items. Disability-specific issues in accessing the funds were also noted. These limited the effectiveness of the Fund to meet its stated goals. The findings of the study can inform the Common Fund Secretariat efforts to improve the performance of the fund as well as the advocacy of the disability movement. The findings are also relevant to the design and implementation of other social protection programmes in low-and middle-income countries.

Preface: 3rd International Conference on Software, Data Processing and Information Technology (SDPIT 2024)

The 2024 3rd International Conference on Software, Data Processing and Information Technology (SDPIT 2024) is a leading conference held at Washington DC, USA during February 17-18, 2024. It encourages communication and collaboration, hoping to provide an international platform for its participants to present, share, and learn the latest advance and development of software engineering, data processing, cloud computation, mathematical modeling and information technology. Academics, researchers, and students from across the world are all welcomed to exchange findings and ideas, to draw further inspirations in these research fields. It's a great opportunity to deepen your understanding in the related topics. Everyone interested in these fields were welcomed to join the conference and to give comments and raise questions to the speeches and presentations. We are hoping we could see each other again next year. Each submission to SDPIT 2024 was reviewed by at least two program committee members. We would like to thank the program committee members and external reviewers for their hard work in reviewing and selecting papers. Hopefully, all participants and other interested readers can benefit scientifically from the proceedings and find it rewarding in the process. Chairman of Conference Committee Washington DC, USA

Lead Independent Directors and Internal Information Environment

ABSTRACTResearch Question/IssueThis study explores the relationship between the presence of a lead independent director (LID) and firms' internal information environment. LIDs are elected independent members of the board who perform key duties for the independent directors and the board, including reviewing and approving board meeting agendas, chairing non‐executive board meetings, and acting as a liaison between the CEO and other independent directors. We hypothesize that LID presence lowers information barriers between the CEO and the rest of the board members, enabling more rapid information acquisition and integration and enhancing the internal information environment of the firm.Research Findings/InsightsUsing a sample of US publicly listed companies from 2001 to 2019, we document that LID presence on the board is positively associated with proxies of internal information quality that reflect better information acquisition and information integration: accuracy and precision of management earnings forecasts, speed of earnings announcement, and absence of material weaknesses in internal controls. These results are robust to alternative model specifications, including entropy balancing, Heckman two‐step correction for self‐selection bias, firm fixed effects, and placebo tests. Further analyses suggest that LIDs with financial expertise and audit committee memberships are more effective in positively influencing internal information quality. We also show that LID presence is positively associated with several proxies of external information quality.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsWe build on agency theory to argue that LIDs improve internal information quality by reinforcing the information quality benefits of unified leadership while mitigating potential compromises in information quality arising from entrenchment. Similarly, we use arguments emanating from the novel strategic leadership systems theory to posit that a LID appointment facilitates the tasks of the CEO and the board, enhancing the effectiveness of both groups in their respective roles: the CEO in making operating and investment decisions and the board in strengthening oversight while bringing cohesion in their shared role of strategy visioning and implementation.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsOur findings suggest that there is scope for shareholders to consider LID appointments as an addition to their firms' corporate governance structures to enhance the internal information environment and decision‐making efficiency. Policymakers can also encourage LID appointments on the board when promoting best practices in corporate governance through regulatory guidelines.

Effects of Audit Committee on Fraudulent Financial Reporting Among Listed Firms in Kenya.

Fraudulent financial reporting poses significant risks to the integrity of financial markets, investor confidence, and the overall economy. As a result, effective corporate governance mechanisms are crucial in mitigating the occurrence of fraudulent activities. The audit committee, as a key component of corporate governance, plays a vital role in overseeing financial reporting and providing assurance on the reliability of financial statements. This paper aims to explore the effects of audit committee characteristics on fraudulent financial reporting of listed firms in Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the effect of Audit Committee; gender, financial expertise, size and independence on fraudulent financial reporting. The study was anchored on the Fraud Pentagon theory. Explanatory research design and longitudinal research design was employed in this study where secondary panel data was obtained through content analysis from audited financial statements spanning from 2012 to 2021. The study targeted listed firms in Kenya during the study period and only firms that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were retained. After applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria only 40 firms formed the study population. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the significance of each independent variable being tested at 95% confidence level. The findings show that Gender (β1 = -.1154, p=.000.05) and Financial expertise (β2 = -.200, p=.000.05), Size (β3 = -.1457, p=.001.05), and Independence (β4 = -.1818, p=.000.05) had negative and significant effect on fraudulent financial reporting on firms in Kenya. Thus, the study concluded that audit committee characteristics such as gender variability, audit committee size, audit committee financial expertise and audit committee independence significantly influence fraudulent financial reported among listed firms in Kenya. Based on the findings, the study recommends enhancing the effectiveness of the audit committee in preventing fraudulent financial reporting, organizations should strive for gender diversity within the committee. This can be achieved by actively seeking and appointing qualified female candidates to the audit committee. Promoting diversity ensures a range of perspectives and experiences, leading to more robust discussions, increased scrutiny of financial reporting practices, and improved decision-making. Secondly, Organizations should prioritize the independence of the audit committee by ensuring that committee members are free from any conflicts of interest and have no direct ties to management. Additionally, Organizations should carefully consider the size of the audit committee to optimize its effectiveness in addressing fraudulent financial reporting. Lastly, Organizations should establish mechanisms for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the audit committee's performance. Regular assessments of the committee's effectiveness in detecting and preventing fraudulent financial reporting can help identify areas for improvement.

Identification of Potential Clusters of Signs and Symptoms to Prioritize Patients' Eligibility for AADCd Screening by 3-OMD Testing: An Italian Delphi Consensus.

AADCd is an ultrarare, underdiagnosed neurometabolic disorder for which a screening test (3-OMD dosing on dried blood spot (DBS)) and targeted gene therapy (authorized in the EU and the UK) are available. Therefore, it is mandatory to raise awareness of presenting symptoms and signs among practitioners. Delivering scientifically sound information to promote screening of patients with the correct cluster of symptoms and signs would be critical. In light of the lack of sound evidence on this issue, expert opinion level of evidence was elicited with the Delphi method. Fourteen steering committee members invited a panel of 29 Italian experts to express their opinions on a series of crucial but controversial topics related to using 3-OMD DBS as a screening method in AADCd. Clusters of symptoms and signs were divided into typical or atypical, depending on age groups. Inclusion in newborn screening programs and the usefulness of a clinical score were investigated. A five-point Likert scale was used to rate the level of priority attributed to each statement. The following statements reached the highest priority: testing pediatric patients with hypotonia, developmental delay, movement disorders, and oculogyric crises; inclusion of 3-OMD dosing on DBS in neonatal screening programs; development of a clinical score to support patients' selection for 3-OMD screening; among atypical phenotypes based on clinical characteristics of Italian patients: testing patients with intellectual disability and parkinsonism-dystonia. Discussion. Clusters of symptoms and signs can be used to prioritize testing with 3-OMD DBS. A clinical score was rated as highly relevant for the patient's selection. The inclusion of 3-OMD dosing in newborn screening programs was advocated with high clinical priority.

Community Health Builders Program: A Collaborative Model Connecting National Health Thought Leaders With Community-Level Champions.

Make Well Known Foundation (MWKF), a nonprofit organization focused on supporting the health of minoritized and underserved populations, piloted the Community Health Builders (CHB) program. This connected MKWF Steering Committee members-national thought leaders in health-with leaders of underserved populations in Greensboro, NC, with the goal of translating research into practice. Steering Committee members provided education, instruction, and resources to community leaders that could then be transferred to area residents to cultivate better health. A roundtable meeting was first organized to allow community leaders to share insights into the highest priority needs of Greensboro's Black residents. Four topics resulted that became the focus of the training modules (called "accelerator forums") that formed the core of the CHB program. Each accelerator forum was led by Steering Committee members and local-level topic experts to educate and share resources with community leaders. The program concluded with a local health and resource fair, which exposed Greensboro residents to the resources shared during CHB program trainings. Overall, the CHB program pilot demonstrated success in the collaborative engagement between national- and community-level leaders based on measures of increased knowledge and self-efficacy in supporting Greensboro residents in the four accelerator forum topics. In a final debrief session, CHB participants shared their perspective that the progress achieved in the community needed to be sustained through continued national- and community-level collaboration and ongoing community training. This key insight and the need for sustained engagement will be incorporated into all future programs.

Research Ethics Committee and Integrity Board Members’ Collaborative Decision Making in Cases in a Training Setting

AbstractThis research focuses on how research ethics committee and integrity board members discuss and decide on solutions to case scenarios that involve a dimension of research ethics or integrity in collaborative settings. The cases involved issues around authorship, conflict of interest, disregard of good scientific practice and ethics review, and research with vulnerable populations (children and neonates). The cases were set in a university, a hospital, or a research institute. In the research, we used a deductive qualitative approach with thematic analysis. Twenty-seven research ethics committee and research integrity board members from 16 European countries and one country outside Europe participated. Participants represented natural and life sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They worked on cases involving ethical/integrity issues in six different constellations. Results show that experts apply key elements of ethical decision making, namely identification of ethical issues, stakeholders, guidelines, solutions, and own positionality, in dealing collaboratively with ethics/ integrity problems, and the nature of the application depends on the complexity of the case. Understanding how individuals knowledgeable in research ethics and integrity, in this case, individuals serving on research ethics committees and integrity boards, approach ethical/ moral issues can help to identify strategies that may be useful in the development of research ethics and integrity training for junior researchers who may benefit from learning professional strategies.

Challenges and potential improvements in the Accreditation Standards of the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation 2019 (ASK2019) derived through meta-evaluation: a cross-sectional study

This study aimed to identify challenges and potential improvements in Korea’s medical education accreditation process according to the Accreditation Standards of the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation 2019 (ASK2019). Meta-evaluation was conducted to survey the experiences and perceptions of stakeholders, including self-assessment committee members, site visit committee members, administrative staff, and medical school professors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using surveys sent to 40 medical schools. The 332 participants included self-assessment committee members, site visit team members, administrative staff, and medical school professors. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance and the chi-square test were used to analyze and compare opinions on medical education accreditation between the categories of participants. Site visit committee members placed greater importance on the necessity of accreditation than faculty members. A shared positive view on accreditation’s role in improving educational quality was seen among self-evaluation committee members and professors. Administrative staff highly regarded the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation’s reliability and objectivity, unlike the self-evaluation committee members. Site visit committee members positively perceived the clarity of accreditation standards, differing from self-assessment committee members. Administrative staff were most optimistic about implementing standards. However, the accreditation process encountered challenges, especially in duplicating content and preparing self-evaluation reports. Finally, perceptions regarding the accuracy of final site visit reports varied significantly between the self-evaluation committee members and the site visit committee members. This study revealed diverse views on medical education accreditation, highlighting the need for improved communication, expectation alignment, and stakeholder collaboration to refine the accreditation process and quality.

The role of community engagement in promoting research participants' understanding of pharmacogenomic research results: Perspectives of stakeholders involved in HIV/AIDS research and treatment.

Community engagement (CE) is praised to be a powerful vehicle in empowering communities with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions for better health care. Several CE approaches have been proposed to improve participants' and research communities' understanding of genomic research including pharmacogenomic information and results. However, there is limited literature on how these approaches can be used to communicate findings of pharmacogenomic research to communities of people living with HIV. This study explored stakeholders' perspectives on the role of community engagement in promoting understanding of pharmacogenomic research results among people living with HIV. We adopted a qualitative approach that involved 54 stakeholders between September 2021 and February 2022. We held five focus group discussions among 30 community representatives from five research institutions, 12 key informant interviews among researchers, and 12 in-depth interviews among ethics committee members. A thematic approach was used to analyze the results. Five themes merged from this data and these included (i) benefits of engaging communities prior to returning individual pharmacogenomic research results to participants. (ii) Obtaining community consensus on the kinds of pharmacogenomic results to be returned. (iii) Opinions on how pharmacogenomic research information and results should be communicated at community and individual levels. (iv) Perceived roles of community stakeholders in promoting participants' understanding and utilization of pharmacogenomic research results. (v) Perceived challenges of engaging communities when returning individual results to research participants. Stakeholders opined that CE facilitates co-learning between researchers and research communities. Researchers can adapt existing CE approaches that are culturally acceptable for meaningful engagement with minimal ethical and social risks when communicating pharmacogenomic research results. CE approaches can facilitate understanding of pharmacogenomic research and findings among research participants and communities. Therefore, if creatively adapted, existing and new CE approaches can enable researchers to communicate simple and understandable results of pharmacogenomic research.

Committee Members and Officers for 2023–4

Committee Members and Officers for 2023–4

Preface

Proceeding of the 3rd International Conference: Realizing the Blue Economy Based on Fisheries and Marine Governance in Archipelagic (ICRBE-FMGA 2023) 27 November 2023, Pattimura University Ambon, Indonesia The journey towards realizing a sustainable blue economy requires collaborative efforts, innovative strategies, and informed governance. This conference serves as a platform to explore and discuss advancements, challenges, and solutions in harnessing the potential of our oceans while ensuring responsible stewardship.Our recent virtual conference, held amidst the busy schedules of our esteemed keynote speakers, unfolded against the backdrop of Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia. Despite the geographical distances that separate us, our virtual gathering transcended borders, welcoming participants from around the world. Utilizing the Zoom meeting application, we seamlessly connected and engaged in fruitful discussions without encountering any technical difficulties.Throughout the conference, two enlightening sessions which are keynote speaker presentations and author presentation, complemented by interactive Q&A in each sessions, enriching our collective understanding of marine governance and the blue economy paradigm. With an anticipated participation of 48 presenters, we witnessed a diverse assembly of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers dedicated to catalysing positive change in our marine ecosystems.This conference was funded through annual budged 2023 of Pattimura Universitas. I extend my heartfelt tributes to all our colleagues who contributed their expertise, insights, and unwavering commitment to this cause. As we embark on this journal journey, it is essential to acknowledge the dedicated individuals who formed the backbone of our conference organizing committee especially for all reviewers and committee members. Their expertise, devotion, and organizational skills were critical in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable conference experience.Lastly, while we celebrate the success of our virtual conference, we remain mindful of the inherent drawbacks and limitations associated with remote gatherings. We recognize the importance of fostering personal connections, unforeseen interactions, and hands-on experiences, elements that are often challenging to replicate in virtual settings. Moving forward, we are committed to exploring innovative approaches to mitigate these challenges and enhance the efficacy of our virtual engagements.In conclusion, I extend my warmest welcome to all our participants and readers, inviting you to delve into the insightful contributions presented within this publication. Together, let us embark on a transformative journey towards realizing a sustainable blue economy for the benefit of present and future generations.List of Committee International Scientific Board, Editor and Reviewer are available in this pdf.

179 Clinical and Translational Researchers from Underrepresented Groups Identify the Barriers they Experience

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Using the NIH’s expanded definition of underrepresented populations in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social science research enterprise, we examined the impediments for conducting translational research experienced by those from underrepresented groups. [https://acts.slayte.com/calls/detail/740a13de-316c-11ee-90f4-0e0ce905385c/draft/389221c1-434e-11ee-90f4-0e0ce905385c#_ftn1] #_ftn1 METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: One hundred and ninety-nine people completed a survey distributed to 750 persons who had interacted with our Center’s service cores as users, awardees, mentors, committee members, seminar attendees, and/or participated Center sponsored programming (response rate = 26.5%). The survey addressed barriers to conducting clinical and translational research at the respondent’s institution, awareness of and interest in using specific Advance RI-CTR services, and satisfaction with their institution’s efforts to support clinical and translational research. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Women reported access to collaboration across institutions as a barrier to clinical and translational research that existed to a great extent (28%) significantly more than men (10%). More than half (53%) of the other underrepresented researchers surveyed identified insufficient grant administration supportas a barrier that occurs to a great extent, compared with 35% of researchers who were not from an underrepresented group. Other barriers reported more frequently among underrepresented researchers included lack of pilot project funding, inadequate space for conducting research, lower access to collaborators across institutions, and difficulty obtaining advice on regulatory issues and commercial development. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Efforts to address the barriers identified by underrepresented groups will include, but not be limited to, improving collaborations across institutions, support for grant administration, and a discussion of plans for the Center to augment and advocate at the partner institutions on behalf of these underrepresented individuals.

126 20 YEARS SHAPING A NEW GENERATION OF HISPANIC CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCHERS: UPR-MSC POSTDOCTORAL MASTER IN CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This project presents the Post-doctoral Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Research (MSc) program’s outcomes in 20 years of its implementation. This program is a joint offering between the Schools of Health Professions and School of Medicine of the University of Puerto Rico. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study consists of secondary data analysis of academic and administrative documents. It also includes data from the Annual Evaluation retreats reports and an Alumni Follow-up Survey using an electronic questionnaire. All 121 Scholars admitted to the program from academic years 2003 to 2023 were included in the sample. Data analysis included descriptive statistical analysis of quantitative data and qualitative content analysis regarding recruitment/admissions, faculty composition, curriculum design, Scholars’ outcomes, and program’s financial support sources. Quantitative data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Scholars of the program had been recruited from the UPR-MSC and several partner institutions with diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and research areas. Faculty and committee members have representation from the six MSC-Schools and partner institutions. The academic Program structure has changed over the years, and currently, more than 65% of the courses are offered online. Several financial sources have been identified to support the scholars. The Scholars’ portfolios of grant submission and publication productivity evidence the program’s success. Graduates have also been successful in advancing to positions that foster research impacting Hispanics. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The Post-doctoral Master’s in Clinical and Translational Research program (MSc) has contributed to the formation of committed Hispanic clinical and translational researchers impacting minorities and contributing to diversity in the research workforce.

529 Implementation of a Clinical Research Feasibility Program at an Academic Medical Center

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The objectives are 1) to describe the creation and implementation of a Clinical Research Feasibility Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSOM), and 2) to share early findings demonstrating its effectiveness in improving research operations which may be helpful for other academic medical centers. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Many clinical trials are closed prematurely because of low accrual or not being able to meet the target enrollment. The Miami CTSI and UMMSOM Executive Dean for Research office collaborated to establish the Research Feasibility Committee (RFC) focusing on clinical trial selection with upfront feasibility and recruitment planning. Program implementation included: 1) selecting faculty with successful clinical trial track records as committee members; 2) developing processes, tools, and governance; 3) feasibility pilot testing; and 4) feasibility program roll out and refinement. The feasibility review process starts with the PI/Designee completing a REDCap study intake form, followed by an administrative review to ensure completeness of the form. The RFC chair assigns reviewers for the studies. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The RFC went live on September 1, 2022 reviewing industry sponsor clinical research studies. The RFC conducts a systematic feasibility assessment of the study protocol, operational requirements, enrollment barriers, institutional resources, and study budget (if available) for all applicable research studies prior to IRB submission and contract negotiation at the UMMSOM. To date, the RFC has received over 270 submissions. Based on feedback from users, the committee has made changes to improve the comprehension of questions and added questions to ensure capturing of critical information to assess study feasibility. Initial metrics suggest simply implementing the review process has decreased the number of clinical trial submissions: average number of studies per quarter was 41 pre-RFC vs 24 post RFC. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The development and implementation of the RFC involved many stakeholders from the research enterprise. Clear and frequent communication to the research community was a key factor in the program’s success. The next phase is assessing the impact of the RFC, such as preserving vital resources for trials more likely to be successful.