Objectives/Goals: Delving into the intricate web of translational research collaborations, this study analyzed the evolving landscape of the Hispanic Alliance of Clinical and Translational Research from 2020 to 2024 using cutting-edge social network analysis (SNA). SNA is a powerful tool for visualizing, understanding, and harnessing the power of networks. Methods/Study Population: We conducted a systematic document review of all the Alliance IDeA-CTR Network Calls for Pilot Projects from 2020 to 2024 including key attributes of the investigators and collaborators (e.g., academic institution, highest degree, collaborator type). Scientific collaboration was defined as two or more researchers working together in a grant proposal for a pilot project application. Study data was recorded and tracked using an Excel spreadsheet. R-Statistical software was used to analyze and map the networks resulting from collaboration interactions comparing the 2020 Call and 2024 Call. Network statistics were performed including nodes, isolates, edges, components, density, diameter, average degree, and the size of the main component. Results/Anticipated Results: Within a vibrant network comprising over 150 investigators from local and national academic institutions, clinicians (49.3%), and basic researchers (25.4%) are predominant. Initial findings showcase a remarkable surge in interdisciplinary collaborations and affiliations over time. Preliminary findings demonstrated that the number of nodes/actors increased from 16 to 75 comparing 2020 to 2024 and the edges/relationships from 12 to 66. Notably, the number of translational research clusters surged from 4 to 18, with mentorship emerging as a critical conduit bridging diverse research clusters; 16 to 78 nodes in comparison from 2020 to 2024. More extensive collaborative clusters occurred across time with over 20 researchers collaborating. A mentor was the main actor connecting these research clusters. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This study unveils the intricacies and power of translational research dynamics, showing a palpable surge in collaboration diversity and depth. By harnessing data-driven insights, our approach catalyzes informed decision-making to amplify collaboration, diversity, and network efficacy, offering invaluable guidance for policy and practice.

Objectives/Goals: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone malignancy in humans and dogs. >40% of children and >90% of dogs succumb to metastatic disease. We hypothesize MYC overexpression in metastatic canine and human OS contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor environment by driving tumor-associated macrophage influx and T lymphocyte exclusion. Methods/Study Population: To characterize the role of oncogenic MYC signaling in the canine metastatic tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), 42 archived FFPE lung metastatic canine OS samples were evaluated for MYC copy number variation (CNV), mRNA, and protein expression via ddPCR, nanostring analysis, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Seven samples also underwent GeoMX spatial profiling to more specifically evaluate T cell and macrophage transcriptional profiles based on MYC status. To determine the role of MYC target modulation as a potential therapeutic option, canine and human OS cell lines were treated with a novel MYC inhibitor (MYCi975) and assessed for effects on survival, proliferation, and cytokine profiles. Results/Anticipated Results: We demonstrate that copy number gains are not a key driver of MYC hyperactivity in canine metastatic OS. However, stratification based on MYC protein expression demonstrates that “MYC-high” tumors are associated with downregulation of cytotoxic effector T-cell associated transcripts and upregulation of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) and extracellular matrix remodeling transcripts. We also report that MYCi975 treatment of canine and human OS cell lines results in significant inhibition of OS cell survival and proliferation at concentrations that are pharmacologically achievable in mice. Furthermore, we demonstrate MYC inhibition by MYCi975 is associated with reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in OS cell culture models. Discussion/Significance of Impact: While MYC overactivity in metastatic canine OS may not be genomically driven, other mechanisms that lead to increased MYC protein expression are associated with transcriptomic profiles supportive of local immunosuppression. Pharmacologic targeting of MYC may serve as a strategy to bolster immunotherapeutic options in metastatic OS treatment.

Objectives/Goals: High-performing translational teams (TTs) effectively draw knowledge from empirical data to develop health solutions. However, some TTs lack rigorous data approaches, resulting in inefficiency. The ICTR data science initiative integrates team-oriented data science for more innovative and reproducible translational research. Methods/Study Population: To help TTs better leverage data science, the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison orchestrated a strategic initiative involving four main actions. • Assess needs. Determine how TTs are using data science and identify essential tools for success. • Establish partnerships. Develop strategic relationships to centralize resources and engage data scientists. Provide team science training to ensure effective integration. • Develop educational pathways. Design and implement workshops to demystify novel data science tools and upskill translational scientists. • Facilitate culture change. Identify ways that all ICTR services can help identify needs, foster educational pathways, and encourage partnerships to help TTs better leverage data science. Results/Anticipated Results: Initial assessments indicated that fewer than 25% of TTs receiving pilot awards used data science tools, and only 10% had a data scientist on their team. Data from collaboration planning sessions indicated that few TTs used data science, but all were interested in learning more. To address this deficiency, ICTR partnered with the Data Science Institute and the Section of Applied Clinical Informatics. This expertise informed resource development (e.g., a data science primer, websites) and generated workshops. Educational opportunities include tailored workshops to help TTs better curate data and create more efficient workflows, graduate course modules to improve rigor and reproducibility, and seminars illustrating translational applications of AI, visualizations, and large data integration. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The ICTR Data Science Initiative was designed to empower TTs to more effectively integrate data to power translation. As data science approaches and expertise are embedded within teams, we anticipate continued increases in interest and usage of data science tools, collaborative publications, and data rich applications for extramural funding.

NIH offers multiple mentored career development award mechanisms. By building on the UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC) from its initial NIH funding in 2006, we created an institution-wide K scholar resource. We investigated subsequent NIH funding for K scholars and to what extent CTSC research resources were used. Using NIH RePORTER, we created a database of UC Davis investigators who obtained K01, K08, K23, K25, or K99, as well as institutional KL2 or K12 awards and tracked CTSC research resource use and subsequent funding success. Overall, 94 scholars completed K training between 2007 and 2020, of which 70 participated in one of four institutional, NIH-funded K programs. An additional 103 scholars completed a mentored clinical research training program. Of 94 K awardees, 61 (65%) later achieved NIH funding, with the majority receiving a subsequent individual K award. A higher proportion (73%) of funded scholars used CTSC resources compared to unfunded (48%). Biostatistics and Biomedical Informatics were most commonly used and 55% of scholars used one or more CTSC resource. We conclude that institutional commitment to create a K scholar platform and use of CTSC research resources is associated with high NIH funding rates for early career investigators.

Despite understanding its impact on organizational effectiveness, practical guidance on how to train translational team (TT) leaders is lacking. Previously, we developed an evolutionary learning model of TT maturation consisting of three goal-directed phases: (1). team assembly (Formation); (2). conducting research (Knowledge Generation); and (3). dissemination and implementation (Translation). At each phase, the team acquires group-level knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) that enhance its performance. Noting that the majority of team-emergent KSAs are promoted by leadership behaviors, we examine the SciTS literature to identify the relevant behaviors for each phase. We propose that effective team leadership evolves from a hierarchical, transformational model early in team Formation to a shared, functional leadership model during Translation. We synthesized an integrated model of TT leadership, mapping a generic “functional leadership” taxonomy to relevant leadership behaviors linked to TT performance, creating an evidence-informed Leadership and Skills Enhancement for Research (LASER) training program. Empirical studies indicate that leadership behaviors are stable across time; to enhance leadership skills, ongoing reflection, evaluation, and practice are needed. We provide a comprehensive multi-level evaluation framework for tracking the growth of TT leadership skills. This work provides a framework for assessing and training relevant leadership behaviors for high-performance TTs.

Objectives/Goals: The objective of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration (CCIA) Award Initiative is to support synergistic collaborations to develop, demonstrate, and sustainably implement innovative solutions across and beyond the CTSA Consortium. Methods/Study Population: All CCIA awards between 2016 and 2022 were reviewed and analyzed by Fiscal year, activity code, and research area using NIH analytical tools and platforms. Subject matter experts categorized each award by research topics, study populations, stage of translational science, and innovation type. The number and type of collaborating organizations were noted and major accomplishments and expected outcomes were summarized. Results/Anticipated Results: Between FY2016 and FY2022, NCATS funded 37 U01 and 18 R21 CCIA awards including >90 different public and private partnering organizations. CCIA awards spanned all stages of translation including preclinical (26%), clinical (36%), implementation (31%), and public health research (7%). Of the 55 CCIA awards, 31% focused on urgent public health needs and 25% were designed to address health disparities. Broadly, types of innovations included: Data science-related projects (18%), clinical care innovations (15%), biomarker or clinical outcome assessments (13%), digital health solutions (11%), therapeutic development (11%), therapeutic discovery (9%), education and training (7%), diagnostic tools (5%), software tools (5%), or tools for clinical research (5%). In total, >735 publications cited CCIA awards. Discussion/Significance of Impact: For >8 years, the CCIAs have brought together researchers from diverse scientific disciplines across the nation to speed the development of new health solutions with broad impact. Advancements in genomic screening, for example, have led to policy changes while new delivery approaches have improved the quality of care for underserved populations.

Objectives/Goals: Community health workers (CHWs) are links between the community and healthcare. As primary care (PC) expands to address social drivers of health, CHWs are becoming part of PC teams, yet how the two integrate is not well understood. Using an input-mechanism-outcome (IMO) model, this research seeks to develop a model to expand CHW-PC integration efforts. Methods/Study Population: Participants were recruited from Roots Community Health Center (Roots), a CHC serving historically marginalized communities, that has successfully integrated a CHW role, Roots Health Navigators (RHNs), into PC services. The preliminary conceptual framework for this study was guided by an overarching IMO model and informed by social identity theory, team science, and the interprofessional care literature. A mixed methods study was conducted in three phases: 1) cross-sectional survey, 2) semi-structured interviews, and 3) model development. The survey identified team dynamics such as communication, trust, and shared understanding, and interviews explored how these collaborative teaming mechanisms take shape. Findings were merged into a final model of CHW-PC integration that was reviewed by Roots leaders. Results/Anticipated Results: Survey results (n  =  25) highlighted highly rated team dynamics including shared understanding and acting and feeling like a team. Qualitative findings (n  =  10) described how integration occurred through complex interactions that were community-responsive and collectively reduced burnout among the team. Joint findings noted the importance of RHNs to continuity of care, building trust, and enhancing PC team effectiveness. Findings informed the development of a model of CHW-PC integration. This expanded on the preliminary conceptual framework by highlighting the dynamic relationship between mechanisms, processes, and team emergent states, as well as providing evidence to support feedback loops between inputs, mechanisms, and outcomes with overarching influence from the contextual setting. Discussion/Significance of Impact: With a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of CHW-PC integration, findings informed the development of a model that can support other communities to replicate this approach to care and address critical patient needs. Teaming factors that sustain CHW-PC integration may be transferrable to other care teams integrating nontraditional roles.

New educational curricula are emerging to train physicians for healthcare in the 21st century. The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School T.H. Chan School of Medicine (UMass Chan) implemented an MD curriculum redesign in the fall of 2022 that included seven educational pathways, including Entrepreneurship, Biomedical Innovation, and Design. This new pathway curriculum introduces students to the principles of innovation, entrepreneurship, basic engineering principles, and technology commercialization. It is modeled after the I-Corps curriculum with added material regarding engineering principles. I-Corps was initially developed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help scientists understand the commercial potential of their inventions. Major elements include the Business Model Canvas and Customer Discovery [19-22]. First-year (Class of 2027) and second-year (Class of 2026) pathway students were invited to participate in online surveys evaluating course material and their knowledge of course content. Initial results show that the program was well received and student self-assessment demonstrated significant improvement. Objective student knowledge also significantly improved. Novel curricula have the potential to transform medical education and prepare future physicians to practice healthcare in the 21st Century.

Attacks on minoritized communities and increasing awareness of the societal causes of health disparities have combined to highlight deep systemic inequities. In response, academic health centers have prioritized justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in their strategic goals. To have a sustained impact, JEDI efforts cannot be siloed; rather, they must be woven into the fabric of our work and systematically assessed to promote meaningful outcomes and accountability. To this end, the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Clinical Research Education assembled a task force to create and apply a rubric to identify short and long-term JEDI goals, assess the current state of JEDI at our Institute, and make recommendations for immediate action. To ensure deep buy-in, we gathered input from diverse members of our academic community, who served on targeted subcommittees. We then applied a three-step process to ensure rapid forward progress. We emerged with concrete actions for priority focus and a plan for ongoing assessment of JEDI institutionalization. We believe our process and rubric offer a scalable and adaptable model for other institutions and departments to follow as we work together across academic medical institutions to put our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion goals into meaningful action.

Community engagement is a critical component of translational research. Innovative educational approaches to support meaningful involvement of stakeholders in clinical research allows for bidirectional learning and greater engagement in translational efforts. Our Penn State Community-Engaged Research Core (CeRC) team has developed an innovative research curriculum for a variety of stakeholders, including patient partners, organizational representatives, and Community Health Workers (CHWs). This brief report will outline unique curricular approaches, guided by adult learning principles, to enhance stakeholder education and engagement in activities. Initial evidence of impact on learning is also reported.

Patient and community engagement in research is essential in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and cancer care. The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) seeks to identify community needs, communicate them across the entire center, and catalyze activities within the center’s catchment area (CA). This paper aims to evaluate existing frameworks, identify those appropriate for applying to our programs, and map the selected framework(s) to our institution. The authors conducted a narrative review of the literature using PubMed and Google Scholar to find existing frameworks for patient and community engagement in cancer research. The authors identified three potential frameworks for consideration and selected one of these to evaluate KUCC’s efforts and map programmatic activities against it. The mapping exercise evaluates KUCC patient and community involvement using the six foundational expectations of the PCORI framework and assesses the development of multi-level patient engagement over the timeframe of the study. KUCC is working continuously to create partnerships between researchers, patients, and the community to enhance research impact. Based on this and other work, KUCC is seeking to expand programming to a multi-level patient, researcher, institutional, and community engagement framework.

Objectives/Goals: The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program (Program) Data Group was formed to address the increasing volume and complexity of analytics requests and to improve the Program’s data management capacity. Over time, the Group’s role expanded to include comprehensive data leadership and providing data-based support for decision-making. Methods/Study Population: The Program provides medical monitoring and treatment for WTC-related conditions to those directly affected by the 9/11 attacks. These activities generate an abundance of administrative and surveillance data. The Data Group was formed to establish structures and processes that would be adaptable and efficient in leveraging these data. We created a unified workflow including a shared inbox, a standardized request form, and a request-managing tracker. We established communication channels to distribute requests efficiently. We designed a request form to balance the administrative burden on requestors with the need to gather useful information for analyses. We also developed a documentation system to extract key details from forms and incorporate other relevant data to support evaluation and record-keeping. Results/Anticipated Results: From November 2021 through the end of 2023, the Data Group processed and fulfilled 93 data requests. These requests covered a multitude of functional areas essential to the administration of a limited health benefits program. The following top five functional areas made up two-thirds of all requests: Contract Management (n = 30), Research and Quality (n = 15), Operations (n = 11), Medical Policy (n = 10), and Communications (n = 7). Leveraging data collected through our request tracker, the Group conducted annual evaluations and developed visualizations to analyze trends in these requests. The evaluations helped us identify knowledge gaps, highlight areas for improvement – across the Program and within our own processes, and continue to guide and support future Program priorities. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The creation of the Data Group and unified workflow fulfilled the Program’s increasing analytic needs, enhanced oversight of data quality and usage, and facilitated data-driven Program decision-making. Continual optimization of the group’s processes enables opportunities to identify gaps in and support a range of health care delivery initiatives.

Objectives/Goals: An association has been found between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disabilities. Our objective is to observe the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the neurodevelopment of infants. Methods/Study Population: A prospective study was performed on thirty infants who were evaluated using four neonatal neurodevelopmental assessments. Thirteen of these infants were from mothers with T2DM and seventeen of them were from mothers without diabetes. We used the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE), Dubowitz exam, The Capute Scales, and The General Movement Assessment (GMA) to assess the neurodevelopment of these infants. HNNE assesses posture, reflexes, tone, and movement of infants. The Dubowitz exam is used to measure tone and reflexes to get an estimated gestational age (GA) of the infant. The Capute Scales has two subsections, one measures language (receptive and expressive) and the other measures visual-motor development. Lastly, the GMA was used to observe the general movements of the infant. Results/Anticipated Results: Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel determined between-group differences. HNNE, Dubowitz, and the Capute Scales had no significant difference between groups. HNNE results: 4 T2DM below cutoff; 9 controls below cutoff. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Offspring of T2DM mothers show a risk of motor delays in infancy and later language/cognition delays. Offspring of T2DM mothers should be followed due to the risk of motor delays. Early intervention could mitigate delays. This would be the first novel use of these four tools to evaluate 1-month-olds.

Objectives/Goals: Youth with IBD have preventive, psychosocial, and acute care needs beyond those of peers, yet receipt of services does not match those needs. Our objectives are to assess the feasibility of (1) an individualized care plan intervention to improve perceived and measured care quality and (2) a pragmatic trial design embedded in pediatric IBD practice. Methods/Study Population: This is a pilot rollout-design randomized trial (n = 60) at a regional academic medical center. Eligible patients are 13–19 years old with IBD for at least 3 months and scheduled for a follow-up visit during the trial. Research staff recruits from one cluster at a time until goal enrollment (14–16). Enrollees are randomized 1:1 to intervention (MyIBD now) or control (MyIBD after the trial). MyIBD combines a tabular summary of individualized acute, chronic, and preventive care needs with nurse facilitator support for patients to use the information. Surveys at baseline, 6 and 12 months measure care quality (Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care scale, vaccines, health services) and patient self-management skills (Partners in Health scale). Implementation outcomes are collected via chart review. Results/Anticipated Results: To date, 44 subjects have been randomized. Among subjects, the mean age is 16 years; 73% have Crohn’s disease, 77% have commercial insurance, 75% receive anti-TNF therapy, and 14% live in a rural area. Mean baseline perceived care quality (PACIC scale) is 76.9 (sd 16.3; out of 100); mean baseline perceived self-management skill (PIH scale) is 78.1 (sd 13.4; out of 96). On objective care quality measures, 59% have completed the HPV vaccine series, 32% have received an additional pneumonia vaccine; in the past year 68% have had a screening for mood disorders, 20% an emergency department visit for IBD, and 18% an IBD hospitalization. To date, the IBD clinical team has achieved 100% completion (intervention subjects receive MyIBD plus nurse facilitation) and 0% contamination (control subjects inappropriately receive MyIBD). Discussion/Significance of Impact: Study results to date support the feasibility of the pragmatic, embedded trial design and indicate opportunities for improvement in care quality as perceived by patients and as measured by common preventive and acute care quality indicators. An individualized care plan supported with nurse facilitation may improve pediatric IBD care quality.

The NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) was established to support translational research that spans the entire TS Continuum, with the goal of bridging the gap between preclinical biomedical research and real-world applications to advance treatments to patients more quickly. In 2018, the Translational Science Training (TST) TL1 Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio implemented new strategies to better include and encourage research more broadly across the TS Continuum, including the addition of postdoctoral scientists and a clinically trained Program Co-Director, expansion of team science and community engagement programming, and targeted trainee recruitment from schools of nursing, dentistry, and allied health, in addition to medicine. The objective of this bibliometric analysis was to determine if the program exhibited a more diverse mix of T-types after the adjustments made in 2018. The TST/TL1 Program experienced a shift in T-type, from mostly T0 (preclinical) to more T3/T4 (clinical implementation/public health) research, after new strategies were implemented. This supports the conclusion that strategic programmatic adjustments by an NCATS-funded predoctoral training program resulted in outcomes that better align with NCATS priorities to develop Trainees who contribute across the entire TS Continuum.