The ACTSI Evaluation Framework
The evaluation of the ACTSI specifically addresses the Institute's four primary goals/ objectives which are to:
- Establish the ACTSI as the academic home and infrastructural bridge for a citywide clinical and translational discipline
- Build upon successful programs to train and advance a growing cadre of transformative scientists and foster multidisciplinary research teams
- Promote discovery in clinical and translational collaborative research through innovative initiatives and their translation to humans through novel and emerging technologies
- Actively engage the community in bidirectional research translation that will engender the public trust in scientific discovery and the translation of new knowledge that ultimately enhances the health of the communities served
The evaluation is guided by an overall framework that includes short, long term and distal outcomes reflecting the goals and objectives of the individual ACTSI components.
Short-term Outcomes:
- Enhanced institutional and local capacity and environment for translational and clinical science as evidenced by new collaborations, research and pilot projects, grants, publications, presentations and training events, new investigators and trainees.
- Enhanced technologies, resources and knowledge base for clinical and translational research as evidenced by increased development and utilization of technology resources, training, licenses, patents and continuing education opportunities, more rapid identification and investment in emerging technologies and dissemination of new knowledge to academic and community based partners.
- Production of skilled trainees, scholars, and researchers in clinical and translational research as evidenced by the number of new scholars, development and implementation of curricula and training programs.
Long-term Outcomes:
- Establishment of an integrative academic home for translational and clinical science as evidenced by increased collaboration among individual researchers, between academic departments and across institutions in the development of new and innovative science and technology.
- Dissemination of new methods and research .
- Increased and sustained productivity and contributions to clinical and translational science as evidenced by grant awards, publications, innovative research, therapies, and new technologies.
- Increased and sustained community engagement and enhanced capacity to conduct community based participatory research, as evidenced by the number of researchers trained in CBPR principles and techniques and the development of community partnerships.
Distal Outcomes
- Rapid and efficient translation of discoveries from the laboratory to medical practice in the community
- Enhanced community engagement and collaborative partnerships to support and sustain clinical and translation research in the Atlanta community.
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