The CITRA pilot studies program: mentoring translational research.
OBJECTIVE
We developed an innovative pilot studies program to foster partnerships between university researchers and agencies serving older people in New York City. The development of researchers willing to collaborate with frontline service agencies and service agencies ready to partner with researchers is critical for translating scientific research into evidence-based practice that benefits community-dwelling older adults.


METHODS
We adapted the traditional academic pilot studies model to include key features of community-based participatory research.


RESULTS
In partnership with a network of 265 senior centers and service agencies, we built a multistep program to recruit and educate scientific investigators and agencies in the principles of community-based research and to fund research partnerships that fulfilled essential elements of research translation from university to community: scientific rigor, sensitivity to community needs, and applicability to frontline practice. We also developed an educational and monitoring infrastructure to support projects.


CONCLUSIONS
Pilot studies programs developing community-based participatory research require an infrastructure that can supplement individual pilot investigator efforts with centralized resources to ensure proper implementation and dissemination of the research. The financial and time investment required to maintain programs such as those at the Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging, or CITRA, may be a barrier to establishing similar programs.
Wethington
Elaine
E
Department of Human Development, Cornell University, MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. ew20@cornell.edu
Breckman
Risa
R
Meador
Rhoda
R
Reid
M Carrington
MC
Sabir
Myra
M
Lachs
Mark
M
Pillemer
Karl A
KA
D000375:Aging; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D009519:New York City; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D012108:Research Personnel; D014495:Universities