title: NUTORC-a transdisciplinary health services and outcomes research team in transplantation.
abstract: The field of solid organ transplantation has historically concentrated research efforts on basic science and translational studies. However, there has been increasing interest in health services and outcomes research. The aim was to build an effective and sustainable, inter- and transdisciplinary health services and outcomes research team (NUTORC), that leveraged institutional strengths in social science, engineering, and management disciplines, coupled with an international recognized transplant program. In 2008, leading methodological experts across the university were identified and intramural funding was obtained for the NUTORC initiative. Inter- and transdisciplinary collaborative teams were created across departments and schools within the university. Within 3 years, NUTORC became fiscally sustainable, yielding more than tenfold return of the initial investment. Academic productivity included funding for 39 grants, publication of 60 manuscripts, and 166 national presentations. Sustainable educational opportunities for students were created. Inter- and transdisciplinary health services and outcomes research in transplant can be innovative and sustainable.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Transplant Outcomes Research, Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA ; Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA ; Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA ; Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA ; Center for Healthcare Studies, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Daniela P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Ladner
authors.forename: Estella M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Zeeshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Caicedo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Amna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daud
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Friedewald
authors.forename: Elisa J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Gordon B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Hazen
authors.forename: Bing T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Kathleen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hoke
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Holl
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ison
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehrotra
authors.forename: Luke B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Preczewski
authors.forename: Olivia A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Pamela H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sharaf
authors.forename: Anton I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Skaro
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abecassis
keywords: Academic productivity; Educational opportunities; Health Services and Outcomes Research; Sustainable research efforts; Transdisciplinary research teams