title: Project development teams: a novel mechanism for accelerating translational research.
abstract: The trend in conducting successful biomedical research is shifting from individual academic labs to coordinated collaborative research teams. Teams of experienced investigators with a wide variety of expertise are now critical for developing and maintaining a successful, productive research program. However, assembling a team whose members have the right expertise requires a great deal of time and many resources. To assist investigators seeking such resources, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI) created the Project Development Teams (PDTs) program to support translational research on and across the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University, Purdue University, and University of Notre Dame campuses. PDTs are multidisciplinary committees of seasoned researchers who assist investigators, at any stage of research, in transforming ideas/hypotheses into well-designed translational research projects. The teams help investigators capitalize on Indiana CTSI resources by providing investigators with, as needed, mentoring and career development; protocol development; pilot funding; institutional review board, regulatory, and/or nursing support; intellectual property support; access to institutional technology; and assistance with biostatistics, bioethics, recruiting participants, data mining, engaging community health, and collaborating with other investigators.Indiana CTSI leaders have analyzed metrics, collected since the inception of the PDT program in 2008 from both investigators and team members, and found evidence strongly suggesting that the highly responsive teams have become an important one-stop venue for facilitating productive interactions between basic and clinical scientists across four campuses, have aided in advancing the careers of junior faculty, and have helped investigators successfully obtain external funds.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Sajdyk is translational sciences research officer and research navigator, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Sors is chief scientific liaison, Bindley Bioscience Center, and research navigator, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Mr. Hunt is associate director of tracking and evaluation, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana. Ms. Murray is translational research administrator and special projects coordinator, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Ms. Deford is director of grants business management, Office of Research, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Shekhar is director, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, assistant vice president for research, Indiana University, and professor of psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Denne is director, Project Development Team Program, and professor of pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
authors.forename: Tammy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sajdyk
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Sors
authors.forename: Joe D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Melanie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Deford
authors.forename: Anantha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shekhar
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Denne
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D022126:Access to Information; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008611:Mentors; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000458:organization & administration*