title: Markers of achievement for assessing and monitoring gender equity in translational research organisations: a rationale and study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Translational research organisations (TROs) are a core component of the UK's expanding research base. Equity of career opportunity is key to ensuring a diverse and internationally competitive workforce. The UK now requires TROs to demonstrate how they are supporting gender equity. Yet, the evidence base for documenting such efforts is sparse. This study is designed to inform the acceleration of women's advancement and leadership in two of the UK's leading TROs--the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) in Oxford and London--through the development, application and dissemination of a conceptual framework and measurement tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional retrospective evaluation. A conceptual framework with markers of achievement and corresponding candidate metrics has been specifically designed for this study based on an adapted balanced scorecard approach. It will be refined with an online stakeholder consultation and semistructured interviews to test the face validity and explore practices and mechanisms that influence gender equity in the given settings. Data will be collected via the relevant administrative databases. A comparison of two funding periods (2007-2012 and 2012-2017) will be carried out.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The University of Oxford Clinical Trials and Research Governance Team and the Research and Development Governance Team of Guy's and St Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust reviewed the study and deemed it exempt from full ethics review. The results of the study will be used to inform prospective planning and monitoring within the participating NIHR BRCs with a view to accelerating women's advancement and leadership. Both the results of the study and its methodology will be further disseminated to academics and practitioners through the networks of collaborating TROs, relevant conferences and articles in peer-reviewed journals.
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Pavel V
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3504-2177
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Ovseiko
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Laurel D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Edmunds
authors.affiliation: National Initiative on Gender, Culture and Leadership in Medicine: C-Change, Brandeis University Women's Studies Research Center, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Linda H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Pololi
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Trisha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Greenhalgh
authors.affiliation: NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Joint Research Office, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kiparoglou
authors.affiliation: NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Joint Research Office, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Lorna R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Academic Centre, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Policy Institute, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's Hospital, London, UK MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London, Guys' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Graham M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Joint Research Office, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Channon
authors.affiliation: King's Health Partners, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Lechler
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Joint Research Office, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Alastair M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buchan
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom; D014933:Women's Rights / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Evaluation; Gender equity; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC); Research impact assessment; Translational research