Training the next generation of biomedical researchers is essential for our society as they play a
critical role in advancing new breakthroughs to improve health outcomes and transform health
care (AAMC, 2023). A growing number of biomedical research training programs, housed in
research institutes, universities, and teaching hospitals, have been established with the goal of
equipping aspiring researchers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to
contribute to the continuous progress of biomedical research and its potential to positively
impact society. A barrier to the sustained success of such training programs is that they lack the
knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively assess and evaluate the training programs. This
creates a major loophole in the training cycle that fails to inform stakeholders about how well
these training programs position their trainees in integrating interdisciplinary approaches to
answer key biomedical research questions. This project addresses NIGMS’ Enhancing Program
Evaluation Capacity at institutions with biomedical research training programs by developing
online modules to inform program directors and administrators about effective and practical
approaches to evaluate biomedical research training programs. Through this project, we aim to
increase awareness of the importance of evidence-based decision making and enable
biomedical science administrators and other stakeholders with the tools and skill sets to make
program evaluation an on-going, integral component of research training programs from the
beginning rather than a one-time event. Our proposed solution highlights the strength of
decision-making based on systematically collected evidence that improves the quality of
biomedical research training programs and therefore contributes to the development of
biomedical research and global health. The overall goal in this proposal is to equip participants
with the competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) necessary to conduct high-quality
evaluations and make evidence-based decisions to improve program effectiveness and learning
outcomes in biomedical research training programs. To achieve this, we will pursue three
specific training goals: 1) design and develop a comprehensive online training program; 2) pilot
test and refine the educational modules; and 3) disseminate knowledge and strategies on
evaluation through a website, content management system, publications, and presentations.
The training will include seven modules covering main components of program evaluation, from
foundational practices to quantitative and qualitative methods, and to communication of
evaluation results.
