Institute for Clinical and Translational Science NRSA Postdoctoral Research Training Core - The goal of the proposed T32 Postdoctoral Program is to provide a robust mentored career development and training environment that pursues the following specific aims. Specific Aim 1: Champion mentored career development and training by nurturing an integrated T32 Postdoctoral Program that consists of outstanding leadership and oversight at all levels. An essential requirement for the program is outstanding leadership and strong oversight. Our Education Leadership Team (ELT) consists of Program Directors, Associate Directors, and a Program Administrator. The ELT works closely with the ICTS UM1 Workforce Development Module Team (WDT), the T32 Internal Advisory Committee (IAC), and a nationally recognized ICTS Survey Evaluation Tracking (SET) Team. The oversight of the program is highlighted by our Trainee- Mentor Alignment and Individual Development Plan meetings, a strong SET process, and a Quality by Design paradigm. Our ICTS partners [Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and Long Beach Veterans Association Hospital (LBVA)] will participate in our IAC and quarterly meetings with the ELT. Specific Aim 2: Maximize access to the T32 Postdoctoral Program. We will: 1) support the training of two ICTS T32 trainees per year; 2) continue our Affiliated Scholars Advancement Program (ASAP), which significantly expands training opportunities for unfunded trainees interested in pursuing Clinical Translational Science and Research (CTS&R); and 3) continue to promote diversity. Specific Aim 3: Provide a flexible and innovative curriculum that emphasizes both core competencies and advanced concepts in CTS&R. Focused Flexible Accelerated Studies (FFASt) is an immersive set of courses and experiential opportunities developed to expose our trainees to core and advanced competencies in CTS&R. FFASt courses also play a central role in our extensive Responsible Conduct of Research and Reproducibility curriculum. Our FFASt curriculum has always included key elements necessary for nurturing the development of our trainees becoming more proficient as: 1) domain experts, 2) boundary crossers, 3) team players, 4) process innovators, 5) skilled communicators, 6) systems thinkers, and 7) rigorous researchers. Our monthly Journal Clubs include modules which provide additional focus on these key skills. Specific Aim 4: Integrate local, regional, and national insights to transform CTS&R training. The breadth of our program’s integration at the local and regional levels is highlighted by key elements such as: 1) T-ECO, which is a survey of the training landscape at UC Irvine, CHOC, and LBVA, and is used to inform our T32 program and key leaders throughout our campus, 2) a campuswide KT PI Training Council we created and lead, 3) our leadership in developing a campuswide Training Day, and 4) the Western CTSA Education consortium, which consists of 11 CTSAs from California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. In accordance with our driving theme, we are committed to transforming the CTS&R training environment at the local, regional, and national levels.
