Contact PD/PI: Kern, Philip A. NRSA-Training-001 (003)
PROJECT SUMMARY – TL1 TRAINING PROGRAM
The University of Kentucky (UK) Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) proposes to sustain
and enhance the current pre-doctoral and post-doctoral TL1 program, currently in its ninth year of National
Institutes of Health (NIH) support. By providing a multidisciplinary training program that integrates trainees
across diverse fields and offers rigorous and solid translational research education, the TL1 program has
effectively prepared clinicians- and scientists-in-training for careers as leaders in clinical and translational
science. The UK TL1 program features substantial collaborations across a robust cohort of productive
investigators, a talented pool of qualified applicants, solid infrastructure and strong institutional support. The
program takes advantage of the physical juxtaposition of UK’s six health care colleges (Medicine, Nursing,
Pharmacy, Public Health, Health Sciences, Dentistry) and key disciplines on the main campus (e.g.
Engineering, Social Work, Biology, Psychology, Education) to train scholars across wide-ranging fields
necessary for successful clinical and translational research (CTR). The program supports career development
of scholars with research interests that cross the lifespan (prenatal through elderly) and the full spectrum of
clinical and translational science, including translational, clinical, community/policy studies and CTR
methods/processes (e.g., biomedical informatics) focusing on a broad array of health topics. The TL1 trainees
are making important contributions to science through published work, and all of the program graduates are
actively engaged in CTR. This program and other CCTS-sponsored efforts are engaging underserved students
in projects focused on health disparities of Kentucky and the Central Appalachian area. We are requesting
renewed NIH support for eight TL1 scholars. The foundation of the proposed program will continue to be
practical research experiences within multidisciplinary teams guided by experienced mentors along with
educational and training offerings, such as certificate, Master’s and PhD degrees, to ensure successful career
development of these future CTR leaders. Scholar competency assessments, based on the Clinical Research
Appraisal Inventory, serve to guide new program offerings with the theory that trainees who have high
confidence in their skills are more likely to pursue a career in CTR. UK CCTS-developed pipeline programs
targeting professional and graduate students, including new initiatives to support health equities researchers
and trainees from under-represented groups, will ensure the availability of a strong pool of candidates for the
TL1 program. In sum, the TL1 program is designed to accelerate career development of future leaders in the
translational science workforce who will be prepared to address today’s complex research challenges and
spearhead advances in human health.
Project Summary/Abstract Page 1236
Contact PD/PI: Kern, Philip A. NRSA-Training-001 (003)
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