J. NRSA Training Core

The UCLA CTSI TL1 Program goal is the training of T3/T4 researchers to enable the translation of evidence to practice and to the community. Trainees will learn the skills and methods needed to develop, implement, and continuously improve healthcare and public system-based interventions that lead to improved population health outcomes. Our current program has formally integrated community partners into predoctoral training experiences; bolstered career development support; launched a new biomedical informatics graduate program; and developed an implementation and dissemination science curriculum. Our program now includes: (1) predoctoral training for trainees obtaining the PhD in Health Policy and Management; (2) postdoctoral training for physicians and nurses preparing for T4 research careers; and (3) pre- and postdoctoral training in biomedical informatics and data science. These investments have yielded substantial value: 54 pre- and postdoctoral trainees have been supported thus far, and 98% of pre- and postdoctoral graduates currently conduct translational research in healthcare systems, public health, or health policy organizations. Our program is helping to prepare and grow the translational science workforce. We are strengthening the TL1 Program with biomedical informatics and data science training. We embark on this next phase with regional partners, which include the Los Angeles County Health Agency, UCLA Health System, and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Our program provides pathways for pre- and postdoctoral trainees, preparing them to incorporate scientific discovery into clinical care in order to improve health. The TL1 Program has four aims: 1) To implement a T3/T4 focused pre- and postdoctoral curriculum that provides training in the competencies required for successful translational and team science research in health-related learning systems, 2) To provide mentorship, career development, T1-T4 team science exemplars and learning system-embedded structured research experiences for T3/T4 trainees, 3) To engage all Hub partners to facilitate multidisciplinary trainee recruitment and contribution to the growth of the translational research environment, 4) To implement training that facilitates communication among CTSI trainees across the T1-T4 spectrum, enabling them to become effective translational science team members and leaders.