CTSA K12 Program at Tufts University

The future biomedical workforce requires investigators who can conduct and drive innovation in future clinical translational research (CTR) and science (CTS), are skilled in discussing research with those outside their own field, and thus have the ability to critically examine research in both related and unrelated fields. Our established Tufts K12 Program has demonstrated success in training early career faculty who, after training, remain engaged in translational research and science aimed at improving health. We will build upon our training successes through the following specific goals: 1. Train investigators who can serve as domain experts and rigorous researchers, thereby advancing the understanding and rigorous implementation of translational science and research methods, spanning the sectors of translational science across all Tufts CTSI partners 2. Train K12 Scholars in translational science to prepare them to serve as system thinkers, boundary crossers, and team players 3. Provide K12 Scholars with leadership and management skills needed for sustained translational science careers, and to serve as process innovators, and skilled communicators 4. Mentor newly independent faculty to develop the next generation of mentors to future translational scientists 5. Build a workforce that conducts research across the full translational science spectrum. We will achieve these goals by a focused, integrated and collaborative program career development plan that supports skill development in translational science to ensure that Scholars gain proficiency in discourse and discovery across disciplines while they also develop deep expertise within their own domain. The career development plan includes a combination of independent research project, didactic seminars and courses, and mentoring. The core of the plan is a mentoring team that incorporates team science and inclusive excellence to support self-directed learning under the support of a team of individuals with complementary skills in translational science, leadership and management, and stakeholder engagement and communication. We aim to appoint eight scholars. All candidates will have a full-time appointment at one of our partnering institutions. Initial appointments for all candidates will be for two years, with opportunity for an additional third year. The outcome of our training will be a group of independently funded translational investigators across multiple disciplines within Tufts CTSI and who are highly skilled in multi-disciplinary team approaches. These investigators will have the skills required to advance interdisciplinary translational science that will address the complex challenges to improving health.