CTSA K12 Program at The Scripps Research Institute

Scripps Research Translational Institute’s (SRTI’s) K12 Program aims to deliver comprehensive translational science competencies and successful translational scientist characteristics that launch graduates into investigational careers within academic institutions, research institutes, biotechnology companies, community and public health programs, and priority-setting government agencies. Within Scripps Research, the largest private, non-profit biomedical research organization in the United States, and together with partners Scripps Health, Rady Children’s Institute of Genomic Medicine, and San Diego State University (SDSU), we will provide a unique and inspirational setting for early-career biomedical researchers applying our translational science strengths in the design and conduct of cutting-edge translational research. Six K12 scholars, ranging from postdoctoral and clinical fellows to junior faculty, will be supported for 2-4 years of mentored career development tailored to discover an investigational niche and generate preliminary findings toward individual grant submission and research independence. We will emphasize mentorship by a cross-disciplinary advisor team, assisted by academic cores and study support providing grant management, feasibility assessments, regulatory support, community engagement consultation, study navigation, remote enrollment platforms for site-less trials, clinical trial coordination, electronic health records data extraction and study integration, biorepository collection and storage, extensive wet lab services, and data analytics. Translational science coursework, directed by SRTI leaders, will incorporate ethical and reproducible research practices, clinical study design, pragmatic community-based principles, effective communication, grantsmanship, advanced analytics, and precision health methodologies. Mentored experiential training will include professional development seminars, transdisciplinary teamwork, community advisory board presentations, student mentorship, guest course instruction, and SRTI representation in inter-institutional collaborations and academic forums. Objectives for the proposed K12 Program are: 1) adding 2 translational science training domains – data science and population health – to our strengths of genomics, digital health, and community engagement, capitalizing on expanded faculty expertise, newly designed coursework, and educational alliances with Hal?c?o?lu Data Science Institute at University of California San Diego and SDSU’s School of Public Health; 2) advancing scholar success through promotion of traits for effective translational science – boundary crossing, domain expertise, teamwork, process innovation, skilled communication, systems thinking, and research rigor; and 3) increasing support for scholar transition to independence through added mentorship structure and mentor training, new professional development activities, and a Scripps Physician Scientist Fellows Program as a bridge for early career faculty. Intended K12 program outcomes include increased scholar recruitment with our partner institutes, 100% retention and graduation of appointed scholars, 90% of graduates remaining in research careers, and transition of a K12 graduate to a newly developed Physician Scientist Fellows track.