Tracking and Evaluation Core

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section PROJECT SUMMARY – TRACKING AND EVALUATION CORE. Systematic and continuous feedback is central to the success of the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, which is comprised of five partner institutions across Mississippi. With that in mind, the purpose of the Tracking and Evaluation (T&E) Core is to provide useful, credible and timely data on the MCCTR’s implementation, effectiveness and impact so that Core Leads and PIs can adapt ongoing programming in pursuit of program aims. During Phase I, the T&E Core established a suite of systematic procedures for collecting and sharing data on program use, quality, and effectiveness. These procedures were designed to allow Core Leaders to engage in data-informed decision making. During Phase II, the T&E Core will deepen and extend this model to better enable robust, timely assessments of program implementation–along with assessments of the MCCTR’s wider impact—to support continuous, data-driven improvement. The long-term goals of the MCCTR are to (1) increase institutional capacity to conduct clinical and translational (C/T) research, (2) achieve growth in partner institutions’ sustained, extramural funding, and (3) improve patient care and public health in Mississippi. To evaluate the MCCTR’s progress toward these goals, the T&E Core will conduct a mixed methods evaluation consisting of four core components: (1) a five-year panel study with faculty from across MCCTR institutions, (2) secondary data analysis of institutional data, (3) landscape analyses to track changes in institutional infrastructure throughout the life of the project, and (4) a synthesis of cross-core data to evaluate societal impacts. The T&E Core will also monitor progress toward short-term goals. Evaluation tools will focus specifically on (1) growth in research capacity, (2) community participation and engagement, and (3) increased research productivity, quality, and impact. These data and analyses will be shared with the MCCTR Director, Steering Committee, and advisory committees to inform their decision making, and allow them to realign MCCTR assets and efforts as needed to increase the utilization and quality of MCCTR services and resources. This information will also be shared with NIGMS, through the MCCTR’s Annual Report. The efforts of the T&E Core will result in accountable, informed leadership and guide the allocation of available assets to maximize the MCCTR’s success in increasing the number and range of C/T and community-based researchers in Mississippi, increasing multi-institutional collaboration and overall research funding, and producing research that will improve health outcomes across Mississippi.