Tracking and Evaluation Core

Tracking & Evaluation Core Project Summary The Tracking and Evaluation (T&E) Core works closely with the Administrative, other Cores and Pilot Project Program to analyze the performance of the Great Plains (GP) IDeA-CTR in a collaborative evaluation model. The evaluation addresses 3 specific aims: Aim 1) Assess the effectiveness of the GP IDeA-CTR in creating the environment and culture to support innovative and collaborative clinical and translational research; Aim 2) Evaluate how GP IDeA-CTR programs, resources, and services affect scientific productivity and the movement of research across the translational spectrum, with a focus on short- and long- term goals, milestone attainment, budget effectiveness, and leveraging data for informed decisions, strategic planning, and continuous improvement; and Aim 3) Use T&E feedback across teams and the network to improve collaborative team science, in a model that provides stakeholders with actionable metrics to assess GP IDeA-CTR outcomes, impact, and benefits to the community and region. The evaluation process uses cutting-edge, validated approaches and 14 evaluation metrics that include several tools with established validity evidence. The collaborative approach will engage CTR leadership and governance, Cores, and other stakeholders in ensuring the usefulness of evaluation and feedback, while balancing the value of information to stakeholders against the burden of data collection. Evaluation is expected to have a positive effect on GP IDeA-CTR priorities, such as enhancing the environment for team science, moving translational research across the spectrum, and fostering team science competencies. This will enhance the ability of the GP IDeA- CTR to maximally benefit stakeholders and the region, identify factors associated with successful CTR outcomes, and add to the repository of methods and tools for evaluating change and improvement efforts in large, complex translational science systems.