Kansas Center for Implementation Science: Administrative Core

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: ADMINISTRATIVE CORE Many advances in prevention and treatment of disease—that were funded by NIH and other agencies—take decades to become adopted into clinical practice. The long-term goal of the Kansas Center for Implementation Science is to develop a multidisciplinary, internationally recognized Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) focused on the theme of implementation science and health care. Given the novel nature of the Kansas Center for Implementation Science, and the multidisciplinary and multi-site nature of implementation research, a well-organized and efficient Administrative Core is essential to the overall management of this COBRE. To support this effort, the Administrative Core will tap resources in existing programs, centers, and institutional shared resources at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) to support Research Project Leaders’ research and development. The Administrative Core will set the overall scientific direction of the Kansas Center for Implementation Science’s research, coordinate and integrate all of the Center’s activities with the goal of establishing an infrastructure at KUMC to sustain these activities long-term beyond the scope of the current project. To do so, the Administrative Core will pursue 5 specific aims. Aim 1. Develop infrastructure to advance the field of health care using the tools of implementation science. Aim 2. Develop and implement a mentoring and career development system including career development plans, strong mentoring, institutional training and resources, and replacement of Research Project Leaders who achieve R01 or equivalent funding for their research. Aim 3. Convene an Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) and External Advisory Committee (EAC) to guide and evaluate the Kansas Center for Implementation Science. Aim 4. Administer and evaluate the Research Pilot Project Program. Aim 5. Evaluate the success of the Kansas Center for Implementation Science in achieving mission-relevant outcomes. Center Director Dr. Befort has extensive experience in mentoring junior faculty; administering large research trials, centers, and training cores; working with rural and urban primary care and safety net providers; and collaborating with practice-based research networks. The techniques and approaches developed by the Kansas Center for Implementation Science faculty have strong potential for sustained impact on the field of implementation science and the health status of Americans, by developing methods to accelerate translation of research findings into practice.