560 Defining, prioritizing, and solving problems in translational science: An innovative framework for community-driven strategic investment

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: Clinical and Translational Science Award hubs will be the primary investors in advancing translational science until academic reward structures and funding agencies incentivize these efforts. As such, hubs will benefit from systematic methods to strategically identify and efficiently solve challenges in the translational process. Methods/Study Population: Translational science (TS) problems are abundant, complex and typically reside within systems of interconnected processes and people. These characteristics are informing efforts at the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) to create a framework that guides how we select the right translational science problems to invest in solving and how we solve these problems in user-centric, efficient, and effective ways. Our framework leverages methods from the fields of design and systems thinking. Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem solving and innovation that is ideal for tackling ill-defined and complex problems. Systems thinking methods help us situate and analyze problems within broader dynamics, structures, and perspectives, ultimately informing key levers for change. Results/Anticipated Results: Applying design and systems methods, we created an eight-step TS framework that centers on the diverse perspectives of those experiencing a TS problem and those implementing solutions. The first four steps guide in defining the TS problem within its context, understanding why previous solutions have not worked, and determining the value and generalizable knowledge that a solution would create. The last four steps are solutions-focused, with iterative brainstorming, testing, and refining of potential solutions before they are implemented locally and disseminated widely. Each step is underpinned by guiding questions, methods, outputs, and metrics to ensure a scientifically rigorous approach to defining, prioritizing, and solving TS problems. We are currently prototyping the framework with various case studies. Discussion/Significance of Impact: A framework that guides strategic investment in TS should ensure resources are allocated to the most well-defined and pressing problems that are important to the community and should speed up the process of creating solutions. Engaging myriad viewpoints leads to more viable solutions that foster a commitment to real change within the research ecosystem.