Building diverse careers in clinical and translational research: Evaluation of a certificate program in translational research

Abstract

Introduction The Certificate Program in Translational Research (CPTR) at the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance provides PhD students, post-doctoral fellows and faculty with didactic, mentored, and experiential training in clinical and translational research. Methods Quantitative evaluation includes tracking trainee competency, publications, grants and careers in clinical and translational research. Qualitative evaluation includes interviews with trainees about program experiences. Results The CPTR provided knowledge and skills in clinical and translational research through coursework, clinical rotation, and collaboration with interdisciplinary scientists. Trainees reported increased confidence in 22 program competencies. Trainees have published more than 290 peer-reviewed articles and received over four million dollars in grants from the NIH, over $15 from the U.S. Department of Defense, and more than $300,000 from foundations. Trainees who completed the program remained in clinical and translational research. Conclusions Programs like the CPTR are needed to train investigators to advance biomedical discoveries into population health.