Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (Apr 2023)

398 Researcher Perceived Barriers in Translational Research

  • Sunaina Mukherjee,
  • Anthony Gonzalez,
  • Farah Anwar,
  • Isabel Parzecki

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2023.433
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7
pp. 118 – 119

Abstract

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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To identify, categorize, and streamline the wide range of commonly encountered barriers in translational research that prevent studies from progressing along the translational research spectrum through a comprehensive needs assessment survey. Results will be utilized to institute potential solutions to overcome these identified barriers. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The comprehensive survey consisted of three sections, Demographics and Background, Self-Reporting of Barriers, and Comments and Feedback. An extensive literature review was conducted to develop and compile questions and barrier categories for the survey. The survey content was derived from primary literature sources and supplemented with the NCATS Translational Science course material. The target population for the survey included all researchers engaged in translational research at the NJ ACTS CTSA hub. The hub includes Rutgers, Princeton, and NJIT and all of their affiliated institutions and partnered healthcare systems, such as Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health and University Hospital. Results will be analyzed according to the type of research conducted and stage of translation research (T0-T4). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Examples of the survey barrier categories being analyzed include Regulatory/IRB, Funding, Collaborations and Networking, and Training. Initial analysis (N=106) consisted of these top barriers in the NJ ACTS CTSA hub: obtaining timely IRB approval, inadequate staffing for the research team, and lack of holistic institutional support. After completion of data collection, the survey results will be further analyzed to determine common barriers and patterns in barrier type across the different institutions, schools, positions/roles in research, and translational research stages. Given that the Comments and Feedback section of the survey entailed ranking the top three barriers across the entire survey as a whole, the results will also indicate the relative prevalence of specific barriers and categories. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The impact of the survey and its results is to develop feasible institutional solutions to overcome the prevalent barriers and improve efficiency in all parts of the research process. Possible solutions encompass accessible resources for researchers, longitudinal training programs, consultative services, and workshops for investigators.