Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (Apr 2024)

524 Navigator: Providing a foundation for cross team collaboration and custom research service through the CTSA Hub

  • Kitt Swartz,
  • Matt Honoré,
  • Kimberly Cook,
  • Heidi Funderburgh,
  • Cynthia Morris,
  • David Ellison

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2024.446
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8
pp. 155 – 155

Abstract

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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI) Clinical Research Navigator program provides a single point of entry for clinical and translational research services, support, advice and guidance. We provide data to illustrate the Navigator model at OHSU and examine continued opportunities to optimize research resources. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Requests and activities performed by the OCTRI Navigator program, staffed by 3 FTE (2 Assistant Navigators and 1 Assistant Director) were analyzed. Navigator receives requests through multiple methods: a digital form (REDCap®), email, phone calls. Requests for services and support include focused need for a core or a broad request for multiple services for start-up: informatics, the clinical and translational research center, regulatory knowledge and support, recruitment, qualitative methods, community research, biostatistics or broad consultations. Requests are tracked in SPARCRequest. Navigator also supports wayfinding to institutional resources outside of the CTSA, matchmaking for sponsors seeking investigators, and serves as a connector and facilitator across programs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: OCTRI Clinical Research Navigator triaged an average of 964 research requests for 613 projects with 388 unique investigators annually between 2018-2022. Navigator also fields more than 80 calls each year that are unrelated to CTSA projects. Project requests are examined to illustrate trends in projects requesting multiple services and display how Navigator simplifies project intake and connects researchers to resources they may have not recognized they needed. Project attributes including funding type and funding status are included in this review. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: CTSA resources are essential to the infrastructure available to researchers. While absolute numbers of requests provide little insight into the impact each CTSA hub may have, the timing and clustering trends of projects with multiple program requests shows how a combination of technology and experienced staff can efficiently support researchers.