422 Addressing complex and urgent problems through innovative team science: The University of Miami Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The goal of U-LINK is to bring together diverse scholars from multiple disciplines to address complex and challenging problems in healthcare, climate change, social equity, and community, through innovative team science, and aligned with the University of Miami’s strategic plans. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The U-LINK program has supported developmental and implementation projects through a competitive selection process. Developmental funding was intended for teams to develop and refine ideas and to become established as an effective team. Additional funding was provided to teams to advance their projects by conducting data collection and feasibility testing. In addition, U-LINK has supported fellowship for pre-doctoral and affiliated doctoral trainees. Team science training was provided to all teams through didactic lectures and hands-on training. Teams were tracked longitudinally by using surveys and bibliometrics to measure success and impact including scholarly output and follow on funding. Network analysis was performed to analyze research collaboration networks before and after ULINK funding. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: U-LINK has funded pilot programs and initial phases for 57 projects and 13 fellowships in the last three years. Over 400 individuals on teams from 16 schools/academic units collaborated on these projects on topics such as resilience, climate change, social equity and societal challenges, health, and impact of recent legislation on LGBTQ+ community. While data collection and analysis are ongoing, initial results show successful outcomes from U-LINK projects including publications and $29.5m in follow-on external funding. We anticipate network analysis to demonstrate increased and continued multi-disciplinary collaborations among U-LINK teams through co-authorship networks and increase in collaborative grants being submitted and/or funded. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The University of Miami’s U-LINK program has demonstrated success in forming interdisciplinary teams that have produced real-world solutions to complex problems by harnessing the inherent diversity and strength across UM’s programs.