127 Advance RI-K Scholar Career Development Program: A one-year intensive program for developing early career faculty in an IDeA state

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: We developed a state-wide program to support early career faculty in preparing mentored career development awards, and connect them to resources, mentorship, and career development opportunities. We aimed to build self-efficacy along multiple axes, including research design and grantsmanship, and to facilitate networking with mentors and peers. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The program recruited four cohorts of faculty over the course of four years, for a total of 32 faculty participants (63% physician scientists). Participants were selected by a Steering Committee, and represented a variety of specialties from 19 departments across Brown University, University of Rhode Island, and affiliated hospitals. Participation required an institutional commitment of 20% minimum protected time to engage in research and a year-long curriculum that included biweekly didactic sessions, project development support, individual consultations, feedback on drafts, and internal study section review. Participants completed pre-, interim-, and final-assessments, which collected measures of self-efficacy, professional development needs, program satisfaction, and formative feedback. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Over the first 3 years, 21 participants completed the program, 43% have received NIH or VA K/CDA awards so far, and 48% received other federal or non-federal awards. Over 25 faculty from across institutions participated in leadership and didactics, with even greater participation on mentorship teams, panels, and grant review. All cohorts showed improvements in measures of self-efficacy in grantsmanship and research and reported high satisfaction with program activities. Participants found individualized proposal feedback and internal study sections to be most valuable, and frequently cited the value of peer-learning opportunities. Challenges for scholars include mentorship challenges, competing priorities/protected time, and various external factors that impacted individual research progress. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The program has successfully supported cohorts of junior clinical and translational faculty from across the state in launching their independent research careers. The program may serve as a model for IDeA state inter-institutional collaboration in developing diverse faculty cohorts in the early stages of preparing their career development award.