8 BERD Challenges and opportunities in the new translational science landscape

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The goal of this presentation is to highlight the role of and challenges to the Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design (BERD) Core as it transitions into (i) the resources and services module (ii) and also possibly a regional center of translational science. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: BERD cores play key roles in translational research missions, often in the form of long-term collaborative relationships focusing on project conception and design, interim monitoring and review, analysis and dissemination. The resources and services module encourages consolidation of all resources and services under the single modular umbrella, which can pose challenges to BERD autonomy and function. CTSAs transitioning from local to regional centers can also threaten to overwhelm BERD workloads and resources. Our CTSA planned an outsource-insource model to make the BERD a central feature of the new module and transplant its functionality to partner institutions. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The team has planned a centralized, web-based entry-point for both self-guided inquiry and electronic requests of all resources and services, which aides project database creation and provides notification for review. The review process adds two new approval types: guided assistance to help navigate connections to relevant resources, and triaged referrals to training modules for remediation and skills development. Our BERD has added a Consulting Laboratory for projects of sufficient but non-priority merit that would otherwise be waitlisted, and established connections with regional partner institutions to whom they can refer investigators. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: We have consolidated all resources and services into a single, accessible location, emphasizing tailored guidance to maximize limited resources. We also planned a transportable regional model that accounts for local resources and capacity to keep from overstretching the BERD and other hubs.