Designing and Developing Team Research

Scientific inquiry demands the creation of interdisciplinary teams and processes to address the complexity of diseases and to expedite the overall process. At our CTSC, team research is stimulated through a number of new processes created to unite basic scientists with clinical and translational researchers. Importantly, a Translational Research Support Team (TREST) was developed to provide experienced support to promote and facilitate the collaborative efforts of multi-disciplinary and trans-institutional team research.

The members of TREST include:

• Research team facilitators
• Research nurses and technicians
• Research study coordinators
• Research pharmacists
• Research subject advocates.

A novel addition to team research, Research Team Facilitators expedite the research process by introducing investigators to the CTSC and all its facilities including its research infrastructure (PCIR/GCRC), support services and technical cores. Their ombudsmen - like activities escort the team through the research process, from protocol design to project completion; they initiate the formation of multi-disciplinary team research and facilitate its function.