Earlier this month, CTSI wrapped up its first Translational Research Bootcamp, a three-day event that trains early stage investigators on core competencies in translational science.
The event featured a series of interactive activities with focused training in communication skill-building, team science, and informatics.
CTSI created the event exclusively for faculty and trainee scholars in its career development programs — specifically, the Translational Research Development, New Investigator Pre-K, KL2 Scholars, and K-R01 programs — as well as invited scholars from the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH), Pediatric K12, and Health Equity Leadership & Mentoring (HELM) groups.
The event also included a new Mock Study Section held jointly with Mayo Clinic's CTSA, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS).
Designed to simulate an NIH Study Section in every detail, the section aimed to educate early investigators in the grant review process and assist in making their grants more competitive.
Mayo CCaTS trainees and junior faculty joined scholars from the CTSI, BIRCWH, and Pediatric K12 training groups. Experienced University of Minnesota and Mayo faculty co-chaired the session, leading group reviews of real applications for NIH F, K, and R01 grant funding mechanisms.
While University scholars in these training groups regularly integrate their programming, the Translational Research Bootcamp allows expanded time for focused, interactive activities that would be difficult to accomplish in shorter seminars.
