MSC1000: Foundations in Translational ResearchSession 1, September 13, 2016

Master’s of Health Science in Translational Research:Putting Knowledge Into Action!

Joseph Ferenbok, Richard Foty,

Norm Rosenblum & Raad Yameen

Agenda

Part 1: An introduction to TR & TRP• Mind the GAP: What is the NEED?

• Building Bridges. What is TR? • Patient-centred research

• How is this different than what we’re currently doing

• Why is it important

• TRP pathway: The wheel• Translational Thinking

• What is the TRP?

Part 2: Communicating Science• Communication & TR

• Arbitrary Meaning – Rationale for Needs Analysis

• Science as Rhetoric

IDEO: 7 Tips on Better Brainstorming

“…idea generation is an art form. It's about setting a safe, creative space for people to feel like they can say anything, be wild, not be judged– so that new ideas can be born.”

One conversation at a time.Your team is far more likely to build on an idea and

make a creative leap if everyone is paying full attention

to whoever is sharing a new idea.

Encourage wild ideas. Thinking about ideas that are wacky or out there we

tend to think about what we really want without the

constraints of technology or materials.

Build on the ideas of others.Being positive and building on the ideas of others take

some skill. In conversation, we try to use “and” instead

of “but.”

Go for quantity & Defer judgementAim for as many new ideas as possible so say anything

and allow others to build on it. In a good session, up to

100 ideas are generated in 60 minutes. Crank the ideas

out quickly and build on the best ones.

Loosely based on Osborn 1957, Rules for Brainstorming;Copied from IDEO Toolkit.

Setting up a safe, creative space

Yours…

DefinitionsKnowledge Translation:

A dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically sound application of knowledge to improve health (…), provide more effective health services and products and strengthen the health care system”

Straus SE, Tetroe J, Graham ID. Defining knowledge translation. CMAJ 2009;181(3-4):165-8. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.081229

DefinitionsTranslational Research:

The transfer of knowledge gained from basic research to new and improved methods of preventing, diagnosing, or treating disease, as well as the transfer of clinical insights into hypotheses that can be tested and validated in the basic research laboratory”

American Physiological Society. Quot. in: Hall JE. The promise of translational physiology. Am J Physiol 2002;283(2):E193-4.

Problem:

In all this, where is the patient?

or

Who Cares?

“Over the past 30 or so years, the ecosystems of basic and clinical research have diverged.”

Published online 11 June 2008 | Nature 453, 840-842 (2008) | doi:10.1038/453840a

“The clinical and basic scientists don't really communicate,”

A ‘GAP’ was formed.

And Nature Dubbed it: The Valley of Death!

“Over the past 30 or so years, the ecosystems of basic and clinical research have diverged.”

Published online 11 June 2008 | Nature 453, 840-842 (2008) | doi:10.1038/453840a

“The clinical and basic scientists don't really communicate,”

“The abyss left behind is sometimes labelled the 'valley of death' — and neither basic researchers, busy with discoveries, nor physicians, busy with patients, are keen to venture there.”

Bridging the ‘GAP’

Aka: What is TranslationalResearch?

Or

Aaka: How do we bridge the GAP?

FAILED!

The Valley of Death

The Valley of Death

Bench Bedside

Cell Society

Bridges Over Time: Westfall et al (2007)

Fiscella et al (2008)

Woolf (2008)

Lean et al (2008)

Khoury et al (2010)

T1 T2

Discovery to candidate application

T3

Evidence-based practice guidelines to health practice

T4

Health application to evidence based guidelines

Practice to population Health

Traditional Academic Research Path

Research Study

Publication

Grant Application

We need a new approach…

Transforming the vast quantity of research and innovation being produced into applications that advance health, patient experience, and individual and population outcomes requires a specialized core ‘translational’ skill set.

At the individual level we need:

“A new professional figure with the specific skills that are needed to navigate the whole itinerary of translational medicine to overcome fragmentation.”

A new way of doing applied

innovation in health sciences!

Definitions (NCATS)

Translation: process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public….

Translational science: the field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process.

TRP Definition of TR:

Systematic investigation, study and knowledge production that turns observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public.

Analysis Synthesis

Translational Thinking

Need

Learn about the discovery, observation, and clinical and health, medical or patient need. What will happen if you meet this need?

Problem

Specify the barrier(s) to

addressing the need. Construct a point of

view based on Reflection and

integration of your discovery and

exploration.

Affirm

Check with patients

and key stakeholders that solving the

problem or issue will address the stated

need. Make sure your solution is

possible / translatable within the context of the

need & problem domain.

Design

Brainstorm creative ideas to solve the problem that would align with the identified need.

Integrate

Choose solution and

construct a method to represent your

solution to share with others. Place your

idea within the need-problem context.

Test

Engage with end-users,

stakeholders and patients to get

feedback on your solution to the

problem and how it relates to the

identified original need.

Define Validate Ideate Apply Evaluate

Experience Reflect Abstract Experiment

Iterate

Discover

Translational thinking:•Problem-solving by synthesis (abductive thinking)

•Person-Centered – Needs based synthesis• POV is ambiguous, contextual & dynamic• Understanding Needs should precede solutions• identifying needs: key to matching resources and

capabilities

•Observation & Experiment based – focus on ‘doing’• uncovering unarticulated needs

• Iterative• Rapid Iteration/prototyping• systematic learning from failure

Translational Research Program (TRP)

Translational Research is…

Best practices & Systematic / process thinking:field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the (translational) process

Applied Scienceprocess of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public

A Social ResponsibilityPublically funded research SHOULD provide direct (as well as indirect) benefit to society = tangible benefits for people & patients!

Science ApplicationTranslation

Mission:To facilitate opportunities, support & training for learners who catalyze the transformation of (scientific) discoveries into problem-solving designs with tangible benefits for human health.

TRP Values

Core TRP Principles

Translational

Thinking:

our approach to innovation is to focus on actual NEEDS

by: Empathizing with people to identify issues; Defining a

focused Problem/research question; Ideating multiple

possible solutions to: Prototype and Test for feedback

and iterative improvement.

Human-Centered: translational thinking should start with the people

(patients, populations) and end in tangible benefits tailor

made to suit their needs

Iterative Problem-

Based Research:

translational research involves contextually-sensitive

solutions through iterative systematic analysis, design,

development, and implementation

Reflection: central to experiential learning and allows for the

integration of experiences with existing knowledge

into abstractions that represent deeper learning and

possible solutions to for prototyping and testing

TRP Methods

Teaching Methods

Facilitative

Mentorship

personalized, participatory and iterative teaching

that promotes self-learning, critical thinking and

self-actualization

Experiential Learning learning-based conceptual understandings rooted

in observations and reflections from concrete

experiences of testing knowledge

Reflective Learning a recursive process that helps transform surface

learning into deep learning through synthesis and

interpretation of experiences

Collaborative Self-

Directed Learning

individually initiated and managed learning

activities pursued through learning communities,

discourse and knowledge exchange

Program Mechanics

Program Structure

Required 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) :1) MSC1000H: Foundations in TR 1.0 FCE;

2) MSC4010Y: modular “core” 2.0 FCE

3) MSC1003H: advanced communication skills 0.5FCE

4) KMD1002H interdisciplinary design 0.5 FCE

5) MSC2021Y TR Capstone Prep course 1.0 FCE

6) MSC4000Y Capstone project course 2.0 FCE

7) two half-courses of qualifying electives 1.0 FCE

Course Pathway 2016/17

Year 1 Year 2

Course FCE Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4 Term 5

MSC 1000 1.0 Y TR Foundations

MSC 1003 0.5 H Communications

KMD 1002 0.5 H Practice

MSC 2021 1.0 Y Capstone Prep

MSC 4000 2.0 YE Capstone

MSC 4010 2.0 YE 8 Modules

Elective 0.5 H

Elective 0.5 H

Class Schedule 2016/17*

Fall 2016 Winter 2017

Tuesdays Thursdays Tuesdays Thursdays

1 – 4pm MSC 1000Foundations

MSC 2021Capstone

Prep

MSC 1000 Foundations

MSC 2021Capstone Prep

4 – 7pm MSC 1003Rhetoric of

Science

MSC 4010Modules / Workshops

KMD 1002Practices &

Contexts

MSC 4010Modules / Workshops

Capstone Project • Students generate Capstone Projects*;

• Students select committees*;

• Capstone projects should be collaborative and cross traditional disciplinary boundaries;

• Capstone projects may range widely but MUST attempt to advance health; have an experiential learning component; AND provide opportunities for Translational Reflection and core program competencies. *Projects and committees must be approved in writing

by the TRP Program Committee.