These themes and insights are the product of breakout group discussions during the June 14, 2024 CTSI Retreat; participants included over 120 UCSF faculty and staff, and community partners across all UCSF schools and affiliates.
1. Enhancing Infrastructure and Support:
- There is a recurring need for robust support systems, whether in lab processing, decentralized clinical trials (DCTs), or partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
- Proposals include dedicated liaisons, enhanced IT infrastructure, and clear protocols to facilitate effective operation and collaboration.
2. Communication and Visibility:
- Effective communication strategies are crucial across discussions, from increasing lab processing visibility to simplifying language in FQHC partnerships.
- Regular updates, success stories, and data-driven narratives are suggested to engage stakeholders and demonstrate the value of various programs and services.
3. Inclusivity and Community Engagement:
- Discussions emphasized the importance of tailoring programs to diverse demographics and ensuring community voices are heard and integrated, particularly in RAP grant review committees and the CIRCLE program.
- Strategies include community consultations, building culturally competent and multilingual recruitment cohorts, and leveraging community insights in research and training programs.
4. Financial Strategies and Resource Allocation:
- Financial support is a critical theme, with discussions on securing funding through grants, consistent institutional support, and exploring novel funding models for projects like video production in training modules.
- Equitable and flexible funding models are emphasized, particularly for supporting underrepresented communities and ensuring the sustainability of programs.
5. Technology and Digital Integration:
- The role of technology is highlighted in several discussions, from enhancing lab processing services to supporting decentralized clinical trials and AI in healthcare research.
- Proposals include leveraging existing digital platforms, integrating new tools like recruitment and tracking tools, and ensuring technology enhances accessibility and engagement without widening existing disparities.
6. Ethical and Compliance Considerations:
- Ethical considerations are paramount, especially in discussions on AI, decentralized clinical trials, and community member inclusion in research review processes.
- Ensuring privacy, safety, equitable access, and avoiding exploitation are recurrent themes, with a call for stringent regulatory compliance and ethical governance.
7. Training and Professional Development:
- Continuous professional development and training are crucial, seen in the expansion of the CIRCLE program and the need for training community members in RAP committees.
- Emphasizing career pathways, mentorship models, and access to ongoing learning opportunities aligns with the strategic goals of fostering a knowledgeable and adaptive workforce.
Opportunities and Novel Approaches
1. Integrating AI and Machine Learning:
- Utilizing AI to streamline processes, enhance data analysis, and support decision-making in research settings presents a novel approach to handling large datasets and improving operational efficiency.
2. Hybrid Models for Training and Development:
- Combining one-on-one and group mentorship or in-person and online training modules to expand reach and maintain the quality of personalized coaching and support.
3. Decentralized and Remote Research Operations:
- Developing frameworks for decentralized clinical trials that can increase participant diversity and access, leveraging community health centers, and using mobile health solutions.
4. Community-driven Research Initiatives:
- Structuring research and grant review processes to include community members meaningfully, ensuring research relevance, and enhancing societal impact.
5. Cross-Institutional and Interdisciplinary Collaborations:
- Building partnerships across different institutions and disciplines to pool resources, share knowledge, and tackle complex research challenges more effectively.
These insights and approaches can be foundational in developing ideas for a grant application, aiming to enhance research capabilities, ensure inclusivity, leverage technology, and maintain ethical standards in innovative ways.