Establishment And Empirical Study On An Index System For Reflecting Construction Standard For Clinical And Translational Research Center

ObjectiveAs a new chapter in biomedical research and innovation, translational research has been speeded up development recently in China, despite a relatively late startup. However, how to build a translational research institution that enables project owners and partners to assemble technical and professional resources and build research networks necessary to support the development of epidemiological survey and interventions, with the ultimate aim to accelerate scientific discoveries into new ways to understand, treat, prevent, and cure diseases, still remains a challenge. This study is to explore a series of parameters reflective of management efficacy on a clinical and translational research center. Via investigational research on assessment efficacy of such a series, we ascertain its practical applicability, effectiveness and operability, which can be further used as a reference for systematic and standardized establishment of research institutes of translational medicine.MethodsThis study contains two parts. Part Ⅰ is based on literature review and research group brain storm. A manuscript is drafted regarding the reflective index system for the translational medical research institute, which will be further validated by5senior specialists to improve the index system, followed by additional two rounds of professional enquiries via mails and e-mails in terms of Delphi method. Data are input and statistically analyzed by Excel2003and SPSS17.0. Briefly, data are screened by the percentile method, and weight coefficient is attained by the percentage weight and product method, in order to statistically test reliability and validity of investigation, and formulate the final version of Construction Index System for Clinical and Translational Research Institute. Part Ⅱ is to assess the Tongji University East Hospital Translational Medical Research Center, as per the established index system above, by means of retrograde data review, staff interviewing and on-site investigations. In comparison to the platform establishment and assessment references formulated by The Committee of Science&Technology of the Pudong New District, effectiveness and efficacy of the aforementioned index system will be evaluated. ResultsVia two rounds of professional enquiries by Delphi methods, Constructural Index System for Translational Medical Research Institute has been formulated, which contains6first-class indicators,19second-class indicators and50pieces of essential connotations. After reliability analysis, the positive coefficient of20specialists from2rounds of enquiries is100%, and experts’ degree comes up to0.835from self assessment. Fundamental states of specialists suggest that they provide more mature views in related fields of policy, academics, research, management and etc., making results persuasive. By calculating Kendall coefficient, via Chi-square test, the experts to coordinate coefficient is demonstrated to remain at a significant level, suggesting specialists’ opinion coordination is existent and enquiry result is advisable. During investigation, in terms of essential assessment items within the aforementioned index system, the construction status of research platforms pertaining to translational medicine in East hospital is scored at71.59, which is consistent to the evaluation results derived from the Committee of Science&Technology of Pudong New District to a large extent, with regard to construction efficacy and future improvement direction.ConclusionA series of indexes has been established in this study to assess the constructural efficacy of translational medical research institutes. The index system is comprehensive, advisable and operatable for scientific evaluation of construction and management status of translational medical research institutes, providing guidance and criteria for future self-improvement and sustainable development of such institutes.