Strengthening and Sustaining Inter-Institutional Research Collaborations and Partnerships

The power of partnership: Exploring collaboration dynamics in U.S. transplant research

INTRODUCTION

Collaboration is one of the hallmarks of academic research. This study analyzes collaboration patterns in U.S. transplant research, examining publication trends, productive institutions, co-authorship networks, and citation patterns in high-impact transplant journals.

METHODS

4,265 articles published between 2012 and 2021 were analyzed using scientometric tools, logistic regression, VantagePoint software, and Gephi software for network visualization.

RESULTS

16,003 authors from 1,011 institutions and 59 countries were identified, with Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and University of Pennsylvania contributing the most papers. Odds of international collaboration significantly increased over time (OR 1.03; p ​= ​0.040), while odds of citation in single-institution collaborations decreased (OR 0.99; p ​= ​0.016). Five major scientific communities and central institutions (Harvard University and University of Pittsburgh) connecting them were identified, revealing interconnected research clusters.

CONCLUSIONS

Collaboration enhances knowledge exchange and research productivity, with an increasing trend of institutional and international collaboration in U.S. transplant research. Understanding this community is essential for promoting research impact and forming strategic partnerships.

Virtual Tumor Board to Foster Interinstitutional Head and Neck Cancer Subspecialty Care

This cross-sectional study evaluates the concordance on treatment and diagnostic recommendations between clinicians at 2 collaborating health systems.

Standardizing the Head and Neck Cancer Treatment and Research

Head and neck cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, with standardized care being essential for consistent, high-quality treatment. Standardization involves evidence-based guidelines and protocols, and collaboration is necessary for research and improving outcomes. However, collaboration can be challenging due to various barriers. Collaboration can improve care by facilitating sharing of knowledge, access to technology, clinical trials, data sharing, funding and education. To improve collaboration, a shared vision, communication channels, guidelines, centralized database, training programs, culture of collaboration and funding should be established.

Strategies for Improving Enrollment of Diverse Populations with a Focus on Lipid-Lowering Clinical Trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We review under-representation of key demographic groups in cardiovascular clinical trials, focusing on lipid-lowering trials. We outline multilevel strategies to recruit and retain diverse populations in cardiovascular trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

Barriers to participation in trials occur at the study, participant, health system, sponsor, and policy level, requiring a multilevel approach to effectively increase participation of under-represented groups in research. Increasing the representation of marginalized and under-represented groups in leadership positions in clinical trials can ensure that their perspectives and experiences are considered. Trial design should prioritize patient- and community-indicated needs. Women and individuals from racially/ethnically diverse populations remain under-represented in lipid-lowering and other cardiovascular clinical trials relative to their disease burden in the population. This limits the generalizability of trial results to the broader population in clinical practice. Collaboration between community stakeholders, researchers, and community members can facilitate shared learning about trials and build trust.

Individual and Institutional Factors Contribute to Research Capacity Building for Early-Stage Investigators from Groups Underrepresented in Biomedical Research: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

BACKGROUND

Enhancement of diversity within the U.S. research workforce is a recognized need and priority at a national level. Existing comprehensive programs, such as the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), have the dual focus of building institutional research capacity and promoting investigator self-efficacy through mentoring and training.

METHODS

A qualitative comparative analysis was used to identify the combination of factors that explain the success and failure to submit a grant proposal by investigators underrepresented in biomedical research from the RCMI and non-RCMI institutions. The records of 211 participants enrolled in the NRMN Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators (NRMN-SETH) program were reviewed, and data for 79 early-stage, underrepresented faculty investigators from RCMI (n = 23) and non-RCMI (n = 56) institutions were included.

RESULTS

Institutional membership (RCMI vs. non-RCMI) was used as a possible predictive factor and emerged as a contributing factor for all of the analyses. Access to local mentors was predictive of a successful grant submission for RCMI investigators, while underrepresented investigators at non-RCMI institutions who succeeded with submitting grants still lacked access to local mentors.

CONCLUSION

Institutional contexts contribute to the grant writing experiences of investigators underrepresented in biomedical research.

Developing a Comprehensive Resident-driven Research Training Pathway: A Chief Resident's Perspective

Wide variation exists in research training, experience, opportunities, and exposure across various radiology residency training programs, ranging from having a dedicated research track to no exposure to hypothesis driven projects. Studies conducted at different residency training programs with varied resources and National Institutes of Health funding have shown that resident-driven research initiatives and mentorship programs have the potential to improve research experience during residency training, engage more medical students in research, increase departmental peer-reviewed publications and increase peer-reviewed publications of early-career faculty physicians. In an attempt to standardize the research training during radiology residency, we propose a standardized resident-led program which institutions may adapt, as well as resources that the American Alliance of Academic Chief Residents in Radiology (A³CR²) might compile in collaboration with other national organizations to improve trainee's research experience during their radiology residency training.

Enrollment of Racial and Ethnic Minoritized Groups in Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Trials: A Review of the Scope of the Problem, Contributing Factors, and Strategies to Improve Inclusion

Racial inequities are well-documented across the gynecologic oncology care continuum, including the representation of racial and ethnic minoritized groups (REMGs) in gynecologic oncology clinical trials. We specifically reviewed the scope of REMG disparities, contributing factors, and strategies to improve inclusion. We found systematic and progressively worsening under-enrollment of REMGs, particularly of Black and Latinx populations. In addition, race/ethnicity data reporting is poor, yet a prerequisite for accountability to recruitment goals. Trial participation barriers are multifactorial, and successful remediation likely requires multi-level strategies. More rigorous, transparent data on trial participants and effectiveness studies on REMG recruitment strategies are needed to improve enrollment.