146 - Evaluation of the Characteristics and Impact of the NCATS CTSA Program Pilot Projects

Abstract Information: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program provides support for pilot projects as part of the UL1 (PAR-18-940), and UM1 grant mechanisms (PAR-21-293). The goal of the pilot projects is to encourage and facilitate novel clinical and translational research with the aim of developing generalizable principles to accelerate translational research. These projects also serve as initial assessments to evaluate the suitability of new technologies, protocols, data collection tools, or subject recruitment methods before embarking on a comprehensive investigation to test hypotheses. Support for the pilot projects is directed towards a specific scientific outcome as a unique project or as a stand-alone aim of a larger project. To fully understand the scientific objectives, overall financial commitment, and outcome of the pilot projects, a thorough examination of the annual Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) was conducted for reports received during fiscal years 2018 to 2023 aiming to understand research categories used throughout the translational science spectrum, the count of projects involving human subjects, total number of pilot projects, fund expended, publication outputs, and number of multi-PI projects. These data are part CTSA Program-specific overall special reporting requirements for the annual RPPR. A comprehensive assessment of the pilot projects will result in the creation of a database that can be leveraged for additional reporting and evaluation needs. Our evaluation of the pilot projects will aid NCATS in understanding the investment, research categories addressed, outputs, and impact of such projects as part of the CTSA goal to create and implement scientific and operational innovations that increase the quality, safety, efficiency, effectiveness and informativeness of clinical research.