皇家华人

UCL's Translational Training Manager, Kim Gurwitz, reflects on 18 months of the ACCELERATE programme, which inspires 100s of researchers to positively impact healthcare through translational research.

Translational research aims to unlock the potential of听research听innovation听for the benefit of healthcare听by听translating research from听鈥渂ench to bedside鈥�.听

ACCELERATE,听UCL鈥檚 Translational Research Training Programme,听provides听training and development听opportunities for researchers interested in听translational research.听Since its launch听18 months ago,听the programme听has hosted 37 events across 12 initiatives with over 400 participants, in total.听

The modular, flexible programme听helps听researchers from听all disciplines听-听not听just medical sciences -听learn more about translational research听and听is听positively influencing听research culture by demystifying听how to听translate ideas听into healthcare applications. ACCELERATE听also听supports听researchers to learn and practise skills that enable this process.听罢丑别听initiatives are wide-ranging and form a diverse portfolio of opportunities听where听participants can engage. These engagement opportunities range听from听technical training on听various听topics听(such as intellectual property and data management); skills听development听for听grant writing听and pitching ideas;听and听spaces for听innovative thinking听through mentoring and teamwork.听

Here are the highlights from听ACCELERATE听this year:听

1. We supported听early career researchers to win funding听

In collaboration with听UCL Therapeutic Innovation Networks,听we听supported听early career researchers to听write grants听and听pitch听their ideas. This has听helped听over 30 applicants听to win听funding to support their translational research projects.听One applicant commented that their 鈥減itch was transformed by the training鈥�.听罢丑别听panelists听judging听the pitches听said that they听were very impressed by听the听scientific quality and听delivery听of the听presentations.听

2. We听created听opportunities for deeper connections to form within the听translational听research community听

罢丑别听ACCELERATE Innovation: Mentoring for Medical Innovation听initiative, in partnership with the听Collaboration for Advancement of Sustainable Medical Innovation听(CASMI),听pairs leaders in medical innovation with early career researchers.听The initiative听aims to build lasting relationships in the innovation ecosystem while giving early career researchers support to pursue translational research.听We听provided听coaching and resources on mentoring practice to enrich the 6-month experience for both mentees and mentors.听We received encouraging feedback from participants:听

鈥淢y mentor has been so helpful. They helped me to meet relevant people for my project, they helped with taking ideas to the next step. Knowing that I would meet with them in a few weeks made me feel accountable to finish tasks that I could postpone. They made me feel听energised听and with听their听support I was more resilient.鈥澨齸听ACCELERATE听Mentee.听

3. We听reached听a听wider听audience with听our听online, self-paced, open-access short course听

ACCELERATE Potential:听An听Introduction to听Translational Research听covers听the听basics of translational research, how to get started, and where to find support.听Over 100听individuals have听already听signed听up.听The course听is open to all and free of charge 鈥� go on,听sign up!听

鈥淚 feel I have a much better grasp of translational research at 皇家华人 after having completed the course. I particularly enjoyed the videos and the animation, and I applaud the amount of work that has gone into creating this course.鈥澨齸听ACCELERATE Potential听Course听Participant.听

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4. We promoted听and听supported interdisciplinary teams听听

What happens when researchers from different backgrounds听and听disciplines put听their expertise together to solve healthcare challenges? This is the听idea听behind听the听ACCELERATE Innovation: Team Challenge.听Teams听form in the first few weeks of this eight-week听initiative听and听are supported with training, hands-on experience,听and funding听for听their听healthcare innovations.听Round one of this exciting initiative is ongoing (May-July 2021)听and听we are听looking forward to seeing the听teams听progress听their ideas!听

5. We worked听collaboratively to develop training听

Central to the ACCELERATE philosophy is working with and highlighting the experts in听translational research. Rather than reinventing听the wheel,听our听webpages听signpost to听expert resources听across UCL. And where gaps exist,听we听collaborate听with others to create training initiatives and resources.听For听the online short course called听ACCELERATE Potential,听we听collaborated with representatives from over 25 teams across听the university and industry partners in the UK. In another example,听we听collaborated with听UCL Public Engagement,听Patient and Public Research Panel Members from the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit, and UCL researchers to develop听training听resources to support听鈥榠nvolving听patients and the public in research鈥�. The team recently听听to highlight听the importance听of听engaging stakeholders, which is a key component of translational research.听

What鈥檚 next for ACCELERATE?听

ACCELERATE is continuously adapting听to new challenges and opportunities in the research community听to听keep听supporting the needs of researchers. We want to hear from you听鈥� how can we help you听get your research into healthcare?听For more information听on听our programme听and to听let us know about听your questions and ideas, check out the听ACCELERATE website听or听browse upcoming events.听

ACCELERATE is a joint venture between the听UCL Academic Careers Office听and the听UCL Translational Research Office. The programme听is supported by the听Wellcome听Trust and the NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre.听