Objectives/Goals: This evaluation seeks to demonstrate the feasibility and impact of a new funding program for clinical and translational research launched by U-M Michigan Medicine. ’Research Scouts’ with established research agendas at U-M were identified and trained to invite and fund research proposals from U-M colleagues they had not collaborated with. Methods/Study Population: In 2023, Research Scouts identified and orientated to the program and goals. Each Scouts was given a year to invest 150, 000 in innovative research projects. A web-based submission portal was used to anonymize the proposals to remove the potential for bias. All projects were granted a two-year funding period. The sequential mixed methods used for this evaluation includes surveys of ’Research Scouts’ and awardees, followed by the collection on administrative data regarding the awardees scientific production, including both research publications and grants. The survey results and administrative data were analyzed and informed the iterative refinement of an interview protocol designed to investigate the impact of the funding on awardees’ development of novel and collaborative research agendas. Results/Anticipated Results: Surveys of the 2023 Scouts (N=24) and Awardees (N=51) had a 59% response rate. Awardees agreed they were able to pursue new lines of investigation (Mean 4. 62, on a 5-point Likert scale) ; test a new idea that otherwise would go unexplored (Mean 4. 62) ; had more latitude for intellectual creativity and exploration than traditional funding mechanisms permit (Mean 4. 46) ; had new scientific conversations and new connections (Mean 4. 54). The results also indicate that Research Scouts agreed with these benefits. Analysis of Awardee’s administrative data yielded evidence that they were actively producing new research; for example, of 146 papers, at least 30 were relevant to their award. Ongoing interviews will yield evidence indicating how the award accelerated their clinical and translational research agendas. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Given the long gestation time for new research ideas to yield new publications or extramural funding, the full impact of the program won’t be known for years. However, preliminary evidence indicates that the Research Scouts program successfully provides a mechanism for pursuing novel ideas with minimal administrative costs and burden.
Samuels et al. (Wed,) studied this question.