What are the best ways to overcome challenges in translational research training?

Identifying your goals and interests involves self-reflection. Consider your passions, what brings you joy, and what you want to achieve. Set specific, achievable goals aligned with your values. Explore new activities to discover interests. Regularly assess and adjust your goals as you evolve.

To be effective at doing translation requires knowledge of both domains one is translating between. Thats true of translating between languages, and also of translating between management research to management practice. Some of the most effective translators I know have a sound understanding of research methods (if only to know when to be sceptical of research) but also understand the practical domain very deeply. That's how we aim to train MBA's at INSEAD, and I believe how reputed DBA programs for professionals are designed. I should also mention that I am optimistic that Large Language Models can help with translation of research, and we have run some preliminary studies that support that view.

Accept that interests and goals may change! It is way better to switch fields than being stuck in something you are not passionate about. This is an ongoing process and can take anything from days to decades. Always reflect your work and your values. Are they still aligned? Explore other areas. Natural intelligence is capable of more than just aggregate facts. You have phantasy, so use it to create something novel from the bits and pieces that lay around on your journey.

When addressing challenges in translational research training, the following points can be considered to navigate the obstacles effectively: Finding a mentor: In my opinion this is the most important step in overcoming challenges. Try to find a mentor who will guide you, inspire you and most importantly point your shortcomings. Persistence and resilience: Research will always involve setbacks. Building resilience and maintaining persistence in the face of challenges is crucial. In addition, come up with a set-back coping mechanism (travelling, religion, music, family etc.) Ethical considerations: Never compromise with ethical standards. A clear conscience is essential in upholding ethical standards at every stage of the research process.

Translational science offers a captivating avenue to enhance the value of scientific knowledge generated by researchers. In my personal perspective on optimizing this process, two crucial aspects contribute to its effectiveness: i) A clear definition of goals and strategies aligned with our motivation. By this, I mean focusing on a field that resonates with our passions, a field we genuinely care about, and one that aligns well with our overarching objectives. ii) Validating the utility of our translational efforts. Nothing truly qualifies as translational unless it is used by others

Find experienced mentors who can provide guidance and support throughout your training. They can offer valuable insights, help you navigate challenges, and provide recommendations for learning new skills and methods.

Mentorship is the cornerstone of any research journey. Having a mentor can provide invaluable guidance, from the initial stages of brainstorming and hypothesis formulation through to the complex processes of data acquisition, hypothesis promotion, and securing funding. A mentor's experience can help you avoid common pitfalls and accelerate your learning curve. Also, you surely cannot do everything by yourself. Collaborative efforts expand your network, provide a support system, and can introduce multidisciplinary approaches that enrich your research.

Finding a perfect mentor and a collaborative group is not easy. It takes lot of efforts, try to connect people on LinkedIn and pitch your ideas if it doesn’t work join some already mentoring groups like Research MD.

An experienced and positive mentor is a professor in action. Mentorship helps in 1. understanding the blind spots. 2. The failure stories of a mentor are way more contextual than any of the case studies we have read in the academia. 3. Wading through conflicts. 4. Having the correct attitude towards stake holders.

Personally what has helped me even as I journey in the field of research is mentorship. Identifying people who are in the same field as me for example Prof Tembo and Dr Nkonde has made my journey alot easier and opened up opportunities that on my own seemed impossible. You can't know it all, so why not seek mentorship from the people that have walked the same path you dream of. With their experience they know what makes a good researcher.

Realize that full translation from discovery to implementation often requires an enormous amount of expertise. It may be wiser to invest in collaborations with experts in relevant subparts than to try to do everything yourself. Communication and project management are an absolute must!

Learning new technical skills and methods are enablers - such learning is lifelong and should be combined with soft skills development.

To learn new skills and methods, start by defining your goal and breaking it into manageable parts. Utilize online resources, practice regularly, and seek feedback from peers or mentors. Join relevant communities for support, stay updated with industry developments through reading, and connect with professionals in your field. Attend workshops and webinars to gain hands-on experience. Stay patient, persistent, and celebrate small victories throughout the learning process.

In my experience easiest ways is to engaging in courses, workshops, webinars, and online platforms dedicated to translational research training provides a structured path for skill development. Additionally, learning from mentors, collaborating with peers, and seeking valuable feedback become invaluable sources of wisdom in this dynamic pursuit of knowledge and expertise.

Sin duda ninguna....m.seguir aprendiendo nuevas técnicas, metodologías,etc......... Auto actualizarse ....es lo más importante hoy en día para seguir el ritmo tan rápido de investigación....

To be succesful at funding, you need to learn and speak the language of the funder. That way you stand a higher chance of succeeding

Understanding how much each phase of the research program costs is essential to structure how advance you could analyse it having said that , one must also uphold the quality of research and data that is produced.

The most important is how you are applying and from which organization/sponsor. At early stage of the research, ask for advice. Later on, applications should be differently created and also with the language suitable for a focus group. Why and what you will achieve is based on what you accomplished previously and how the benefit will be measured.

In my experience, thinking about who/groups who would be interested in investing in your work is key. This ensures your focus is relevant, rather than just assuming you will “get funding”. You are being invested in, how will you show a return on that investment?

No matter how solid and well-thought-out a research project is, getting sponsors or funding can take time and effort. From the conceptualization of research, funding should be one of the key elements needed to push the idea from paper to the field. Securing the right funding and grants goes a long way towards conducting impactful research.

You also need to build time for this into your research plan or research strategy. Ethics approvals and processes can actually take considerable time.

Navigate through research regulations adeptly by seeking counsel from ethics committees and regulatory experts, ensuring compliance with industry and government norms in the application to your research.

Navigating ethical and regulatory issues requires a proactive approach. Stay informed about industry regulations, establish clear ethical guidelines, and seek legal advice when needed. Conduct regular risk assessments, provide ongoing training, and communicate transparently with stakeholders. Implement reporting mechanisms and internal audits to ensure compliance. Be adaptable to changes in regulations and industry standards, evolving your practices accordingly to maintain ethical integrity.

This is table-stakes for research, as a researcher you must know the legal, ethical, and moral implications of your work. Being aware is insufficient, you should be an expert on these topics before engaging solo on research with such implications.

Being able to allocate sufficient time for ethics approvals is important as to not be a deciding factor as to whether you can or cannot continue research efforts.

One thing I've found helpful is that "Bridging the gap between academia and industry" is a crucial factor in overcoming challenges in translational research training. Because, Academic research often focuses on fundamental scientific questions, while industry prioritizes commercially viable solutions. Bridging the gap ensures that research efforts address real-world needs and challenges, improving the relevance and impact of training programs.

Academia and industry This is the most debated topic. I will not debate but will keep some facts- I failed to solve trigonometry I failed to solve integration I failed to solve many more topics like this But after coming far from these academics today I am hardly using those mathematics content. So there is definitely gap More then gap between academia and industry the gap is more in the way the academia is designed and industries are floating job. Current job market needs a person to have everything so current academia is teaching everything. One way blame will not work, mentorship can only solve this vague problem , where mentor will help in doing navigation to the best career with the existing skill of the mentee

To overcome challenges in translational research training, bridge the gap between academia and industry. Engage with industry partners, understand their needs, and demonstrate the relevance of your research. Protect intellectual property, negotiate contracts, and manage conflicts of interest. Bridging this cultural and communicative gap enhances the practical impact of your work, fostering collaboration and aligning research outcomes with societal needs.

Establishing communication channels and platforms for knowledge exchange facilitates the seamless transfer of research findings into practical applications. Engaging in joint initiatives, such as industry-academia research projects or internships, promotes a deeper understanding of real-world challenges and accelerates translating academic knowledge into industry solutions. Cultivating a culture of mutual respect and understanding between academia and industry stakeholders is paramount to creating a synergistic environment that fosters innovation and societal impact.

To bridge academia and industry in translational research, foster networking through conferences, engage in industry internships, establish collaborations, and communicate research findings effectively to both academic and industry audiences. Building relationships and understanding both sectors' priorities are crucial.

In my role focusing on global public health, I collaborated with both academic researchers and industry experts to address emergency response challenges. Through a joint initiative, we established a research project to enhance healthcare systems' resilience during crises. This interdisciplinary effort combined academia's research rigour and industry's practical insights, resulting in actionable recommendations for improving emergency response strategies globally. This collaboration exemplifies how leveraging the strengths of both sectors can lead to impactful solutions in the dynamic field of public health and emergency management.

MOU with Foreign Agencies: Possibility of signing an MOU with training institutions of medically advanced nations can help in sharing the best practices of each country. This can give new insights to trainees and will broaden their horizon. Challenges faced in Translational research training can be mitigated this way as it will give trainees an opportunity to learn from some of the best minds and the free flow of information can really motivate them to work in the right direction for the betterment.

Overcoming challenges in translational research training is effectively addressed by focusing on three key areas: interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering innovation, and patient involvement. Interdisciplinary collaboration breaks down silos, bringing diverse expertise together for a comprehensive understanding of health issues and innovative solutions. A culture of innovation is crucial, encouraging researchers to think creatively and take risks, thereby advancing the field. Additionally, involving patients/end users in research provides unique insights, ensuring that studies are relevant and impactful. This approach not only enhances research quality but also promotes a more responsive healthcare (and other) system.

I think one thing we can’t forget about is that the human body is not an isolated system. Think of the whole organism and how treating and researching one thing could affect or be affected by other regions. For example, what if a novel treatment for a cardiac disease is effective but results in high depression rates, maybe an alternate delivery system for the molecule could circumvent this phenotype. But the initial observation must be made on time and that only happens if we think of the individual as more than just the niche of research we work on.

Overcoming challenges in translational research training necessitates fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, providing mentorship, hands-on experiences, accessible resources, tailored curricula integrating basic and clinical sciences, comprehensive ethical and regulatory education, honing communication and data analysis skills, resilience training, fostering a supportive environment, continuous evaluation, and professional development opportunities, ensuring a well-rounded training framework that equips researchers with the diverse skill set and mindset needed to navigate the complexities of translational research, effectively bridging the gap between bench discoveries and clinical applications.