The innovation needed to drive both clinical and translational research stands on the foundation of strong leadership. To address this leadership gap, the Advanced Translational Leadership in Academic Science (ATLAS) program was established to cultivate leadership in team science, bridge gaps between clinical research and translational applications, foster inter-institutional collaborations among our seven Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio partners, and build a network of researchers that can continuously serve as a resource to one another.

The first year of the ATLAS program, which launched in 2024, was open to mid-career and senior-level investigators that were affiliated with our CTSC partnering institutions including Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, Northeast Ohio Medical University, University Hospitals, University of Toledo, and VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System. After a nomination process and review by CTSC leadership, 21 individuals were admitted to the cohort. Over a rigorous seven-month period marked by eight full-day sessions, these individuals were provided with formal leadership training through hands-on workshops, leadership assessments, individualized coaching, and a team project. Work on the team projects and coaching sessions took place outside of program time.

The team projects addressed common challenges in translational science, which aligned with the overall aims of our CTSC grant. These projects included, optimizing the recruitment of underrepresented groups for clinical trials, integrating community partners into research, developing initiatives and training in translational science, and disseminating and implementing findings from novel research programs. The ATLAS cohort was strategically grouped into four diverse teams, purposefully blending different institutional and research backgrounds to spark new ideas and approaches. Teams were responsible for developing a program as a proposed solution to their challenge that could be integrated into the CTSC. Two winning teams were awarded a $50,000 pilot award to initiate their novel programs.

Through interactive workshops, assessments, coaching, and the team project, the goal was to provide leadership training and skills that are necessary to drive high-impact, interdisciplinary research. Program effectiveness was evaluated through session feedback, qualitative reflections, comprehensive team project assessments, and a specialized team science leadership survey developed by the Center for Clinical and Translational Science at Rockefeller University. The results indicated significant improvements in key leadership competencies, affirming that ATLAS is a transformative catalyst for high-impact, interdisciplinary research.

Building on this success, the next phase of ATLAS will shift to early-stage investigators, while continuing to support mid-career and senior leaders. Comparisons will be made between the two cohorts to determine the different needs to support the leadership development of these researchers. These findings will inform future leadership training initiatives across research institutions. Through this ongoing commitment to excellence, ATLAS is not only cultivating current leaders but also building a lasting network of innovators poised to tackle the evolving challenges of clinical and translational research.