Aug. 1, 2018: Cross-Cultural Experiences Spark Advances in Translational Science
Training in scientific research and medicine tends to become increasingly specialized as it progresses, producing scholars whose deep knowledge of particular areas enables them to make unique discoveries in their fields. But these individuals are less well prepared for the cross-discipline “team sport” of translational science. In contrast, NCATS’ training initiatives emphasize a working knowledge of the many fields that are required for successful translation, and mastery of at least two of them.
Experiences in new disciplines or different environments illuminate the needs and perspectives of partners in the translational science spectrum and foster fresh ideas that lead to novel approaches. This can be as simple as crossing campus to work with someone in a different scientific field, or as extreme as crossing an ocean to collaborate on studies in a distant land.
The latter is the case for several Ph.D. scholars who are splitting their time between laboratories at NCATS and research institutions overseas. One student, Dorian Cheff, aims to accelerate research on treatments for an aggressive form of brain cancer. The training program enables her to learn assay design and high-throughput screening from NCATS scientists as well as disease biology knowledge from her mentor at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Along the way, Cheff is also experiencing different mentoring styles and laboratory cultures, which will make her a more skillful leader and collaborator.
Researchers can also experience different cultures by working for a period of their training in another part of the translational ecosystem, such as the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies or patient organizations. A shining example of this approach is the Eli Lilly externship program, now in its third year, which is a fully immersive six-month experience at the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. This program is open to NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program trainees and researchers.
Earlier this year, Josephine Taverna, M.D., reported on her Lilly externship experience, during which she helped develop computer models to guide drug development for Alzheimer’s disease. Taverna eloquently expressed her newfound appreciation for the challenges of developing a drug and the critical role of industry in developing new medicines for patients.
After her presentation, I was delighted when Taverna posed a question back to my NCATS colleagues and me: “How can we better integrate academia and industry to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers to efficient drug development?” The experience of Taverna and other NCATS externs in both sectors will empower more effective integration, and I encourage every aspiring and current translational scientist to have an externship experience.
I have yet to speak to any translational scientist who does not consider their time in another sector or discipline as being transformative to their science and their career. To facilitate this becoming the norm for translational scientists, NCATS has developed new Training and Education web content that consolidates many of the Center’s education and training activities and resources, both those based here at NCATS and those at our translational science partner institutions. I hope you will check it out and learn how externships are making translation more relevant, efficient and successful.
Christopher P. Austin, M.D.
Director
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences