Seminars & Workshops

There is an urgent need to develop diverse, equitable, and collaborative research teams to improve research impact and health outcomes. However, several barriers remain to achieving this goal, including implementation of strategies for creating an equitable and inclusive research team.

Tufts CTSI invites you to join us for “Fundamentals for Building Inclusive Research Teams” on Friday, March 31  and Friday, April 7, from 11:00AM-12:00PM. This workshop will share practical skills for building collaborative and inclusive research teams.  Participants will learn about fostering teams that welcome diverse identities, working and learning styles, disciplines, and forms of knowledge. The format will involve case studies, presentations, a panel discussion, and reflection/discussion.

Topics covered will include:

• Cultural humility as a basis for equitable collaboration
• Creating, supporting, and sustaining cohesive, equitable, and collaborative research teams
• Leveraging a team’s diversity to improve translational research

Participants will leave with tools and frameworks that will help them implement a plan to operationalize skills learned.

Learning Objectives

After attending this event, participants will be able to do the following as part of dynamic research teams:

• Describe strategies that promote equitable collaboration
• Apply best practices for building diverse, collaborative research teams

Who Should Attend

Investigators with varied research collaboration experience and varied disciplinary interests, as well as research staff and others responsible for supporting collaborative research projects are encouraged to attend.

Details

Friday, March 31, 2023, 11:00AM-12:00PM

Friday, April 7, 2023, 11:00AM-12:00PM

This workshop will be held remotely via Zoom over two separate 1-hour sessions. Registrants should plan to attend both.

Registration

Click here to register. Registration for this workshop closes March 24, 2023.

Join us for an engaging live Zoom event featuring Alysse Wurcel, MD, a dedicated clinical scientist and thought leader whose work in translational science showcases the power of Natural Language Processing (NLP) to unlock information hidden in clinical data.

Dr. Wurcel’s NLP research identifies a difficult to uncover population – people who use drugs – and demonstrates the limitations of traditional Electronic Medical Record searches. Her work reveals how NLP can serve as a more effective, efficient, and ethical alternative to chart reviews. By incorporating NLP in her research, Dr. Wurcel not only identifies patients more accurately but creates the opportunity to improve care through earlier identification of at-risk populations in need of better access to care and services.

Why attend?

– Learn from Experts: Gain insights from Dr. Wurcel and our expert panelists on how NLP is transforming clinical and translational research. Understand how it serves as a bridge between raw data and tangible healthcare improvements.

– Build Strong Collaborative Teams: Explore the vital role of interdisciplinary collaboration in translational science. Learn how partnering with the right experts can strengthen your team and accelerate your research and clinical goals.

– Explore Ethical and Practical Dimensions: Dive into the ethical considerations and challenges of implementing NLP in healthcare settings. Understand the importance of language choices and how they can influence patient trust, engagement, and outcomes.

– Innovate in Patient Care: Engage with thought leaders about the future of patient care. Learn how adopting cutting-edge technologies like NLP can create more person-centered healthcare systems and contribute to a broader understanding of patient needs.

– Utilize the Translational Science Benefits Model: Analyze this case example to identify the wide-ranging benefits of your research, highlighting how these advantages impact interest holders across various disciplines.

Who should attend?

– Researchers and Scientists interested in identifying and understanding the needs of patients who use drugs, exploring the applications of NLP, or identifying additional benefits of their research using the Translational Science Benefits Model.

– Clinicians and Healthcare Providers seeking to enhance patient care through innovative technologies and learn how to integrate NLP into clinical practice.

– Informatics Specialists and Data Scientists passionate about data-driven healthcare solutions and their practical implementation.

– Ethics and Language Experts interested in the intersection of language, technology, and patient care, focusing on the ethical implications of these advancements.

– Program Administrators and Grant Managers responsible for designing and overseeing small funding opportunities aimed at advancing translational science.

Expert panelists

Laura Haaber Ihle, PhD (AI Ethicist, Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University)

Aurora Quaye, MD (Anesthesiologist and researcher, Maine Health Institute for Research)

Liz Scharnetzki, PhD (Social Psychologist, Maine Health Institute for Research)

Annika Schoene, PhD (Computer Scientist, Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University)

Lightning talks

Leslie Rideout, PhD, FNP, BSN (Tufts Medical Center)

Aurora Quaye, MD (Clinical Faculty, Maine Health Institute for Research)

Isha Agarwal, MD, ScD (Emergency Medicine, Maine Health)

Closing remarks

Ioannis Paschalidis, PhD (Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Institute)

Tufts Medicine clinical research staff and investigators are invited to join Tufts CTSI in person on Thursday, February 15 at 1:00PM as we demonstrate the importance of clinical research’s adherence to HIPAA’s Research Privacy rule and the related IRB requirements. Bring your department/research team and test your HIPAA compliance and privacy knowledge against your peers in a mini-jeopardy game!

Who Should Attend?

All investigators and clinical research staff from Tufts Medicine and Tufts University are invited to attend!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify HIPAA regulations that apply specifically to research.
• Describe the impact of HIPAA and privacy regulations on research.
• Describe at least 3 strategies to operationalize compliance and privacy policies into your day-to-day operations.

Details

Thursday, February 15, 2024
1:00PM-2:00PM

via Zoom

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN.

For questions and further information, please email training@tuftsctsi.org.

2023 Team Science Summit

Advances, Applications, and Future Directions in Disease Models

Event Details

Friday, October 27

9:00AM–2:15PM EST

Join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 932 8447 3032 / Passcode: 867338)

Summary

New and more relevant experimental models – in vivo, in vitro, and in silico – will be essential for better understanding diseases and more effectively testing therapeutics.

This event will highlight work at numerous labs across CTSI’s academic and clinical partners that is creating and using novel modeling systems as well as developing technologies and methods to improve the predictive value of model data for biological and clinical contexts.

Registration

To register, please click here.

To download and share the event flyer, click here.

Agenda

FULL AGENDA + TOPICS (PDF)

PARTICIPANT BIOS (PDF)

Program in Brief

9:00AM  WELCOME

Opening Remarks: Harry P. Selker, MD, MSPH, Dean, Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute

9:10AM  IN VITRO ADVANCES

Chair/Moderator:  David Kaplan, PhD, Tufts University School of Engineering

Presentations of current work:

• Talia Konry, PhD, Northeastern University Bové College of Health Sciences
• Nisa Iyer, PhD, Tufts University School of Engineering
• Lauren Black, PhD, Tufts University School of Engineering
• Ying Chen, PhD, Tufts University School of Engineering
• Vicky Yang, PhD, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
• Juan Gnecco, PhD, Tufts University School of Engineering
• Marly Coe, Tufts University School of Engineering

10:40AM  Cutting Edge Approaches Using Established and alternative in vivo models

Chairs/Moderators: Gregory Cox, PhD, The Jackson Laboratory

Cheryl London, DVM, PhD, Tufts Cummings School

Presentations of current work:

• Jennifer SanMiguel, PhD, The Jackson Laboratory
• Anuj Srivastava, PhD, The Jackson Laboratory
• Andrea Varela-Stokes, DVM, PhD, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
• Pam Yelick, PhD, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
• Daniel Promislow, PhD, University of Washington School of Medicine
• Heather Gardner, DVM, PhD, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
• Katherine Megquier, PhD, The Broad Institute
• Kelly Metcalf Pate, DVM, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

12:45PM  NEW TOOLS FOR OVERCOMING DISEASE MODELING CHALLENGES

Chair/Moderator:  Bree Aldridge, PhD, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Presentations of current work:

• Vivek Kumar, PhD, The Jackson Laboratory
• Ayan Paul, PhD, Northeastern University College of Engineering
• Samia Ali, Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• Sheng Li, PhD, The Jackson Laboratory
• Amanda Martinot, DVM, MPH, PhD, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
• Peter Robinson, MD, MSc, The Jackson Laboratory
• Joseph Gormley, Tufts CTSI

2:15PM  CLOSE

Tufts CTSI cordially invites you to attend our 2nd Annual Dissemination of Research Results Open House!

This online event, held Wednesday, March 29 at 6:00PM EST, is an opportunity to learn about research happening at Tufts University and Baystate Health. Study participants will also have an opportunity to learn about the results of the study in which they participated. This hour-long event will include two 15-minute presentations given by the researchers. The audience will also have a chance to ask questions following each presentation.

Presenters

Dr. Nancy Baker, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy, Tufts University | “The Feasibility of Immersive Virtual Reality as a Treatment for Chronic Back Pain”

Dr. Elizabeth Peacock-Chambers, Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Health; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UMass Chan Medical School | “Assessment of a Train-the-Trainer Model for a Parenting Intervention for Mothers in Recovery”

Details

Live session via Zoom: Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 6:00PM-7:00PM EST 

Registration

Registration is required! Click here to register.

Information

If you have any questions, please contact Stasia Swiadas.

Tufts CTSI is pleased to invite you to attend our 3^rd Annual Dissemination of Research Results Open House Zoom event on Tuesday, May 7, from 6:00PM-7:00PM EST!

We are excited to have Dr. Erin Meier from Northeastern Unviersity and Dr. Gaurav Gulati fromTufts Medical Center scheduled to present the results of their studies:

• Dr. Meier: Word Retrieval in the Wild: A Smartwatch Ecological Momentary Assessment Pilot Study in People with Post-Stroke Aphasia
• Dr. Gulati: Helping the Right Heart Pump Better in Shock: A New Tool

This event is an opportunity for study participants to learn about the results of the study in which they participated. It is also an opportunity for the general public to learn more about research happening at Tufts Medical Center and Northeastern University. Each 15-minute presentation will be followed by a Q&A session with the researchers.

Details

Live session via Zoom: Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 6:00PM-7:00PM EST 

Download and share the event flyer.

Registration

Registration is required! Please register on Tufts CTSI I LEARN.

Information

If you have any questions, please contact Patricia Reyes (patricia.reyes@tuftsmedicine.org).

Interested in addiction research? Want to meet collaborators and develop grant proposals?

Join Tufts CTSI for our Addiction Research Symposium Plus on Wednesday, March 13 at Tufts University’s Boston Health Sciences Campus. This interactive event will focus on nascent research projects with the goals of assisting teams to develop research project proposals for future grant submissions and engaging all event participants in team science approaches to further catalyze research ideas.

By the end of this interactive symposium, event participants should be able to:

• Identify common regulatory concerns surrounding the unique populations involved in addiction research.
• Recognize how research teams develop research projects, from concept toward a written funding proposal.
• Identify Tufts CTSI team-based translational science resources that can help advance a research project.
• Articulate the value of gathering peer and expert feedback during the development of fundable proposal.

Selected Proposals

The following projects will be presented and discussed:

• Oxygenating the Addicted Brain Through Aerobic Exercise, Eduardo Fontes, PhD, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte and Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences
• Incorporating Acupuncture into the Continuum of Care for People with Severe Opioid Use Disorder, Barbara Herbert, MD, Column Health and Tufts University School of Medicine
• Intranasal Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) Gene Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder, Barbara Waszczak, PhD, Northeastern University Bouve College of Health Sciences; Emmanuel Pothos, PhD, Tufts University School of Medicine
• Salivary Gene Analysis and Brain MRI to Understand Hypothalamic and Reward Pathway Dysregulation Affecting Oral Feeding in Infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, Elizabeth Yen, MD; Jill Maron, MD, and Jonathan Davis, MD, Tufts Medical Center Pediatrics Department

Details

Wednesday, March 13, 9:00AM-3:00PM
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Room 216A
145 Harrison Avenue, Boston MA

Registration

To attend, please register here by March 4, 2019.

The Biomedical and Health Data Sciences Collaborative (BHDSC), a cross-disciplinary group formed by Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (ICRHPS) at Tufts Medical Center, invites you to attend a virtual seminar on Wednesday, February 28 from 2:00PM-3:00PM.

Dr. Gregory W. Hruby will give a talk titled ” Toward a Generalized Model of Biomedical Query Mediation to Improve Electronic Health Record Data Retrieval.”

Abstract

The EHR serves as a vital resource for medical knowledge discovery, demanding both medical and technical expertise for data interrogation. Biomedical query mediation (BQM) is the process where medical researchers collaborate with query analysts to translate information needs into EHR queries. The absence of a BQM standard leads to varied practices, potentially affecting dataset accuracy. This work enhances understanding of BQM through three studies: 1) content analysis of the BQM process, 2) cognitive task analysis for workflow, and 3) development of a concept schema for comprehensive EHR data needs.

Speaker Bio

Gregory W. Hruby, a Clinical Research Scientist with a PhD in Biomedical Informatics from Columbia University, is dedicated to advancing clinical care value initiatives. With a solid foundation in qualitative and quantitative methods, he specializes in extracting insights from complex communication processes between medical data seekers and electronic health record data analysts. His expertise includes extensive knowledge of electronic healthcare data, spanning EHR/ERP systems and various data terminologies.

Details

Wednesday, February 28, 2024
2:00PM-3:00PM EST

To attend virtually, click here.

Contact

Please contact Anastasia Gurinovich and Ellaina Reed if you have any questions. Feel free to pass on to others who may be interested.

The Biomedical and Health Data Sciences Collaborative (BHDSC), a cross-disciplinary group formed by the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (ICRHPS) at Tufts Medical Center, invites you to attend an in-person seminar (with a virtual option) on Wednesday, January 24 at 2:00PM at 35 Kneeland Street, 8^th Floor Conference room.

Dr. Shaoyang Ning will give a talk titled “Using Google search data for localized flu tracking.”

Abstract

Big data from the Internet has great potential to track social and economic events at multiple geographical levels. Focusing on localized (regional, state-level) tracking the seasonal influenza epidemics within U.S., I will introduce a statistical model that efficiently combines publicly available Google search data at different geographical resolutions with traditional influenza surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our method outperforms time-series-based influenza tracking methods. Our model is robust and easy to implement, with the flexibility to incorporate additional information from other sources and/or resolutions, making it generally applicable to tracking other social, economic or public health events (such as COVID-19) at the regional or local level.

Speaker Bio

Shaoyang Ning is an Assistant Professor of Statistics in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Williams College. He received my Ph.D. in Statistics from Harvard in 2018 and his B.S. in Probability and Statistics from Peking University, China in 2013. His research focuses on the study and design of statistical methods for integrative data analysis, in particular, to address the challenges of increasing complexity and connectivity arising from “Big Data”. He is interested in innovating statistical methods that efficiently integrate multi-source, multi-resolution information to solve real-life problems. Instances include tracking flu activities (and other infectious diseases) with Google search data and predicting cancer-targeting drugs with high-throughput multi-omics data.

Details

Wednesday, January 24, 2024
2:00PM-3:00PM EST

To attend virtually, click here.

Contact

Please contact Anastasia Gurinovich and Ellaina Reed if you have any questions. Feel free to pass on to others who may be interested.

The Biomedical and Health Data Sciences Collaborative (BHDSC), a cross-disciplinary group formed by the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies (ICRHPS) at Tufts Medical Center, invites you to attend an in-person seminar (with a virtual option) at 35 Kneeland Street, 8^th Floor Conference room.

Dr. Jacob Nearing will give a talk titled “Integrating post sequencing workflows and statistical approaches to improve the robustness of microbial community data analyses”.

Abstract

Modern day sequencing technology has allowed researchers to take vast surveys of the various microbes living within numerous environments including the human body, ocean, and soil. Through this work we have found that these microbial communities, termed the microbiome, can play significant roles in their environment’s ecosystem. Yet, while various microbe(s) have been associated with numerous phenotypes such as host health, these results are often not reproducible across studies. There are many reasons as to why this may be the case including the difficulty in matching results between differing sequencing technologies such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing or the use of differing statistical models during data analysis. Both of which can result in differing biological conclusions from the same underlying samples. In this presentation, I will highlight my recent research on developing a tool to help address the gap between 16S and shotgun sequencing using phylogenetic placement and the use of uncertainty in difficult to assign taxonomic labels, to provide more clarity during downstream analysis. With the final goal of creating microbial profiles that have higher agreement between differing sequencing technologies. In addition,  I will  present another part of work on evaluating how differing commonly used statistical approaches in microbiome data analysis can result in different biological interpretations. Highlighting the need for more robust approaches to modeling microbiome data in the future.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Jacob Nearing is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Under the supervision of Dr. Curtis Huttenhower, he focuses on improving microbiome data analysis through the creation of new bioinformatic tools and evaluating those already present in the current literature. He has expertise in microbiome data analysis, microbiology, and bioinformatic research. During his PhD at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he received numerous scholarships to fund his work on the oral microbiome and cancer. During 2022, Nature Communications highlighted his work on microbiome differential abundance analysis as one of the top 25 most downloaded works published in the biology section for that year.

Details

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
2:00PM-3:00PM EST

To attend virtually, click here.

Contact

Please contact Anastasia Gurinovich  and Ellaina Reed if you have any questions. Feel free to pass on to others who may be interested.

Join Tufts CTSI on Zoom on Thursday, December 7 at 1:00PM to review the newly revised Study Start-up Toolkit and take a deeper dive into two critical study start-up processes: feasibility questionnaires and site activation checklists.

This training will review the newly revised Study Start-up Toolkit and take a deeper dive into two critical study startup processes: feasibility questionnaires and site activation checklists. You will learn how the Toolkit can serve as a valuable reference for study startup. You will also learn strategies for completing feasibility questionnaires, including how to negotiate with sponsors on information requested.

Finally, this session will cover the differences between sponsor and local site activation checklists and how to manage your timelines for completing both so that your study is ready to enroll.

Who Should Attend?

All clinical research coordinators from Tufts Medicine are invited to attend!

Goals

During this session, you will:

• Navigate the Study Start-up Toolkit resource.
• Describe at least three best practices for completing sponsor feasibility questionnaires.
• Differentiate between sponsor-provided and Tufts Medical Center site activation checklists.
• Describe strategies and timelines for completing the site activation checklists.

Details

Thursday, December 7, 2023
1:00PM-2:00PM

via Zoom

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN.

For questions and further information, please email training@tuftsctsi.org.

Join Tufts CTSI on Zoom for the next Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training on “Best Practices for Working with Research Participants” on Thursday, May 16 at 1:00PM. Learn from the lived experiences of past and current research participants in a panel discussion hosted by Tufts CTSI!

Panelists will talk about their experiences as research participants, with a focus on actionable methods that research staff can use to better engage with current and future participants. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask their own questions in breakout groups. Learn more and register on I LEARN by noon on Thursday, May 16!

Who Should Attend?

Research team members from all institutions are invited to attend!

Learning Objectives

After attending this training, you will be able to:

• Describe different factors that can impact research participants’ decisions on whether to participate in research.
• List at least two ideas for improving your recruitment and retention strategies.

Details

Thursday, May 16, 2024
1:00PM-2:00PM

via Zoom

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN.

For questions and further information, please email training@tuftsctsi.org.

Q2: Beyond the Tasks: Building Skills to Advance Your Research Career, May 15th, 4:00-5:00pm ET

Part 1: Foundations for Success

You’ve learned how to manage a regulatory binder and recruit participants—but what about navigating a tough conversation with a PI? Or collaborating with a team that communicates differently than you do? Join Tufts CTSI online via Zoom on Thursday, May 15th to build essential professional skills that go beyond day-to-day research tasks—skills you can carry throughout your career. This session will be the first of a two-part training, where we’ll cover how to recognize your communication and conflict styles, hold effective (even difficult) conversations, and adapt to different communication styles—skills that make your day-to-day work smoother and set you up for long-term career growth.

This session will cover core skills through a lecture-style presentation and completion of brief online pre-work self-assessments. In our Q3 session (see below) you will build on this knowledge with hands-on practice applying the techniques through in-person role play exercises.

Who Should Attend?

Research team members from all institutions are invited to attend!

Details

Thursday, May 15, 2025
4:00PM-5:00PM

Zoom link available upon enrollment.

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN.

For questions and further information, please email training@tuftsctsi.org.

Are you utilizing best practices when completing regulatory documents?

Tufts Medical Center and Tufts CTSI Professional Education invite you to join us on September 15 for the next Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training session. This interactive, live session will highlight best practices for completing and managing regulatory documents for industry-funded clinical trials. We will focus on the regulatory documents that are required before study initiation. You will also learn strategies for keeping a well-organized digital regulatory binder. Plus – participate in a team-based scavenger hunt activity for a chance to win a $5 Dunkin gift card for all team members.

Who Should Attend?

All clinical research staff involved in study start-up for industry-funded trials at Tufts MC are invited.

Featured Speaker

Vidya Iyer, MBBS, CPI, Director of Clinical Research at Tufts Medical Center

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the required documents for study start up
• Distinguish between FDA-required and sponsor-specific forms
• Discuss tips and tricks for completing regulatory documents
• Utilize best practices for organizing regulatory forms in digital format (“Regulatory Binder”)

Details

Thursday, September 15, 2022
1:00-2:00PM
Live online (a link will be sent to those who register).

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN by noon on September 15, 2022.

For questions and further information, please email Shane Cox.

Where can you go from here?

Tufts Medical Center and Tufts CTSI Professional Education invite you to join us on May 19 for the next Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training session.

In this session we feature a panel discussion focused on the variety of traditional and non-traditional careers in clinical and translational research. Hear success stories of Tufts Medical Center research staff. Learn how you can leverage the skills you are developing now into avenues you might not have considered. This will be an interactive session, and we encourage you to send us your questions in advance – we can’t wait to see you there!

Research coordinators and anyone else interested in learning about research career paths are invited to attend.

Learning Objectives

After attending this event, participants should be able to:

• Identify at least three possible career paths for research coordinators.
• Describe the transferable skills developed by working as research staff.
• Identify certifications and other educational options for career advancement.

Details

Thursday, May 19, 2022
1:00-2:00PM
Live online (a link will be sent to those who register).

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN by noon on May 19, 2022.

For further information, please email Shane Cox.

What is the role of the research coordinator in the clinical trials agreement and budget process? What can hold up study approval?

Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC) and Tufts CTSI Professional Education invite you to join us on Thursday, January 27, 1:00-2:00PM for the next Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training session. We will kick off our 2022 series with an interactive session focusing on the clinical research process from the Research Administration perspective.

You will learn how to help Research Administration develop clinical research budgets and complete the Medicare Coverage Analysis. We will walk through an overview of the Medicare Coverage Analysis process and give insight to the process of negotiating Clinical Research agreements. You will also learn how to help your Research Administrator develop budgets, track expenses, and closeout the study from a financial perspective. We will also cover how to utilize the CTMS to improve communication with Research Administration and will preview how upcoming changes in EPIC will affect the pre-registration process for clinical research studies.

Research coordinators, research managers, and anyone involved in study start-up & close-out at Tufts MC are invited to attend. This training will give you the knowledge to confidently navigate the approval process.

Featured Speakers

Olivia Lovegreen, Manager, Clinical Trials and Compliance, Research Administration

Carly Tucker, MPH, Clinical Research Compliance Specialist, Compliance Department

Swetha Chinta, MS, Research Analyst, Tufts CTSI

Learning Objectives

After attending this event, participants should be able to:

• Identify barriers in the startup process.
• Identify methods for improving the startup process.
• Identify what your research administrator needs from you and/or your PI, and when.
• Describe techniques for improving communication with the Research Administration department.

Details

Thursday, January 27, 2022
1;00-2:00PM
Online via Zoom (a link will be sent to those who register).

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN by noon on January 27, 2022.

For further information, please email Shane Cox.

Tufts Medical Center and Tufts CTSI Professional Education invite you to join them on Zoom on Thursday, December 15 at 1:00PM for the next Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training session: “Integrating the “Clinical Trials Management System into Your Research Workflow.”

This quarter’s session is all about how research staff can use the Clinical Trials Management System (CTMS) to its full potential. Using the system is a requirement at Tufts MC and it’s designed to address the needs of research staff for activating new clinical studies, tracking clinical progress, and managing financials.

You’ll get a brief overview of the CTMS, then take a deeper look from four different perspectives: clinical research billing review, Research Administration, Research IT, and clinical research coordinator workflow. Learn from your peers in breakout rooms to see live demonstrations of the CTMS in action for different study activities. This is a great opportunity for advanced CTMS users to share their own tips and tricks with their peers, and for newer users to learn how other departments are using the CTMS. Come prepared to discuss your experience with the CTMS in breakout rooms.

Who Should Attend?

All clinical research staff involved in entering clinical trial data through the CTMS at Tufts MC are invited to attend. Both experienced and new users of the CTMS should attend.

Featured Speakers

Swetha Chinta, Research Analyst II, Tufts CTSI

Christian Lawlor, Clinical Research Coordinator III, Neely Cancer Center, Tufts Medical Center

Olivia Lovegreen, Director of Clinical Trials Office & Regulatory Operations, Tufts Medical Center

Danielle Riggs, Executive Director of Research Administration, Tufts Medical Center

Ajay Tupil, Clinical Research Coordinator I, Neely Cancer Center, Tufts Medical Center

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of using the CTMS
• Identify points in the research process when data should be entered into the CTMS
• Describe the process for entering patient and study data into the CTMS
• Describe how study data entered into the CTMS are used by Research Administration and clinical research billing review

Details

Thursday, December 15, 2022
1:00-2:00PM
Live online (a link will be sent to those who register).

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN by noon on December 15, 2022.

For questions and further information, please email training@tuftsctsi.org.

The July 2021 Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training will focus on hot topics in IRB and research compliance.

Big changes are coming to IRB forms and submission processes. Join us on July 15 for the next session of the Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC) and Tufts CTSI Professional Education Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training series. You’ll get the inside scoop on what is new, what you will be required to do, and best practices for working with the Tufts IRB. If you are involved in study start-up activities or interact with research participants or IRB submissions, these sessions are for you! These quarterly trainings are also a great way to get connected to the community of clinical research professionals at Tufts MC.

The July session continues our focus on topics in research compliance specific to Tufts MC. Whether you are an experienced coordinator, or new to Tufts MC, there will be something here that is relevant to your work.

Featured Speakers

Christine Choy, IRB Supervisor and Database Administrator

Caitlin Farley, IRB Administrator II

Carly Tucker, Clinical Research Compliance Manager

Featured Topics

Diversity Enrollment, Biospecimen Banking, and More

The IRB office recently updated their forms and templates to reflect new processes to highlight and improve enrollment of diverse populations, their updated Biospecimen banking (formerly tissue banking) policy, and much more. You will learn about all of these changes; which forms, templates, and policies were revised, created, and eliminated; and how these changes will affect current and new studies.

Best Practices for IRB Submissions and Responding to IRB Comments

The IRB office will provide tips and guidance for a smooth and efficient IRB review of your projects. You will learn best practices for submitting studies to the Tufts IRB, responding to comments and requested revisions, and getting your study approved as quickly as possible.

Third Party Vendor Risk Assessment Update

This short update will cover the EVA page for approved research vendors including: where to find the list, how to best understand and use the approved vendors list, and other tips and tricks for this new vendor review.

Who should attend

Clinical research staff are encouraged to attend.

Details

Thursday, July 15
1:00-2:00PM
Online via Zoom (a link will be sent to those who register).

Registration

To attend, please register here.

The May Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training will focus on hot topics in research compliance.

Tufts Medical Center and Tufts CTSI Professional Education are excited to announce the re-launch of the Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training series. The first training in the new series will focus on topics in research compliance specific to Tufts Medical Center.

Featured Topics

Clinical Research Pre-Registration

The Clinical Research Pre-Registration (Pre-Reg) form is used for patients coming into the hospital for inpatient or outpatient study visits that are scheduled for ancillary care. You will learn how to complete a Clinical Research Pre-Registration form and the importance of this information as it relates to research billing compliance.

Greenphire Clincard

Greenphire Clincard system is the preferred method for providing compensation or reimbursement to subjects in clinical research studies. We will discuss how to get studies added to Clincard, why the system is the most compliant way to pay research subjects, FAQs around using the system and important things to consider when requesting an alternative method.

Research Third Party Vendor Onboarding and Risk Assessment

Wellforce has recently rolled out a new Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) process including a new TPRM Vendor Onboarding Form. We will discuss when this form should be completed as part of study start-up and how to best complete it as it relates to research.

Who should attend

Clinical research staff are encouraged to attend.

Details

Friday, May 7
1:00-2:00PM
Online via Zoom (a link will be sent to those who register).

Registration

To attend, please register here.

Did you know there are more than 40 clinical research coordinators across Tufts community?

By popular demand, Tufts CTSI invites clinical research coordinators from Tufts Medicine and Tufts University to attend our first in-person Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training on Tuesday, September 14 from 12:00PM-2:00PM. Engage in interactive, structured activities that will help you learn from others’ experiences, share your knowledge, and expand your network.

Bring your own lunch and enjoy dessert courtesy of the CRS Training Planning Group!

Who Should Attend?

All clinical research coordinators from Tufts Medicine and Tufts University are invited to attend!

Goals

During this session, you will:

• Make connections with coworkers and identify who is a good source of information.
• Share institutional knowledge.
• Build community across clinical research staff at Tufts.

Details

Thursday, September 14, 2023
12:00PM-2:00PM

35 Kneeland St, 8th Floor

Boston, MA 02111

Registration

To attend, please enroll here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN.

For questions and further information, please email training@tuftsctsi.org.

The October 2021 Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training will focus on sponsor-initiated studies.

Join us on October 21 for the next session of the Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC) and Tufts CTSI Professional Education Clinical Research Staff Quarterly Training series.

This quarter will be all about sponsor-initiated studies: from study start-up to audits, we will cover tools, resources, tips, and best practices to help you run a successful study. These quarterly trainings are also a great way to get connected to the community of clinical research professionals at Tufts MC.

Featured Speakers

Alyssa Cabrera, MPH, Senior Project Manager, Tufts CTSI

Carly Tucker, MPH, Clinical Research Compliance Manager, Tufts Medical Center

Kimberly Garabedian, IRB Analyst, Tufts Medical Center

Vidya Iyer, MBBS, CPI, Manager, Tufts CTSI Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC)

Featured Topics

The Study Start-up Toolkit

This section will cover how the Study Start-up Toolkit can be used as a resource for getting clinical trials up and running. We will walk you through key sections of the toolkit and how it can support overall trial efficiency. You will walk away with a clear understanding of study start-up and your role in supporting sponsor-initiated studies during this phase.

Being Audit-Ready

Did you know there are a number of resources available to help you maintain audit readiness? The Tufts Health Sciences IRB will discuss best practices for conducting routine self-audits to keep your regulatory files in order and introduce self-auditing tools to ensure your study is always in an audit-ready state! In addition, the Tufts MC Compliance Department will also discuss their audit preparation resources.

Surviving the Sponsor Audit

In this section, we will cover a broad overview of the regulatory bodies that can audit an investigator/site. You will learn some of the major reasons for being audited and the difference between sponsor audit versus a monitoring visit. You get an in-depth review of best practices and tips that will prepare you for sponsor audits.

Who should attend

Clinical research staff are encouraged to attend.

Details

Thursday, October 21, 2021
1:00-2:00PM
Online via Zoom (a link will be sent to those who register).

Registration

To attend, please register here.

You’ve been assigned to train your new peer – now what?

Onboarding a new coworker doesn’t have to be a hassle! Establishing a training plan can help ease the transition for new staff and save valuable time for existing or departing staff. Join Tufts CTSI on Thursday, March 2 to learn practical, generalizable strategies for onboarding new team members. You’ll learn about techniques already in use across Tufts MC and walk away with resources you can put into action immediately. Even if you aren’t hiring right now, this session will provide valuable tools for ensuring that the next new hire on your team is set up for success from the start!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify key resources to share with new staff.
• Describe at least 3 concrete ideas/activities for onboarding your next coworker/peer.
• Create a training plan for new staff within your department/team

Who Should Attend

All research staff are invited to attend!

Details

Thursday, March 2, 1:00PM–3:00PM EST, online via Zoom

Registration

Click here to register.

Join Tufts CTSI’s Dissemination & Implementation Core for their next D&I Interest Group (DIIG) on Tuesday, March 26 at 1:00PM! Carmit McMullen, PhD, will present “Incorporating Qualitative Methods in Your Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Project.”

Save the Date and join Tufts CTSI’s Dissemination & Implementation Core for their next D&I Interest Group (DIIG) on Monday, May 20 at 11:00AM!

Douglas Luke, PhD, will present “Looking down the road towards impact: How to conceptualize your research through the Translational Science Benefits Model (TSBM) framework.” In this talk, Dr. Luke will explore the TSBM framework as a powerful tool for researchers to envision the trajectory of their work from conception to real-world impact. Whether you are an early-stage investigator or an established researcher, this talk will provide valuable insights into how you can effectively conceptualize your research to drive meaningful change in healthcare and beyond.

Join Tufts CTSI’s Dissemination & Implementation Core for their next D&I Interest Group (DIIG) on Tuesday, January 30 at 11:00AM! Cara C. Lewis, PhD, Deputy Director of the Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science (CTRIS) at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute within the National Institutes of Health, will present “The Next Generation of Implementation Strategy Testing: Optimizing for Impact, Efficiency, and Equity.”

Dr. Lewis’ expertise in implementation science is evidenced through her national and international responsibilities including serving as President of the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration, as co-founding Editor-in-Chief of Implementation Research and Practice, lecturer for implementation science training institutes, scientific advisor domestically and abroad (e.g., centers in Ireland, Australia), and co-editor of Practical Implementation Science.  In 2022, Clarivate recognized her as one of the most highly cited social scientists globally.

Dr. Lewis will anchor the audience in a tale of why implementation science, specifically the study of implementation strategy mechanisms, is critical for impacting public health, equitably and efficiently. NHLBI priorities around dissemination and implementation science will be discussed.

Details

Live session via Zoom: Tuesday, January 30, 11:00AM-12:00PM EST

Registration

To register in advance, click here.

To download and share the event flyer, click here.

All are welcome to attend and learn more about D&I!

Contact

Please contact Anna Thompson with any questions.

Join Tufts CTSI’s D&I Interest Group to learn about stakeholder engagement in implementation science!

Tufts Medical Center’s Alysse Wurcel, MD, MS will present “What Taylor Swift Teaches Us about Engaging Stakeholders” via Zoom. An open discussion will follow her presentation.

Dr. Wurcel is an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Tufts Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, she completed her Infectious Disease fellowship at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital and Tufts Medical Center, and received a Masters in Clinical Research from the School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University. She currently provides HIV, hepatitis C care at Tufts Medical Center as well as six local county jails. She is the infectious diseases consultant to the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association for COVID19 prevention and mitigation strategies.

Details

Live session via Zoom: Wednesday, November 15, 1:00PM-2:00PM EST

Learning Objectives

Learning objectives:

1. Describe why stakeholder involvement is important in D&I research

2. Explain different strategies for involving stakeholders in D&I research

3. Describe what good stakeholder involvement looks like for an NIH grant

Registration

To register in advance, click here.

To download and share the event flyer, click here

All are welcome to attend and learn more about D&I!

Contact

Please contact Anna Thompson with any questions.

You are invited to a virtual Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Interest Group Meeting on Monday, September 12 from 1:00PM-2:00PM EST.

The guest speaker for the meeting will be Rachel Gold, PhD, MPH. An open discussion will follow her presentation.

Dr. Gold is an epidemiologist and health services researcher focusing on implementation science and using health information technology to improve care quality and reduce disparities in public clinics. Her work includes studying how to implement a multi-faceted quality improvement initiative that targets cardiovascular disease and diabetes care in community health centers serving socioeconomically vulnerable patients. In this session, Dr. Gold will discuss the ten key ingredients for writing implementation science grant proposals and share examples from her own work.

The talk is based on the article “Writing implementation research grant proposals: ten key ingredients” in Implementation Science.

Details

Live session via Zoom: Monday, September 12, 1:00PM-2:00PM EST

Registration

To register in advance, click here. All are welcome to attend and learn more about D&I!

Contact

Please contact Anna Thompson with any questions.

Want to learn about, or conduct, cancer clinical trials?

Tufts CTSI and the Cancer Center at Tufts Medical Center are hosting a free 20-hour course for fellows, faculty, research team members, and anyone interested in the process of conducting cancer-related clinical trials.

Documents

• Demystifying Cancer Clinical Trials Training Series Outline (PDF)
• Proposed Pre-work on I LEARN (PDF)

Session 1, October 14, 2016

• Session 1 Agenda
• Slides: Differences Between Industry-Sponsored, Industry-Supported, and PI-Initiated Studies (PDF)
• Slides: Oncology Clinical Research Lifecycle (PDF)
• Session 1 Video, Part 1 (mp4 Video)
• Session 1 Video, Part 2 (mp4 Video)

Session 2, November 18, 2016

• Session 2 Agenda (PDF)
• Session 2 Slides (PDF)
• Protocol template (PDF)
• CTEP Protocol Table of Contents (PDF)
• Klein Duvelisib IST Protocol (PDF)
• Session 2 Video (mp4 Video)

Session 3, December 16, 2016

• Session 3 Agenda (PDF)
• Session 3 Slides, Part 1 (PDF)
• Session 3 Slides, Part 2 (PDF)
• Session 3 Video (mp4 Video)

Session 4, February 10, 2017

• Session 4 Agenda (PDF)
• Session 4 Slides (PDF)
• Session 4 Video, Part 1 (mp4 Video)
• Session 4 Video, Part 2 (mp4 Video)
• Session 4 Video, Part 3 (mp4 Video)
• Session 4 Video, Part 4 (mp4 Video)

Session 5, March 24, 2017

• Session 5 Agenda (PDF)
• Session 5 Slides (PDF)
• Session 5 Video, Part 1 (mp4 Video)
• Session 5 Video, Part 2 (mp4 Video)
• Session 5 Video, Part 3 (mp4 Video)

Details

Demystifying Cancer Clinical Trials will take place on Fridays, from 1:00-5:00PM on the Tufts Health Sciences Campus in Boston:

• October 14 (35 Kneeland Street, 8th Floor, Boston)
• November 18 (Tufts University Center for Medical Education, Room 114, 145 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
• December 16 (35 Kneeland Street, 8th Floor, Boston)
• February 10 (35 Kneeland Street, 8th Floor, Boston)
• March 24 (35 Kneeland Street, 8th Floor, Boston)

Course sessions will also be videorecorded and posted on Tufts CTSI’s I LEARN website.

Attendees are encouraged to review other courses on I LEARN prior to the start of Demystifying Cancer Clinical Trials.

Goals

At the conclusion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain how to navigate investigator-initiated clinical trial processes in cancer.
• Discuss how to work with pharmaceutical industries and other for-profit entities.
• Define investigational new drug (IND) and investigational device exemption (IDE) studies and explain how IND/IDE clinical trials are conducted.
• State the Principal Investigator’s responsibilities for leading a clinical trial as well as the responsibilities of the research team.

To Register

To attend, sign up here. Participants are encouraged to attend all five sessions.

Does your research work involve recruiting human research volunteers from diverse populations?

Join Tufts CTSI for a hands-on workshop practicing informed consent conversations with interpreters and participants whose primary language is not English. The workshop is blended synchronous/asynchronous with a live session Thursday, October 26, 2:00PM-4:00PM via Zoom. Research staff who participate in consent conversations are encouraged to learn more and register on I LEARN by Wednesday, October 25.

Participants must complete all of the pre-work on Tufts CTSI I LEARN in order to receive the Zoom link for the live training. While in the live workshop your active participation in the live role-play activity is required. You will also learn through providing feedback to others and engaging in group discussion. This will ensure that you get the most out of what this training has to offer.

Clinical research coordinators, investigators, research fellows, research nurses, and anyone involved in obtaining informed consent are encouraged to attend.

By the end of this workshop, participants of Parts 1 & 2 will be able to:

• Identify when a participant needs an interpreter in order to obtain informed consent.
• Identify the correct procedure for working with an interpreter to obtain informed consent.
• Demonstrate at least three communication techniques during obtaining informed consent conversations with an interpreter.

Enrollment is limited due to the hands-on nature of this training. After enrollment, participants will be asked to upload proof of completion of CITI basic training in human subjects research.

Details

Live session via Zoom: Thursday, October 26, 2023, 2:00PM-4:00PM EST 

Registration

To attend, please register here via Tufts CTSI I LEARN.

Prerequisite

CITI basic human subjects protection training. Participants will be required to upload proof of CITI completion to the Tufts CTSI I LEARN course site before the live session.

Seminar Info

Need a larger sample size for your clinical trial? Interested in increasing research participation from children with diverse backgrounds? Join Tufts CTSI and Children’s National CTSA on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 8:00AM-5:00PM in Washington DC, Marriott Wardman Park, at an inaugural workshop, Challenges & Opportunities in Pediatric Clinical Trials, designed for pediatric investigators and their teams.

This free, one-day, immersive case-based workshop is the first CTSA hub-sponsored forum for all levels of investigators to reflect on the core competencies expected for today’s pediatric clinical studies. It will take place the day before the Association for Clinical and Translational Science’s Translational Science 2018.

Details

Wednesday, April 18, 8:00AM-5:00PM
Washington Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, DC, Madison Room
(*prior to ACTS Annual Meeting 4/19/18–4/21/18)

Acclaimed training program begins April 18, 2017

Tufts CTSI will host Pfizer’s acclaimed Investigator Training Program (iTP) on April 18-19, 2017.

This unique, two-day, free-of-charge program will empower clinicians to build critical skills required for the recruitment, management, conduct, and reporting of clinical trials. It will examine the entire trial process, from planning stages to trial close-out activities, and will provide practical recommendations for increasing the efficiency of clinical trial conduct at investigative sites.

Led by clinical trial experts, this interactive training will consist of didactic lectures, discussions, and group activities. The iTP is targeted to investigators and the entire clinical study team, including research fellows, coordinators, research nurses, data managers, regulatory, and IRB members. Clinical trial experience (even if limited) is encouraged, though not required.

Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance after completing this International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH)/Good Clinical Practice (GCP) program. This workshop is approved for 16.5 contact hours towards maintaining an Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) certification. Contact hours are applicable to CCRCs, CCRAs and CPIs at an entry-level knowledge base.

This is a popular training, and class size is limited, so please pre-register by no later than April 7. You will receive an official email invitation from Pfizer if you are admitted to the program.

Please note: registration is a two-step process. Once you pre-register with Tufts CTSI, you will receive a formal registration form from Pfizer. You must be registered with Pfizer in order to attend this training and receive certification.

Details

Tuesday, April 18, 7:30AM-5:00PM
Wednesday, April 19, 8:30AM-3:30PM
Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:00AM.

Tufts Center for Medical Education, Room 114
145 Harrison Avenue, Boston MA

Contact

Questions? Please email info@tuftsctsi.org for assistance.

2024 Team Science Summit

Collaborations at the Intersection of Climate and Health

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2024 Team Science Summit: Collaborations at the Intersection of Climate and Health, an interdisciplinary symposium on climate change-induced health risks.

Understanding and responding to the complex threats to health posed by climate change calls for collaboration across disciplines and communities. Join us for a day of presentations, discussions, and networking hosted by Tufts CTSI and the Tufts University Office of the Vice Provost for Research.  The event will showcase ongoing and emerging work in multiple departments and centers across CTSI partner institutions.

Team Science Summits are meant to increase awareness of translational research and opportunities for collaboration across scientific, engineering, and clinical research communities.  To maximize knowledge exchange and opportunities for conversation, the program will include lightening talks on current projects or capabilities, panel discussions on cross-cutting issues, networking opportunities, and poster presentations.

Event Details

Friday, November 8, 2024

9:00AM–3:00PM EST

Tufts University

Alumae Lounge and Balch Theatre Lobby

40 Talbot Ave., Medford, Mass. 02155

Registration

Registration is required.

Call for Presentations

We invite brief abstracts (150 words or less) for either oral presentations or posters on a current individual or group project or capability relevant to climate change-induced risks to health.  We welcome submissions from established or junior investigators, postdoctoral fellows and other trainees, students, or staff.  Individual oral presentations should be delivered as short, seven to ten-minute talks.  Poster will be on display throughout the day and presented during a designated hour in the program.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

• Climate change and infectious diseases
• Extreme weather events and health impacts
• Air and water pollution related to climate change
• Mental health and climate change
• Combined modeling and assessment approaches
• Climate change adaptation and resilience in healthcare
• Climate-informed health policy and planning

Submission Process:

• Deadline for abstracts: EOD, October 5, 2024
• Notification of acceptance: EOD, October 19, 2024

Further details and submission form can be found on the Team Science Summit event page.