Proven Processes

A number of important principles serve as the blueprint for the establishment of the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) in Nashville, Tennessee. First, the needs of investigators are at the forefront of all activities and planning. In the implementation of every new program, consideration is given toward meeting the objective of making research initiation and conduct easier, faster, or of higher quality for investigative teams. In particular, we recognize that directly supporting a researcher’s goals at the right time can be critical in his or her career. Second, through substantive institutional investments in informatics, infrastructure, and expertise, we are able to streamline administrative activities, make resources accessible, and capture key metrics in the course of operations. Th ese informatics capabilities are applied to nearly all functions of VICTR. Software and systems developed internally and found by faculty to be valuable are made available to other institutions. Th ird, we have transparency and are willing to share results of programs, especially those considered “experiments.” Novel, enterprise-wide initiatives are oft en themselves testable hypotheses; this reality requires continuous evaluation to make progress and requires a willingness to make mid-course corrections when things are not going as expected. Lastly, we inspire and harvest a sense of urgency throughout the enterprise, regularly focusing on the ultimate aim of clinical and translational research, which is to improve societal health through the transformation of how ideas and fundamental discoveries make their way from inception to clinical practice. One important paradigm in this regard is the way in which the program leadership views patients: it is worthwhile to remember that we all engage the health care system as patients, if not yesterday or today, then at some point in the future.