June 26, 2020
Authors: Christopher M. Callahan, MD, Alexia M. Torke, MD, Catherine A. Alder, JD, MSW, Jessica A. Broughton, and Susan L. Mitchell, MD, MPH
Core/Team: Training Core
Abstract: The National Institute on Aging IMbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease–Related Dementias Clinical Trials (IMPACT) Collaboratory serves as a national resource for the conduct of embedded pragmatic clinical trials to improve the care of people living with dementia (PLWD) in partnership with the healthcare systems that serve them. Inherent in this objective is the need to train and support a cadre of investigators prepared to conduct this work now and in the future. The Training Core of the IMPACT Collaboratory supports the training of investigators to become experts in this field through three objectives: (1) curricula development and dissemination; (2) network generation and navigation; and (3) a career development award program. The innovative approach of the Training Core will require developing content and providing training experiences that recognize the unique challenges of research at the intersection of health systems, pragmatic trials, and PLWD and their caregivers. Ultimately, we seek to build the nation’s capacity to conduct research that bridges the gaps between efficacy studies to effectiveness research to implementation science. Although foundational resources in the methods of each of these areas are already available, few actually focus on pragmatic trials embedded within healthcare systems that focus on PLWD. To bring new interventions for PLWD from efficacy to widespread implementation, researchers must build diffusability, adaptability, heterogeneity, and scalability into the design of the intervention. In achieving these objectives, the Training Core will utilize the network of investigators, institutions, and stakeholders represented in the IMPACT Collaboratory. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:S21-S27, 2020.
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Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; pragmatic trials; study design; medical education
About this Special Issue: The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) has published a special issue (Volume 68, S2) focused solely on the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Imbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Clinical Trials (IMPACT) Collaboratory and the activities and progress it has made since the September 2019 announcement.
The special issue, published online June 26, includes an introductory article describing the mission and vision of the IMPACT Collaboratory and articles from each of the 10 IMPACT cores and teams describing how they are working to achieve that mission. The introductory article authors are the two IMPACT principal investigators, Susan Mitchell, MD, MPH and Vincent Mor, PhD, as well as the two executive directors, Ellen McCarthy, PhD, MPH, and Jill Harrison, PhD.