About TRANSFORM
Boise State is honored to be one of eighteen academic institutions in the nation to be selected to participate in the National Science Foundation’s new Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program. Led by Dr. Brian Wampler, President’s Professor of Public Scholarship and Engagement, this four-year, $6 million grant will allow Boise State’s “TRANSFORM” project to expand support for translational research across the university, impacting the region and nation.
What is Translational Research?
Translational research (TR) is an umbrella term used to describe the process of moving (translating) research discoveries from universities out into the communities they serve. The NSF, through the ART program, “seeks to increase the scale and pace of advancing discoveries made while conducting academic research into tangible solutions that benefit the public.”
TRANSFORM Theory of Change
Current Ecosystem Maturity
- Changes in Culture: Comprised of diverse expertise and with vetted decision-making processes
- Market-Oriented TR: Sustainable ecosystem where investors, startups and researchers are well connected; Engaged OTT
- Community-Engaged TR: Sustainable ecosystem-governments, NGOs, and researchers are well connected
- Workforce Development: Educational and training materials prepare postdocs and graduate students for non-academic jobs
- Expanding Networks: New partnerships, new companies, new investors
TRANSFORM Objectives
Boise State will capitalize on emerging momentum in two tracks that are poised for growth and investment: market-oriented and community-engaged TR. TRANSFORM will strategically invest in the overarching infrastructure, processes, and policies that serve to increase institutional efficiencies, create a culture of faculty engagement, and generate a more diverse range of partners. We will update our institutions to make them more responsive to TR by carrying out the following six objectives:
- Develop administrative, data, communication, and collaboration infrastructure
- Deliver professional and mentoring development opportunities
- Establish an entrepreneurship ecosystem
- Strengthen collaborative relationships with community partners
- Build out the Office of Technology Transfer
- Revise university-level promotion and tenure policies