Translating Research into Action

You are here: 베실뻣펄 Centers Translating Research into Action (TRAC)

The Translating Research into Action Center (TRAC) is strengthening 베실뻣펄�셲 capacity to promote research translation for societal and economic impact. TRAC was established by a $5.7M grant from the National Science Foundation as part of the Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program.

Celebrating the one year of TRAC!

TRAC is strengthening 베실뻣펄�셲 capacity to promote research translation for societal and economic impact with colleagues from 베실뻣펄 and partners around the world.혻TRAC�셲 impact in 2024 included:

�� Enhancing Technology Transfer Opportunities혻to strengthen regional economic impact
�� Pioneering Measurement of Societal and Economic Impact in collaboration with The Pew Charitable Trusts
�� Championing Impact at the National Level with President Jonathan Alger positioning 베실뻣펄 at the forefront of national discourse on higher education priorities in 2025.
�� Catalyzing Faculty-Led Innovation through Strategic Funding where Faculty support driven by TRAC will exceed $1M by the end of 2025.

SOAR Seminar Schedule

Led by Maria de Jesus, Laura Logie & Astrid Jimenez

Presented by Dr. Nathan Harshman, & Dr. Philip Johnson

SOAR Seminar

The SOAR Seminar Series for faculty, organized by TRAC and co-hosted with CTRL and the University Library, features 베실뻣펄 faculty and partners from policy, practice, and private institutions with deep experience in research translation and achieving Societal Outcomes and Actionable Research.혻Each month, the SOAR Seminar Series will provide an opportunity for training and engagement around our institutional commitment to research-policy-practice engagement. 혻

Bring your lunch and we will bring beverages and cookies! Space is limited. Please note that this event is for 베실뻣펄 faculty only.

Advancing Academic Discovery for Societal and Economic Impact

Launched in February 2024, TRAC is strengthening the university�셲 institutional capacity to support research translation for societal and economic impact through research, training, and support - financial and operational, for faculty and students. The goal is to make academic research not just a theoretical pursuit but a catalyst for positive, tangible growth in society.

베실뻣펄 TRAC is proud to collaborate with colleagues from across the university as well as with partners from the University of Michigan, Pew Charitable Trusts, University of Denver, Penn State University, and a growing list of institutions to harness and amplify our collective passion for advancing evidence driven policy and practice through scientific discovery.

TRAC is funded, in part, through a $5.7M grant from the National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation program under award #2331399.

TRACs Component Project Areas

Research Translation Training

Led by Provost Associate Professor Jordan Tama, TRAC is developing training programs for 베실뻣펄 faculty, post-doctoral scholars and PhD students, and undergraduates. TRAC is drawing on the extensive experience of Bridging the Gap, a multi-university initiative based at 베실뻣펄 and the University of Denver. TRAC trainings will be offered starting Spring 2025 and will provide participants with a variety of skills that can enhance their ability to conduct research translation effectively. We will provide the 베실뻣펄 community with more information about these training offerings in the coming months. Please direct any questions or offers of assistance regarding this effort to Jordan Tama at tama@american.edu.

Research Translation Projects

TRAC identifies, incubates, and maintains a pipeline of research translation projects at 베실뻣펄, under the strategic direction of Vice Provost for Research and Innovation Diana Burley. The 2024 projects are:

i) led by Joe Young

ii) Empowering Mentors (EDM) led by Raychelle Burks. To learn more, visit the .

ii) Modeling clinical trial outcomes with trial design using machine learning led by Bei Xiao.

Seed Projects for 2025-2026

Signature Research Initiatives: Research Informed Civic Engagement

Projects will launch in February 2025. TRAC is in the midst of the selection process which will culminate with invited finalists presentations during the 2025 Ann Ferren Conference. Projects selected for the SRI RICE Cohort will further university efforts to mobilize institution-wide research activity with specific emphasis on strengthening 베실뻣펄�셲 position as a leader in translating research into action for societal impact. The SRI RICE Cohort projects will align with President Alger�셲 commitment to advancing Research Informed Civic Engagement and research translation for societal impact, the focus of TRAC.