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Table 2 Checklist for each of five categories along the translational research spectrum

From: Classifying publications from the clinical and translational science award program along the translational research spectrum: a machine learning approach

1. Does the research involve use of animals?

T0

2. Does the research involve study of mechanisms, relationships, or modification of proteins, DNA, or cells?

T0

3. Is the research a Genome Wide Association Study, determining association of a SNP with a particular disease state?

T0

4. Does the study examine drug interactions with molecular receptor or enzyme; effects on cell biochemistry, or how to optimize interaction?

T0

5. Does the publication describe the creation of a prototype for a new medical device?

T0

6. Does the research test a new methodology with potential for use in diagnosis, treatment, or prevention, providing a basis for follow-up study to directly test the methodology for safety, feasibility, preliminary results, etc. NOTE: This may be done through use of existing EHR data, other health datasets, or through taking measurements from humans, such as physical assessments (radiology, laboratory, biopsy) or response to stimulus (but NOT response to intervention).

T0

7. Is a new association between biological, social, and/or behavioral states determined, including association between presence or progression of a disease state and a biomarker, social, or behavioral state? Note: This may be done through use of existing EHR data, other health datasets, or through taking measurements from humans, such as physical assessments or response to stimulus (but NOT response to intervention).

T0

8. Does the research explore a biological, social, or behavioral mechanism, including the mechanism underlying the presence or progression of a disease? NOTE: This may be done through use of existing EHR data, other health datasets, or through taking measurements from humans, such as physical assessments or response to stimulus (but NOT intervention).

T0

9. Is it a systematic review or meta-analysis of research that seeks to establish a correlation or elucidate a mechanism (i.e., review of T0 research), or to establish need for further work at the T0 level (e.g., further methodology development)?

T0

10. Is it a Phase I clinical trial?

T1

11. Does the study test the effect of a new intervention on healthy volunteers in a controlled clinical setting?

T1

12. Does the research suggest a new method of diagnosis (e.g., biomarker) or new intervention, determine feasibility or safety, or test it in a small group? Note: This should not be research that would lead directly to a practice guideline.

T1

13. Does research describe the use of a new device on a small population to determine potential usefulness and usability?

T1

14. Is it a Phase II or Phase III clinical trial?

T2

15. Does the study test efficacy and/or determine dosing levels of an intervention in a population with a given disease in a controlled clinical setting?

T2

16. Does the study determine the optimal use of a new medical device?

T2

17. Does the study determine the efficacy or optimal use of a new method of diagnosis or prevention, including through the use of existing datasets?

T2

18. Is it a Phase IV clinical trial?

T3

19. Does the research study effectiveness of an intervention or method of diagnosis in the clinic or community, either through the use of existing health datasets or new research?

T3

20. Does the research study inconsistency or variation in the application of a diagnosis or intervention?

T3

21. Does the research compare the effectiveness of existing health care interventions to determine which work best for which patients and which pose the greatest benefits and harms?

T3

22. Does the research involve interventions in the community with input from community members?

T3

23. Does the research determine mechanisms underlying effective health care delivery in practice or community settings?

T3

24. Does the research identify problems with effective health care delivery in practice or community settings?

T3

25. Does the research test an intervention to improve healthcare delivery in practice or community settings?

T3

26. Does the research study real world factors affecting interventions (cost, convenience, accessibility, patient preferences)?

T3

27. Does the research determine reasons why gaps in care exist?

T3

28. Is it a systematic review or meta-analysis of interventions, diagnoses, or something that could lead directly to practice guidelines, or a review article that suggests practice guidelines or workflow?

T3

29. Does the publication provide evidence-based guidelines/policies or best practices?

T3

30. Does the research use large datasets to monitor morbidity, mortality, benefits, or risks of interventions in populations?

T4

31. Does the research study the incidence or prevalence of a disease in a population?

T4

32. Does the research examine problems with, mechanisms underlying, potential interventions, impact, or real world outcomes (e.g., level of disease prevention, reduced medical costs) of population level practices/interventions?

T4

33. Does the research study the impact on health of a policy or environmental change that affects a population?

T4

34. Does the research focus on the development or outcomes of population level behavioral/lifestyle interventions?

T4