ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health Policy
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1560751
This article is part of the Research TopicImpact Evaluation using the Translational Science Benefits Model Framework in the National Center for Advancing Translational Science Clinical and Translational Science Award ProgramView all 10 articles
Demonstrating Public Health Impacts of Translational Science at the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio: A Mixed-Methods Approach Using the Translational Science Benefits Model
Provisionally accepted
Lixin Zhang1,2*
Umut A. Gurkan3
Kelli Qua2,4
Shannon Swiatkowski1,2
Sheree Hemphill1,2
Clara M. Pelfrey1,2*- 1Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, OH, United States
- 2School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- 3Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- 4Center for Medical Education, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, United States
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The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), aims to accelerate the translation of research into public health impacts. However, measuring the societal impact of translational research poses challenges due to extended timelines for implementation. This study uses the Translational Science Benefits Model (TSBM) to evaluate the societal impact of CTSA-supported research at the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Using the TSBM, we asked how investigators have used the CTSC to demonstrate translational science impacts in public health practice both domestically and internationally. Using a mixed methods approach, this study analyzed TSBM-based survey data from CTSC-supported KL2 Scholars and Pilot Program awardees, along with key publications and interviews, to document societal benefits across four TSBM domains: Clinical & Medical, Community & Public Health, Economic, and Policy & Legislative. Findings demonstrate that CTSC-supported research improved public health by enhancing healthcare access, improving health outcomes, informing policy, and generating economic benefits. These impacts span local, national, and global contexts. By applying a mixed methods approach, we demonstrate the value of using the TSBM not just as an evaluative framework, but as a strategic tool for capturing the real-world significance of translational science. This approach strengthens the ability of CTSA hubs to highlight the broader public value of their work, reinforcing the CTSA program’s mission to transform scientific discoveries into lasting health and societal benefits.
Keywords: translational science, translational science benefits model (TSBM), Public Health, policy, impact evaluation, translational science case studies, Mixed method research
Received: 14 Jan 2025; Accepted: 28 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Gurkan, Qua, Swiatkowski, Hemphill and Pelfrey. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Lixin Zhang, Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, OH, United States
Clara M. Pelfrey, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, 44106, Ohio, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.