Introduction The CCRE in Neurosciences funded by NHMRC is a multi-disciplinary model focusing on producing cl

1. EVALUATION OF THE CENTRE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH EXCELLENCE (CCRE) IN NEUROSCIENCES AT MID-POINT OF NHMRC FUNDINGLefevere K S and Dunt D*Department of Medicine, Austin Health/Northern Health, The University of Melbourne; *Program Evaluation Unit, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne VIC 3010. • Introduction • The CCRE in Neurosciences funded • by NHMRC is a multi-disciplinary • model focusing on producing clinical • research, training and education into • stroke, epilepsy and other • neurological disorders. • Results • Research and translation of findings: • Major increase in average impact factors of refereed articles (30 %). • Modest increase in overall number of journal articles (5%), but very • large increase (90%) in multi-disciplinary journal articles. • Increase in the overall number of external grants (12%) with a major • increase in multi-disciplinary grants (25%). • All but one outreach activities increased dramatically. • Teaching: • A novel teaching course in clinical research was developed. • 98 students took up the pilot non-accredited course. • An accredited course with the University of Melbourne was established in 2006. • Training: • An increase in all students (14%) • A large increase in all (71%) and multidisciplinary student • publications (267%) • An increase in all (21%) and multidisciplinary (13%) student grants • and scholarships. • A decrease in multidisciplinary students (20%). • A decrease in all (16%) and multidisciplinary (13%) student • conference presentations. • The multi-disciplinary team is headed by four Chief Investigators: Prof. • Geoff Donnan, Head of Austin Neurology Department and Director of • the National Stroke Research Institute; Prof. Sam Berkovic AM, • Director of the Epilepsy Research Centre; Prof. Mary Galea, Director • of the Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre (Physiotherapy); and • Prof. Judy Parker AM, Nursing (see photo). • Goals of the CCRE in Neurosciences • International quality clinical research • 2. Enhance and encourage multi-disciplinary research • 3. Teach clinical neuroscience research methodology • 4. Research training and career development • 5. Attract outstanding scientists to the campus • 6. Continually evaluate its outcomes through external evaluation • Conclusions • Midpoint results are good. Particularly pleasing are the integration of • students with background in neurology, nursing, physiotherapy, • occupational therapy, etc. and the major increases in all and multi- • disciplinary student publications, the number of multi- disciplinary • journal articles and in the average impact factors of refereed • articles. • Increases in capacity meet or substantially exceed their targets. • Capacity audit at endpoint will determine to what extent the overall • goals have been achieved and possibly detect any breakdowns. • This may identify how the program can be improved in the future • and be applied more widely. • Sustainability will be the challenge. • The midpoint evaluation was a central part of the funding grant • and aimed to assess growth in multi-disciplinary research, • training and education. • Methodology • Capacity audit at the start and midpoint of the program • Overall Strategic Plan • Extent of change between 2003 and 2005 measured