Evaluation and Tracking

The Evaluation Center conducts a comprehensive, formative, process and summative evaluation of the CCTSI. The summative evaluation examines the effectiveness of the CCTSI in promoting innovation and accelerating translation of research into clinical and community-based practice to impact the nation’s health. In addition, the Evaluation Center helps the CCTSI participate in the Common Metrics Initiative (CMI) of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program. The CMI uses this set of metrics to help focus network and hub activities on making significant, measurable improvements in translational science, research and workforce development. 

The Evaluation Center, in the School of Education and Human Development, University of Colorado Denver, conducts the external evaluation of the CCTSI in collaboration with internal governance committees and core function representatives.

In providing the CCTSI with effective and practical evaluation information, Evaluation Center staff is guided by the following principles:

1. External evaluators conduct objective, credible, rigorous data collection and analysis.
   
2. Evaluation encompasses both short-term and long-term indicators.
   
3. Evaluation methods are authentic and non-intrusive.
   
4. Evaluation methods include both quantitative and qualitative measures.
   
5. External evaluation is a collaborative process with internal stakeholders.
   
6. Evaluation is both iterative and responsive.

Primary Aims

• Provide formative and process evaluation for the CCTSI
  
• Provide summative evaluation for the CCTSI
  
• Support the evaluative efforts of specific CCTSI core functions to enhance the rigor and meaningfulness of these efforts
  
• Participate in and contribute to Common Metrics Initiative.