A Scalable Model for Advancing Investigator-Initiated Research: The Success of the Tanner Research Group at the VFCC

Background: Investigator-initiated research (IIR) is essential for advancing scientific discovery and improving patient outcomes. However, limited infrastructure, administrative burdens, and funding constraints often hinder clinicians from leading successful research programs. To address these barriers, our institution developed the Tanner Research Group (TRG), a centralized research support team within the Division of Medical Oncology (DMO) at the VFCC. Hypothesis/Objectives: We hypothesize that a dedicated research support infrastructure enhances IIR by reducing administrative burdens, facilitating funding acquisition, and fostering collaboration. Our objective is to evaluate TRG’s impact on research productivity, grant success rates, and mentorship. Methods: Over seven years, TRG expanded from a single research associate supporting 20+ principal investigators to a 20-member multidisciplinary team. The group provides study design, ethics submissions, grant applications, data management, participant recruitment, student mentorship, and manuscript preparation thus enabling clinicians to pursue research without administrative obstacles. Results: TRG has facilitated the approval of 80+ investigator-initiated studies, supported 30+ student learners in research, and submitted 70+ grant applications, securing over $2.25M in project funding. Additionally, the TRG has established a scalable model for research capacity building within a clinical setting, demonstrating its effectiveness in advancing IIR. Implications: The TRG model demonstrates the feasibility and impact of a dedicated research support infrastructure in advancing IIR. By reducing administrative burdens, providing mentorship, and securing funding, this approach has significantly enhanced the research output of the DMO. This scalable model can serve as a blueprint for other academic and clinical institutions aiming to strengthen their research portfolios.