3017 Regulatory Science in Translational and Regenerative Medicine Biomedical Education: A Pilot Course
Authors: Greenberg-Worisek Alexandra Joelle , Cumba-Garcia Luz , Shah Nilay , Windebank Anthony 
Published: March 2019

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: INTRODUCTION: Many of the innovative therapies used in regenerative medicine, such as additive manufacturing and stem cell engineering, rely on novel technologies and techniques for which standards for safety, efficacy, and quality have not been fully explored and established. As these therapies and technologies develop at a rapid pace, there is a need for the development of scientifically-based metrics to assess whether new treatments are effective and safe for clinical translation. Research and development of such standards is known as “regulatory science,” and is needed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support the creation of the evidence-based guidances and regulations that are used in review of product submissions. As outlined by the FDA’s description of their Centers for Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSIs) and the Association for Clinical and Translational Science’s (ACTS) Regulatory Science Working Group, here is a need to train investigators and clinicians to conduct regulatory science research to support successful clinical translation of regenerative treatments. OBJECTIVE: To develop a course to expose scholars to regulatory science concepts, to empower them to apply these concepts to their personal areas of research, and to challenge them to engage in the dialogue surrounding regulatory science on a national level. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: METHODS: The “Introduction to Regulatory Science” course was developed jointly by the Yale-Mayo CERSI and the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) in 2017 as a didactic in-person survey course. The course objectives included exposing scholars to the ideas of regulatory science and affairs; reviewing the FDA’s Priority Areas for Advancing Regulatory Science; and determining what safety, quality, and efficacy concerns may need to be addressed when using new technologies, such as those used in regenerative medicine research. To meet these intended learning objectives, the course addressed one FDA Priority area each week, with a team of experts providing one-hour of lecture and discussion each class session. Regenerative medicine-related topics included a bioethics of stem cell therapy development, evaluation of additive manufacturing as an emerging technology, and the application of cGMPs to the manufacture of new therapies. Assignments and assessments included a quiz each week, which served as a knowledge check of that week’s lecture content, and a final paper analyzing regulatory concerns associated with a technology or product of the scholar’s choosing. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: RESULTS: The course was first delivered as an elective in 2017, with an enrollment of 8 scholars and 3 auditors. Scholars enrolled included 7 trainees and established investigators from Mayo Clinic Rochester and one from Arizona. Of the 8 scholars enrolled, 7 completed the post-course survey. Scholars strongly agreed that the “course objectives were met” (7/7) and that the “course was well worth the effort I put into it” (7/7). Five scholars stated that they learned “a lot” during the course; two said they learned “an incredible amount.” Scholars unanimously gave the course a grade of “A.” Qualitative feedback was positive, indicating that the team-taught and in-person course design choices were highlights for trainees. The course is currently in its second delivery (2018), with an enrollment of 16 scholars across Mayo Clinic Rochester, Arizona, and Florida. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: CONCLUSIONS: The developed course was successfully piloted and well-received. Scholars reported that they agreed that the course aims were achieved, and indicated that they would like to see additional coursework to continue to learn how to engage in regulatory science. Next steps include utilizing course feedback to iterate on the current course, expanding course delivery to include scholars at the Yale site of the Yale-Mayo CERSI, and the creation of a second course.