Evaluation

Idaho INBRE provides internal and external formative and summative evaluations and implements modifications as needed to keep the Network achieving the overall aims of the program. Evaluation is key to ensure INBRE resources are used to maximum benefit, activities have high-value outcomes, and the scientific Network remains cohesive. The overall evaluation strategy is seen in the figure shown below. The Administrative Core oversees the evaluation plan.

Idaho INBRE uses two approaches to gather accurate and timely information from all network participants:

1. Employ an Idaho INBRE-created reporting database with searchable, sortable, downloadable information.
   • Every INBRE participant (faculty, students, staff) has password- protected access and is requested to report information tailored to their level of INBRE participation.
2. Gather comprehensive summative data using interviews, focus groups, pre- and post-surveys, review of project documents, standardized progress reports, Core usage rates, SC meeting summaries, EAC recommendations, researcher and student progress and satisfaction, college/university administration satisfaction, institutional records, and Idaho INBRE and NIH administration perceptions.

Using these mechanisms, every INBRE activity has a ‘post-mortem’ discussion to identify positive and negative outcomes. This analysis results in conclusions and defines choices to apply formative adjustments for the ongoing success of the program.

Finally, at the end of year-2, a formal, independent, external evaluation of the Idaho INBRE Program takes place. An independent panel that has specific expertise in INBRE and large program evaluation is commissioned to evaluate the programmatic impact of INBRE to improve Idaho’s biomedical research capacity.

The Specific Aims of INBRE-5 are:

Overall Component
Aim 1. Continue and sustain a powerful influence to strengthen Idaho’s biomedical research capacity across the INBRE Network
Aim 2. Provide support in biomedical research and STEM education across the entire Idaho academic landscape including faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.
Aim 3. Share programs and infrastructure through a seven-state Western Regional Alliance of INBRE Networks (RAIN) to reduce redundancies, increase interdisciplinary faculty research collaborations, and broaden research and education opportunities for students.

Admin Core
Aim 1. Provide administrative leadership including three governance committees to guide Network
decisions.
Aim 2. Provide a Student Research Program (SRP) to enhance research skills and science curricula.
Aim 3. Coordinate the Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP) to enhance faculty careers
and develop an effective scientific Network.
Aim 4. Share IDeA-built resources with Idaho COBREs, CTRs, RAIN, and others to expand
opportunities and reduce redundancies.
Aim 5. Implement a plan to evaluate students, faculty, and programs to gauge the impact of the award.

Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP) 
Aim 1. Establish tiered opportunities for faculty participation in research.
Aim 2. Provide faculty and student career enhancement plans.
Aim 3. Provide research progress review and scientific advising oversight.
Aim 4. Expand research capacity through regional initiatives.

Data Science Core (DSC) 
Aim 1. Meet the research needs of INBRE-supported investigators and Network partners for data
science services.
Aim 2. Provide data science educational activities.
Aim 3. Develop data science expertise including scientific programming, data analysis, data
management, data security, using big data and cloud computing for biomedical research.
Aim 4. Evaluate the DSC for faculty and student use and satisfaction, and adjust to meet their changing needs.

Alteration and Renovation (A&R); (@ NNU)
Aim 1. Renovate the laboratory room THS 322 to biosafety level-2 (BSL-2) for the Molecular Biology Core Facility.
Aim 2. Renovate room THS 240 to improve a nucleic acid extraction laboratory for the Molecular Biology Core Facility.

Idaho INBRE
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID 83843
(208) 885-5373
Ashley@uidaho.edu