PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Katherine Christian
AU  - Alison Hey-Cunningham
AU  - Tamera Corte
AU  - Nicole Goh
AU  - Jade Jaffar
AU  - Paul Reynolds
AU  - Alan Teoh
AU  - Lauren Troy
TI  - Establishing CREATE: Lessons learned in setting up a training environment for early-career researchers in respiratory medicine
AID  - 10.1101/2021.10.20.465179
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.10.20.465179
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/10/25/2021.10.20.465179.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/10/25/2021.10.20.465179.full
AB  - Background The purpose of the National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis (CRE-PF) is to improve and extend the lives of patients living with pulmonary fibrosis through the development of a comprehensive and integrated program of basic and clinical research and education across Australia. A key objective of the CRE-PF was establishment of a unique national training scheme, CREATE, for early-career researchers (ECRs) in respiratory research. CREATE ECRs are broadly drawn from two main fields of researchers: clinicians and scientists, where clinicians tend to be involved in part-time translational research and scientists are involved in broad scientific research including laboratory or genetic research, health economics or population research.Methods We describe the CREATE Program which, with limited budget and the assistance of key organisations, has provided funding opportunities (scholarships, fellowships, prizes, travel and collaboration grants), professional development (mentoring program, symposia, presentation opportunities and on-line training) and fostered a connected, supportive research community for respiratory ECRs.Results The CREATE program has successfully fostered the development of the supported researchers, contributing substantially to the future of pulmonary fibrosis research in Australia. During the life of the program the CRE-PF has offered 10 PhD scholarships and five postdoctoral fellowships, awarded 13 travel grants and three grants to promote collaboration between ECRs from different institutes. A mentoring program has been established and CREATE Symposia have been held in association with key meetings. During COVID-19 restrictions, a series of virtual research meetings has offered 12 CREATE ECRs from seven universities the opportunity to present their research to a national audience.CREATE research-related achievements are impressive, including over 80 first-author publications by ECRs, and many conference presentations. Contributions to the research community, measured by committee membership, is also strong.Conclusions In spite of a very limited budget, wide geographic distribution of participants and the multi-disciplinary nature of the cohort, we have succeeded in providing a unique, supportive academic development environment for CREATE ECRs. Lessons learned in the process of developing this program include the importance of leveraging funding, being flexible, building networks and seeking and responding to ECR input.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.CREATE(CRE Advanced Training Environment)CRE-PFCentre of Research Excellence in Pulmonary FibrosisECRearly-career researcherLFALung Foundation AustraliaPACProgram Advisory CommitteePFpulmonary fibrosisSTEMMscience, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicineTSANZThoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand