461 “It’s a stepping stone but… stepping stones are all we have” – a customer discovery approach to optimizing an internal funding opportunity for pragmatic, EHR-embedded research

Objectives/Goals: CTSA programs’ requests for applications (RFAs) can be hindered by misalignments with grantees’ needs and expectations. Using a customer discovery approach, we identified real and perceived barriers to conducting pragmatic EHR-embedded trials (PEET) to inform RFA optimization, demonstrating how this funding opportunity addressed barriers. Methods/Study Population: Using Colorado Profiles, a research networking tool, we identified investigators who engaged in PEET-type research across the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) partnering institutions. We invited 33 investigators representing key centers and departments to participate in 30-minute, virtual customer discovery interviews about their experiences conducting PEET-type research within CCTSI’s PEET health system partner, UCHealth. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide and were synthesized using a Value Proposition Canvas to identify relevant investigator “jobs-to-be-done,” pain points and potential benefits and strategies to optimize our internal RFA (now in its third year) to address these. Results/Anticipated Results: Twenty-one investigators participated in interviews, including five previous applicants. Two key “customer segments” emerged from interviews: 1) early-career investigators, who wanted to build connections and competencies related to PEET-type research and were often transitioning to independent funding; and 2) experienced investigators, who were focused on larger grants, but valued support in interfacing with UCHealth around both research implementation and informatics. For both groups, while the research funding was seen as beneficial, the true value of the PEET support was the facilitation of a relationship with the health system. Potential changes to the PEET RFA include eligibility clarifications, increased emphasis on health system liaison support, and increased budget flexibility. Discussion/Significance of Impact: In PEETs, alignment of the health system, research infrastructure, and investigators is essential to trial success. Through this process, we identified key unmet needs for investigators and opportunities to optimize this internal RFA to enhance overall alignment between institutional capacities and investigator needs.