International Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Researcher Leads New Cutting-Edge Health Services Research Center at University Hospitals

Innovations in Research | December 2024

Samudragupta Bora,PhD

The Health Services Research Center (HSRC) at University Hospitals was launched in early 2024 to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into clinical practices that improve individual and population health outcomes. At the helm is Samudragupta Bora, PhD, a visionary leader and accomplished scientist, who is internationally recognized for his research on neurodevelopmental outcomes of high-risk infants, particularly those born preterm.

Appointed as the inaugural director of the Center, Dr. Bora aims to establish the HSRC as a national and international leader in health services research, adept at improving the health and well-being of patients and their families, along with advancing the scientific field of health services research.

“I see this (HSRC) as an opportunity to build something from the ground up, something that is very exciting and relevant to the current healthcare ecosystem,” says Dr. Bora. “We are interested in strengthening the entire research pathway by mobilizing human, scientific and financial resources to ensure we have the robust methods and resources in place to more quickly translate research evidence into clinical settings in and outside of University Hospitals.”

The Health Services Research Center at UH is at the Forefront of Healthcare

Health services research is a fast-growing scientific field. It examines individual and population health through a multidisciplinary scientific lens to better understand the mechanisms and processes that optimize healthcare quality, safety and value. As a research accelerator, the HSRC engages faculty investigators at University Hospitals across all medical and surgical specialties, helping them envision and focus on both the short- and long-term clinical implications of their research.

For instance, if an experimental drug trial is successful, the HSRC can help faculty investigators better determine the time and resources needed to translate the findings into approved clinical use, identify and help address potential barriers and facilitators to implementation and highlight expanded research opportunities.

The HSRC specializes in healthcare delivery science, health equity, health outcomes, implementation science and population health research. To achieve the vision of the HSRC, activities are streamlined around four major objectives: accelerating innovation in health services research by investing in state-of-the-art research infrastructure and building local, national and international partnerships; building a cohort of outstanding extramural-funded faculty investigators who specialize in health services research; creating a range of education, mentorship and continuing professional development opportunities for training the next generation of health services researchers and faculty career advancement; and developing an organizational structure to maximize the community and population impact of health research.

“We’re investing in understanding how the science of dissemination and implementation can be advanced forward as a field,” says Dr. Bora. This requires meaningful partnership with patients, families and the communities we serve, along with other relevant stakeholders, because in the end, “any outcome we choose needs to be meaningful and accessible to patients and their families,” he says. This is especially important for meeting the health and well-being needs of underserved patient populations, according to Dr. Bora.

Groundbreaking Health Services Research Center is Taking Shape Under Visionary Leadership

In all its endeavors, the HSRC places a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary team science and promotes partnerships to power scientific excellence, methodological rigor, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. For example, to augment its capacity for robust science and methods, the HSRC actively partners with institutions outside of Cleveland and the United States, accessing additional expertise, resources and research capabilities when possible.

Much has transpired since Dr. Bora assumed his role as director of the HSRC. Aside from assembling the necessary scientific and leadership teams, several training and mentoring initiatives are well underway. The Certificate in Foundations of Health Services Research, the HSRC’s flagship program, graduated its second cohort in summer 2024. The program provides foundational knowledge and skills to senior fellows and early-career clinicians pursuing health services research.

Last summer, the HSRC launched a six-week mentored research program for high school, college and medical school students to strengthen the pathway for the next generation of health services researchers. The HSRC awarded 10 students who completed the program with a certificate of participation and stipend. Other HSRC programs are taking shape too, including a Distinguished Speaker Series featuring globally recognized leaders in health services research and a Health Services Research Grand Rounds featuring extramural-funded investigators.

Prior to becoming director of the HSRC, Dr. Bora served as Director of Early Childhood Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. A consummate juggler, in addition to leading the innovative HSRC, Dr. Bora is also the Principal Investigator of the Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Research Program at University Hospitals and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Born and raised in India, Dr. Bora says he has been shaped by the influence of multiple mentors, including Marlene R. Miller, MD, MSc, Pediatrician-in-Chief and Marsha L. Antonucci Distinguished Chair of Pediatrics at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He has likewise enjoyed numerous opportunities to work and engage in research abroad, in Australia and Ghana, among other countries. He notes that the diversity of his experiences has provided a rich perspective on the translation of research across communities, underscoring what works, especially in reaching populations challenged by health disparities. He believes his personal and professional background serves him well as he cultivates mentorship, team science and social connections to build a successful HSRC.

“We work on the principle that everyone brings something unique to the table,” says Dr. Bora. “Wherever you are, whatever you are, we make every effort to play to or use your strengths for the Center.”