Launched in February 2024, TRAC is strengthening the university’s institutional capacity to support research translation for societal and economic impact through research, training, and support - financial and operational, for faculty and students. The goal is to make academic research not just a theoretical pursuit but a catalyst for positive, tangible growth in society.

AU TRAC is proud to collaborate with colleagues from across the university as well as with partners from the University of Michigan, Pew Charitable Trusts, University of Denver, Penn State University, and a growing list of institutions to harness and amplify our collective passion for advancing evidence driven policy and practice through scientific discovery.

TRAC is funded, in part, through a $5.7M grant from the National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation program under award #2331399.

Research Translation Training

Led by Professor Jordan Tama, TRAC is developing training programs for AU faculty, post-doctoral scholars and PhD students, and undergraduates. TRAC is drawing on the extensive experience of Bridging the Gap, a multi-university initiative based at American University and the University of Denver. TRAC trainings will provide participants with a variety of skills that can enhance their ability to conduct research translation effectively. Please direct any questions or offers of assistance regarding this effort to Jordan Tama at [email protected].

To aid AU faculty and postdoctoral scholars interested in bolstering their impact through entrepreneurial activities, TRAC and the Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship (VCE) are collaborating to bring new opportunities for research impact through the lens of entrepreneurship through a series of workshops. The entrepreneurial mindset and business skills presented in these workshops can be valuable tools in the toolbox for any researcher at AU. This type of entrepreneurial activity can provide a vital means for researchers in all fields to translate their work into meaningful societal and economic outcomes. Fall 2025 registration is open online. Additional information can be accessed here.

Research Translation Projects

TRAC identifies, incubates, and maintains a pipeline of research translation projects at AU, under the strategic direction of Vice Provost for Research and Innovation Diana Burley. 

From translating research on Vicarious Trauma in Counterterrorism Practitioners to using machine learning to model clinical trial outcomes to translating hydrology and water quality research in American Samoa, American University researchers from all disciplines are advancing research to make positive societal and economic impact. Whether you want to explore all of the projects and researchers TRAC is supporting or find opportunities to expand the societal and economic impact of your research, visit AU’s Signature Research Initiatives page. 

Continue learning about research translation projects at AU through recent TRAC articles:

From Solving Crimes to Solving Societal Challenges

Using Artificial Intelligence to Solve Real Healthcare Challenges