The purpose of the Tracking and Evaluation (TE) Core of the Center for Pacific Innovations, Knowledge, and Opportunities (PIKO) is to monitor and guide the partner institutions – the University of Hawaii (UH), Hawaii Pacific University, and Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH) – in their efforts to improve the health of Indigenous Pacific People (IPP), defined as Native Hawaiians, Other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos. These efforts require high‐quality, continual assessment of implementation, efficient management, and demonstrable effectiveness. PIKO TE Core incorporates a team-based approach to evaluating the efforts of the other Cores – Administrative; Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design; Professional Development; Pilot Projects Program; Community Engagement and Outreach; and Clinical Research and Regulatory Support. The TE Core is guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Program Evaluation Framework. Formative, process, outcome, and impact evaluations will be done to ensure milestones and benchmarks are achieved. This approach will also assess PIKO’s programs, resources, services, translational activities, and overall progress along the clinical and translational research (CTR) spectrum, with the ultimate goal of improving IPP health. Applied are a blend of conventional mixed-methods with selected aspects of Indigenous approaches to evaluation and innovative methods, such as social network analysis and sustainability indices, to determine the extent of change over time in health indicators. An economic evaluation will examine the return on investment of PIKO’s pilot and externally sponsored grant-related activities and outcomes. The Specific Aims of the TE Core are as follow: Specific Aim 1: Track and evaluate progress and productivity of PIKO CTR by analyzing performance data for progress reports and demonstrate sound stewardship of federal funds and by analyzing performance data for strategic planning to strengthen activities, enhance efficiency, and inform new directions. Specific Aim 2: Track and evaluate lessons learned and best practices of PIKO CTR by documenting one lesson learned for each core annually for quality improvement and by documenting one best practice for each core annually for IDeA-CTR network-wide dissemination. Specific Aim 3: Track and evaluate public health and economic impact of PIKO CTR by conducting rigorous economic analysis to ascertain ROI of core activities and conduct analysis of statewide health survey data to ascertain gains in health outcomes. The TE Core will be led by Angela Sy, DrPH, a IPP at UH experienced in evaluating research programs, assisted by Dedra Buchwald, MD, from the Washington State University, Spero Manson, PhD, from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, as consultants, and Jonathan Baker, PhD, lead evaluator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence Initiative at CUH.
