Research Innovation Challenge

Background: The MPrOVE Research Innovation Challenge kicked off in September 2017 with over 50 faculty members across seven schools/colleges in attendance. The discussion centered around better ways to define and target appropriateness for different populations and settings, as well as developing effective interventions that enhance high-value care and reduce low-value care. The Challenge is a program that provides planning funds to drive team science by encouraging the development of interdisciplinary research projects focused on optimizing value in healthcare in order to advance the quality of healthcare, reduce costs, and help improve patient outcomes.

Outcomes: From the Research Innovation Challenge, two winning teams were selected:

• Improving the Science of Telemedicine Delivery at Michigan Medicine and Beyond

• Leveraging a Virtual Learning Consortium, Predictive Analytics, and Systems Engineering to Reduce Access Delays in Ambulatory Specialty Care

Not only were the winning teams awarded grant money, but also, were able to establish the Telehealth Research Incubator which has played a vital role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Since it began in 2018, the Telehealth Research Incubator has brought together more than 30 collaborators from U-M's schools of medicine, public health, information, and business. Together they have published 22 manuscripts, submitted four large-scale grant proposals, and have widely disseminated research findings.