Center for Clinical and Translational Science rebranding pushes forward mission to advance discovery and improve health nationwide
The Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science is now the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). The name change reflects the institute’s push to advance translational science while focusing on serving the entire clinical and translational research community across Ohio State and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Founded in 2006, the institute delivers resources, fosters collaborations and supports the careers of clinical and translational scientists, particularly those who are early in their career. All with the goal of facilitating the translation of new knowledge and therapies that improve health for all.
“Our aim moving forward is to more fully serve the entire clinical and translational research community,” says Julie Johnson, PharmD, Clinical and Translational Science Institute director, associate dean for Clinical and Translational Research at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and associate vice president of Research at Ohio State and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “And to identify means by which we can speed the translation of discoveries to practice and full implementation in the community.”
The Clinical and Translational Science Pilot Program (CTSP) is one of the ways the CTSI is seeking to advance clinical and translational science. The 2025 CTSP application process is now open to researchers looking for funding for a translational-science project to understand and address the biological, behavioral, environmental, sociocultural and structural factors that influence women’s health across the lifespan.
“Our goal with the CTSP is to support novel work that not only addresses an important clinical/translational research question but that also advances translational science through findings, approaches, novel tools or other processes that apply well beyond the specific question at hand,” Dr. Johnson says. “It also supports the development of preliminary data that will enable researchers to be competitive in applying for extramural funding.”
Receiving CTSP funding will enable faculty to accelerate their ability to turn observations made in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve health more quickly. And it will enable them to achieve their career and research goals.
Upcoming virtual information session
There’s an upcoming virtual information session for prospective CTSP applicants on Friday, Sept. 6, from 9:30-11 a.m. It includes a 30-minute presentation on translational science with time for questions, followed by a one-hour ideation workshop where prospective applicants can work to elevate the strength and quality of their proposals. Topics should have a translational science-directed hypothesis that generate a scientific, operational, financial or administrative innovation that addresses longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline, transforming the way that research is done, making it faster, more efficient and more impactful. Some general topic themes are:
- Developing models that can be better predictors of efficacy in humans than current models
- Developing novel technologies for at-home screenings
- Combatting barriers to enrollment of historically underrepresented groups in clinical trials
- Discovering novel markers to identify early onset of disease
Research shows that having the chance to receive early peer review and feedback in the application process increases the potential of securing funding and support. The time frame will allow time for four presentations on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Receiving probing questions and expert comments from the review panel and other participants will help applicants narrow down how their project will address a critical scientific gap or unmet need in women’s health,” Dr. Johnson says.
Register today for the session.
