Contents
CTSAs in Focus
Updates on the Clinical and Translational Science Awards
Informatics Pilot Projects to Aid Scientists Nationwide
NIH has awarded three contracts totaling an estimated $4 million for pilot projects to improve informatics support for researchers conducting small to medium-sized clinical studies. Each project represents collaboration at three or more CTSA institutions. One goal of the CTSA program, which is administered by NCRR, is to advance collaborations in clinical and translational research by interdisciplinary teams of investigators. Software resulting from these pilot projects will be freely available to biomedical researchers, educators and nonprofit institutions.
Full project descriptions, along with the partnering CTSA institutions, are available at www.ncrr.nih.gov/ctsa/informatics.
Awards Fund Clinical Research Network Collaboration
Clinical Research Network Feasibility Awards went to six CTSA institutions in 2009, providing each with funding for one year. The awards are intended to support mutually beneficial, sustainable partnerships designed to break down research barriers. Working with existing government-funded and/or practice-based research networks, these newly funded projects will focus on research in translational science dissemination, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis, and community engagement.
For additional information, visit www.clinicalresearchnetworks.org/8.asp. To access the clinical research networks database, visit www.clinicalresearchnetworks.org.
West Coast Consortium Working to Accelerate Research
Many CTSA research institutions are now forming regional consortia. The evolving consortia are designed to find commonalities and complementary strengths to further accelerate clinical and translational research. The CTSA West Coast Consortium, comprising six research partners, is one example. Consortium members are sharing information, exchanging best practices, exploring opportunities to partner with other regional NCRR-funded programs and identifying potential candidates for inter-CTSA pilot and educational programs.
CTSA regional consortia are leveraging strengths and increasing opportunities for collaboration.
Through regular regional meetings, the West Coast Consortium members are moving forward and working together in areas and themes of common interest. At the group's December meeting, some of their recent collaborations were highlighted. Visit www.ncrr.nih.gov/ctsa/newsletter/currentissue/#article2 to learn more.
New Google Search Feature on CTSAweb.org
A new search feature on the CTSA consortium's Web site, CTSAweb.org, provides access to content from CTSAweb.org and individual CTSA institution Web sites in one easy step. Using this search feature, CTSAweb.org visitors can retrieve information from across consortium institutions whose Web sites are available on the site. Find out about research activities, opportunities for collaboration, existing resources and other areas of common interest. Based on the Google search technology, the feature is available in the upper right corner of each page on CTSAweb.org. Visit the site, and try out the search.
The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program created a national consortium designed to transform how biomedical research is conducted across the country. Its goals are to speed the translation of laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients as well as to train the next generation of clinical researchers. The CTSA program is led by NCRR. For more information, visit CTSAweb.org.
