Tufts CTSI receives 2013 Clinical and Translational Science Award from NIH

Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center today announced that the National Institutes of Health has named the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) a recipient of the 2013 Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA). Tufts CTSI first received federal funding in 2008, and the new award provides more than $24 million in federal funding to support the Institute's work over the next five years.

Tufts CTSI accelerates the translation of laboratory research into clinical use, medical practice and health policy. With its 39 CTSI partners, Tufts CTSI connects people to research resources, consultation, and education, and fosters collaboration with scholars of all disciplines and with community members, with the ultimate goal of improving the health of the public. CTSI partners include 12 Tufts University schools and research centers, 10 Tufts-affiliated hospitals, three additional academic institutions, nine community-based organizations, and five industry partners (including three health plans).

"Since its inception, Tufts CTSI has provided a home for clinical and translational research across all of our partners, with extensive services, resources, education, and mentorship," says Tufts CTSI Dean and Principal Investigator Harry P. Selker, MD, MSPH. "We have always maintained a clear line of sight to impact health, and we are delighted to continue this important work for the next five years. From bench to bedside, to clinical practice, to care delivery and public health, to health policy and beyond, Tufts CTSI is committed to fostering collaboration across the translational spectrum."

"Tufts University is committed to innovative, interdisciplinary research that makes meaningful contributions to the future of public health and patient care," said Diane Souvaine, PhD, Vice Provost for Research at Tufts University. "This substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health will enable Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute to continue to show leadership in advancing the translation of laboratory research into clinical use and public policy."

"In just five years, Tufts CTSI has become an integral part of the Tufts Medical Center community," said Richard Karas, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Tufts Medical Center. "Tufts CTSI's support for clinical trials, lab research, study design, pilot studies funding, and career development is tremendously important for our investigators, and we look forward to reaching new milestones in clinical and translational science in the years to come."

Tufts CTSI is one of 61 member institutions comprising the national CTSA Consortium, led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of NIH. These organizations provide academic homes for translational sciences and resources needed by local and national research communities to improve the quality and efficiency of all phases of translational research. Institutional CTSAs also support the training of clinical and translational scientists to develop a robust translational research workforce. Together, they are working to reduce the time it takes for laboratory discoveries to become treatments for patients, and to engage communities in clinical research efforts.