$78.4 million NIH grant supports Tufts CTSI to advance clinical and translational science research

Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) has received a $78.4 million Clinical and Translational Science Award from the NIH, the fourth consecutive grant since its founding in 2008. The grant provides federal funding over the subsequent seven years to support research services, resources, and academic programs, and native, regional, and national initiatives. The award was announced by Tufts University and Tufts Medicine on June 7.

Tufts CTSI accelerates the interpretation of laboratory and medical research into clinical use, widespread medical practice, and improved health care delivery and health policy. It connects people to research resources, consultation, and education, and fosters collaboration with scholars and community members, with the goal of improving the health of the general public.

Over the past decade and a half, Tufts CTSI has provided outstanding services, resources, education, and mentorship to support research across Tufts CTSI partners, and has conducted revolutionary research contributing to the sphere of clinical and translational science.”

Harry P. Selker, dean of Tufts CTSI and principal investigator of the brand new grant

“While retaining our integration across Tufts University and Tufts Medicine and adhering to our foundational principles, we’re delighted to have the chance to further grow our offerings together with our long-standing partners Brandeis University, the Jackson Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, and RAND Corporation; Tufts clinical affiliates; community and industry collaborators; and now with the contributions of our recent partner, Kaiser Permanente Health,” he added.

Along with the predominant Clinical and Translational Science Award, Tufts CTSI also has submitted research fellowships and school profession development component grants which are into consideration by the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). These are for a Faculty Profession Development K12 grant (with principal investigator Karen Freund), and Research Grant T32 awards (predoctoral and post-doctoral, with principal investigator David Kent).

“With this long-term grant support, Tufts can proceed on the trail of promoting collaboration amongst our researchers, fostering innovation toward developing recent treatments and therapies, and positively impacting the broader public health and health policy landscape,” said Tufts University President Anthony P. Monaco.

The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) will foster recent initiatives and programs to enhance clinical care and health while maintaining existing Tufts CTSI resources and services to the research community. As a part of the brand new award, along with providing resources to the Tufts community and beyond, Tufts CTSI could have the chance to advance its own clinical and translational science research program to directly address significant translational roadblocks to positively impact health.

The CTSA grant also will support a program in equity and inclusion in research to handle health disparities. Moreover, the brand new grant will bring a give attention to dissemination and implementation science—moving research into on a regular basis use—and support for researchers in effectively using clinical innovations.

“Tufts CTSI has delivered tremendously beneficial clinical and translational science training and mentorship opportunities for faculty and staff across our university,” said Caroline Attardo Genco, Tufts provost and senior vp ad interim. “The subsequent seven-year cycle guarantees to bring a brand new round of innovation stemming from our cross-school collaborations and native and national partnerships that could have transformative impact.”

“This support will greatly enhance our ability to advertise research collaborations amongst our affiliated teaching and research partners with the goal of introducing recent, revolutionary therapies for the treatment of diseases still awaiting a cure,” said Helen Boucher, dean of Tufts University School of Medicine and chief academic officer of Tufts Medicine. “Ultimately, it will result in improved patient outcomes.”

“As an integrated learning health system, Tufts Medicine strongly supports the CTSI goals to enhance health care delivery, operational efficiency, value, outcomes, and patients’ experiences of care,” said Michael Dandorph, president and CEO of Tufts Medicine. “This award demonstrates our commitment to embed clinical and translational research into patient take care of all of the varied communities we serve.”

Tufts CTSI is one in every of over 60 Clinical and Translational Science Award hubs that comprise the national NIH-sponsored CTSA Consortium’s network of leading medical research institutions. These organizations work together to enhance the translational research process to get more treatments to more patients more quickly, collaborating locally and regionally to catalyze innovation in training, research tools, and processes.