NIH awards $17.7M in funding to UIC’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) will receive $17.7 million over 4 years from the National Institutes of Health to translate scientific discoveries into better health and better medicine, and to conduct innovative clinical and translational research.
The new funding will allow UIC researchers to make real-world advances in health and health care by: developing a diverse clinical translational workforce that can address today's complex health problems, collaborating and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders both locally and nationally, and integrating research discoveries across the full spectrum of clinical science from basic biology to population approaches to reduce disease and improve quality of life.
CCTS and College of Dentistry
College of Dentistry -- as one of UIC's seven health science colleges -- is part of a campus-wide effort to increase translational & clinical research that bridges multiple disciplines. Dean Clark Stanford plays a role as the director of the pilot grant program for the CCTS overseeing the strategic direction and performance of this very important initiative to spark new collaborations and research discoveries.
"Our basic research faculty will have a clear conduit to the clinical research expertise on campus. The use of the pilot grants will allow bench discoveries in the oral health sciences at the College of Dentistry to move both into the clinic - and aspirationally - within communities of interest. Improving community health is a key long-term goal of this program," says Dr. Stanford.
Dr. Stanford added, "a key element of the mission of the College of Dentistry is, To discover and translate new knowledge at the boundaries of science, transforming oral health care practice, social systems and related technologies for the benefit of individuals, families and communities."
"Therefore the CTSA/CCTS funding helps to build a vital bridge that connects our 40+ talented research investigators with opportunities to apply their discoveries to improving patient health. This award creates opportunities that can be leveraged for both the college and campus but most importantly, the communities we serve."
About CCTS
UIC’s CCTS was first funded by the NIH in 2009 as part of the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program. The CTSA network of over 60 medical research institutions- known as hubs- enables research teams to tackle scientific and operational challenges in clinical and translational research that are addressed best by collaborative work that accelerates the research process, enabling scientific discoveries to reach patients and populations faster. CTSA hubs collaborate locally and nationally to catalyze innovation in training, research tools and best research processes.
As UIC’s hub for clinical and translational health research, the CCTS seeks to improve population health, particularly among minorities and underserved populations. Over the next four years, the UIC CCTS will continue to build on its key strengths, including: developing a diverse clinical translational workforce that can address today's complex health problems, collaborating and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders both locally and nationally, and integrating research discoveries across the full spectrum of clinical science from basic biology to population approaches to reduce disease and improve quality of life. These strengths will allow UIC researchers to make real-world advances in health and health care.
As one of the few U.S. universities with the full range of health science colleges- including the largest medical college in the country- UIC has provided fertile ground for the establishment and growth of the CCTS. The vibrancy of this broad range of expertise is reflected by leadership of the CCTS that spans multiple colleges, including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Applied Health Sciences, Urban Planning and Public Affairs, and Public Health. Drs. Robin Mermelstein and Larry Tobacman are the CCTS Co-Directors. As well-established, internationally recognized senior investigators with a track record of high NIH funding, they provide the leadership necessary to create effective research collaborations. They are also committed to UIC’s mission to serve the city of Chicago as the premier urban-serving public research university in the United States.
Learn more about how the CCTS is transforming health research at UIC.
Learn more about the CCTS at http://www.ccts.uic.edu
Learn more about UIC College of Dentistry's Oral Sciences Research