ACTS Connection

November 2024

Issue 2

Letter from the JCTS Editor

As we gather this week in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it is a fitting moment to reflect on the gratitude we feel for our community of authors, reviewers, and editors who have made the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science a leader in its field. Your dedication and collaboration exemplify the very essence of the translational science journey—bridging disciplines, insights, and innovations to improve human health.

This season of gratitude coincides with a significant milestone for our journal. We are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new editorial board members, nearly doubling our capacity to serve our growing community. This expansion comes at a pivotal time, as submissions to JCTS have reached unprecedented levels, underscoring the journal's role as a hub for high-impact, interdisciplinary research. With this enhanced team, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to rapid turnaround times while your work receives prompt and thorough attention.

In parallel, we are excited to introduce five new statistical editors to our team. These experts will provide authors with comprehensive, constructive feedback on the presentation and analysis of their data. By enhancing the rigor and clarity of the articles we publish, our statistical editors are reinforcing the journal's mission to set the highest standards in clinical and translational research.

To facilitate excellence in peer review, the ACTS Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design special interest group published a recent article in our journal providing the perspectives of statistical reviewers when evaluating research articles [Peer review of clinical and translational research manuscripts: Perspectives from statistical collaborators | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science | Cambridge Core]. This piece serves as both a guide and a reminder of the collaborative effort required to advance the field. It’s through the collective wisdom of our reviewers and editors that we continue to nurture the integrity and impact of the science we publish.

As we look to the future, we do so with immense gratitude for the team of editors whose leadership and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the journal's success. Your tireless efforts have not only upheld the journal's standards but also laid the foundation for this exciting new chapter. To our expanded editorial team, thank you for joining us in this endeavor. Together, we will continue to uphold JCTS as the premier journal in clinical and translational science.

On behalf of the editorial board, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. May this season bring moments of joy and reflection, and may we continue to build upon the shared mission that binds us together.

Chris Lindsell, PhD

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Clinical and Translational Science


News from the Hill

The November 5th elections occurred with relatively little drama but notable impact for the 119th Congress (which will be sworn in on January 3rd). Former President Donald Trump was elected President again but failed to bolster his prior tallies in the popular vote thus falling short of a mandate for dramatic change. The Senate shifted to Republican control with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), an appropriator, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Finance Committee, and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the HELP Committee, loosing their bids for re-election. The House will stay in Republican control too. However, the majority will be nearly as slim in the lower chamber as it is right now and the same tension between conservative and moderate members will certainly persist into next year.  

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Translational Science 2025 Schedule at a Glance

Your first peek at the schedule for Translational Science 2025 is here! The Schedule at a Glance is now live on our website. Start planning ahead for add-on sessions, SIG meetings, and networking events today.

Translational Science 2025 will take place in Washington, DC from April 14-17, 2025. Registration is coming faster than you think and will open in early December. We can't to have everyone together once again for our biggest event of the year!

View the Schedule


ACTS Professional Development Virtual Workshop

Join the ACTS Professional Development Committee for their upcoming virtual workshop, Finding Strategies for Professional Growth in Translational Science on Monday, December 16 at 3:00pm ET! This session offers attendees the chance to contribute to the future of professional development at ACTS, and gives them a forum to develop strategies to further their own career growth.

Registration is open now through the day of the workshop. ACTS Members can attend for free; non-members will be asked to pay a $15 registration fee, reduced to $10 for early career investigators. Don't forget to visit our website to learn about other ways ACTS helps with our member's professional development!

Register


New Partnership Opportunities with ACTS Now Available

ACTS is excited to offer organizations new opportunities to partner with us for the annual Translational Science meeting and year round! Our team has put together a brand new prospectus to share all the benefits to partnering with us, as well as the many options available for sponsorship and promotion. New partners are vital to the continued growth of ACTS, and we can't wait to bring more on board through these new offerings!

Learn More


Member Highlights

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for outstanding or groundbreaking work? Is your institution embarking on an exciting project? Send ACTS your story to be highlighted in future issues of the ACTS Connection.

Submit stories here.


Career Center

The ACTS Career Center is the premier resource for connecting those in the field of translational science with career opportunities. Visit today to find a wealth of resources to help achieve your career goals. ACTS members receive a 50% discount on the site—use code ACTSMEMBER to save!


Translational Science Today

New Path for a Gene Therapy Trial at NIH for a Rare Metabolic Disease

NCATS and NHGRI are teaming up to advance a gene therapy treatment for methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), a rare genetic disorder.

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