July 2024
Issue 1
Letter from the President
The Association for Clinical and Translational Science fully embraces the goals of the Clinical and Translational Sciences Awards (CTSAs). We seek to support translational science to more efficiently bring discoveries to sustainable application in the clinic and/orcommunity. Since no single laboratory has the expertise to progress along the entire translational spectrum, a key strategy refined by our CTSA consortium has been the conception and support of Translational Teams. Translational Teams are groups of interdisciplinary investigators sharing a common vision advancing knowledge, that are also developing a drug, diagnostic or intervention to improve health.
Application of the translational team model has created new disciplines for the next generation who will participate in - and contribute to- team research throughout their careers. These disciplines include, but are not limited to, team facilitators, data scientists, clinical research professionals, program managers/administrators, regulatory specialists, evaluators and community engagement experts. These roles are vital to sustaining complex translational teams.
To support these pathways, the ACTS supports Special Interest Groups (SIGs) organically formed around these emergent disciplines. Currently over 10 SIGs are actively interacting to address important issues in their field. The ACTS SIGS are excellent ways to network with other peers across the CTSA consortium, share best practices and participate in scholarship. These are excellent career building opportunities, and its free to join:
https://www.actscience.org/About/Special-Interest-Groups
Consider joining an ACTS SIG, network with experts in your field, develop your professional skills and prepare yourself for success!
ACTS Membership for Community Members
Did you know that your CTSA community members are eligible to become members of ACTS through their affiliation with an ACTS member institution? Through these partnerships, they are able to access ACTS' member benefits, including:
- Discounted registration to the annual Translational Science meeting
- Opportunities to participate in Special Interest Groups and Committees
- Access to our community platform website, Tradewing
- And more!
To join, community members can create an account on the ACTS website and join the institution they work with. Reach out to your community member network and encourage them to join today!
NIH Request for Information
NIH is proposing to develop and implement a new policy within the NIH’s Intramural Research Program, the internal research arm of the agency. The policy would require organizations partnering with NIH through a patent licensing agreement that succeed in bringing certain products to market to submit a plan outlining steps they intend to take to promote patient access to any resulting drug, biologic, vaccine, or device. NIH seeks input on this draft policy and accompanying draft license agreement language that incorporates patient access in the commercialization process for NIH-owned inventions.
NIH will use the responses to this request for information to develop a final policy. Comments must be received by July 22, 2024.
Special Interest Groups
ACTS offers its members the opportunity to participate in Special Interest Groups (SIGs) related to the field of clinical research and translational science. SIGs connect individuals who share similar goals and interests, providing a channel to network and participate in knowledge and resource sharing among peers.
Learning Library
The ACTS Learning Library is the centralized location for all ACTS educational offerings, including partner webinars and past Translational Science recordings. ACTS members receive complimentary access to webinars and recordings.
Translational Science Today
Fighting COVID-19 With a Cancer Drug
Researchers at University of California San Diego show that a molecule which shuttles damaging inflammatory cells into cancer tumors also shuttles inflammatory cells into lung tissue infected with COVID-19 - and that the molecule can be suppressed with a repurposed cancer drug. The work represents a new approach to preventing irreversible organ damage in infectious diseases.