July 2024
Issue 2
Letter from the JCTS Editor
Sometimes, it feels as though the only constant is chaos. In 24 hours, I have experienced a gut-wrenching score on a grant, a paper accepted to a better journal than I hoped, an explosion of energetic personalities in one team, and a breakthrough in communication in another. Not to mention disruptions to the journal’s e-mail system, and vacations competing for editor and reviewer attention. It can be challenging to keep focus, stay resilient, and make impact when the overwhelming feeling is one of whiplash. It doesn’t matter the career stage, discipline, or scientific focus, competing priorities are a reality that can distract us from our goals.
Today, I am drawing my inspiration for reaching goals from two sources: a colleague and a group of strangers. My colleague is in career transition, letting go of one set of expectations while building another. My strangers are the many applicants for the JCTS Editorial Board.
My colleague and I were musing on the importance of possibilities – that we start each new academic endeavor excited and enthusiastic about the change and impact we expect to make. Sometimes we achieve those possibilities, and sometimes we achieve different possibilities. What inspired me is how passionate my colleague is at making it real for her students to have possibilities, and her skill in encouraging them to reach.
The passion for making an impact was also evident in all the letters and CVs we received in our request for volunteers to join the editorial board. The response has been overwhelming with applicants spanning the full spectrum of clinical and translational science. When reading the letters, it is striking how much our community wants to help each other advance our field. As an editor, it can be difficult to make choices on manuscripts. It will not be easy to make choices based on the strength of our applicants.
As my colleague and my strangers have reminded me of the importance of reaching for possibilities and lifting one another up as we do it, I encourage you to share the results of your own experiences making impact by considering a submission to our newest upcoming thematic issue on advancing the science and practice of effective mentorship.
Publish your Research in JCTS
The Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (JCTS) is the official scientific journal of ACTS and the Clinical Research Forum. As one of the fastest growing open access scientific journals, JCTS is the best way for clinical and translational researchers to share their findings. As a reminder, ACTS members can publish their research by paying a discounted fee.
JCTS is currently accepting manuscripts for an upcoming thematic issue:
- Advancing the Science and Practice of Effective Mentorship Deadline for Submission: November 11, 2024
JEDI Virtual Grand Rounds: Innovative Strategies to Diversify Clinical Trials
Join the ACTS Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) SIG for their first ever Virtual Grand Round on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 12:00pm ET. Holly A. Massett, PhD from the National Institute on Aging will be sharing new strategies your institution can use for more diverse participation in your clinical trials. Follow the link below to register today!
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
Using AI to Improve Detection of Rare Diseases
To improve diagnosis of acute hepatic porphyria (AHP), researchers from UC San Francisco and UCLA, invented a predictive algorithm to analyze health care records and identify suspected porphyria patients. The algorithm searches through electronic health records to identify disease patterns and flag patients who may be at risk for AHP.