May 2024
Issue 1
Letter From the President
The Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) currently represents nearly 5,000 members from academic, industry and government institutions. Guided by our strategic plan, ACTS is committed to providing a platform for advancing the discipline of clinical and translational science to improving human health.
Our primary academic institutional members are supported by translational awards including the NCATS-funded Clinical and Translational Sciences Awards (CTSAs) and the NIGMS-funded IDeA Clinical and Translational Research (CTRs). These large granting mechanisms are focused on bringing discoveries, innovations and practice improvements into our communities and health systems. To accomplish this goal, innovative approaches for teamwork, dissemination and implementation, community engagement, learning health systems and others are being developed and tested.
We are at the forefront of a revolution in our approach to clinical and translational research using high performance teams. I refer to translational teams as interdisciplinary research programs sharing a common goal to advance a diagnostic, therapeutic, behavioral intervention or delivery system to improve health. Because of the complex technical, regulatory and implementation challenges that health interventions face, no single group has the skills to accomplish the full spectrum. To be successful, vital new roles in translational teams are being recognized. These include, but are not limited to, team science program managers, clinical research professionals, clinical trialists, community health workers, data scientists and regulatory experts.
ACTS seeks to provide support for these emerging members of the translational teams. To this end, the ACTS now supports 10 Special Interest Groups (SIGs). SIGs are voluntary groups of thematically related professionals that form online communities to advance their profession by forming peer networks, exchanging best practices, sharing resources and providing a pathway for careerl development.
Consequently, the SIGs provide ACTS members with the opportunity to shape their profession aligned with effective translation. I encourage you to consider joining and benefitting from SIG participation.
More information is at: https://www.actscience.org/About/Special-Interest-Groups
Join the JCTS Editorial Board
The Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (JCTS), the official journal of ACTS and the Clinical Research Forum, is now accepting nominations for new members to the Editorial Board. Editorial Board members are key members of the JCTS community, working together to elevate the impact of the journal and advance the state of clinical and translational science. Editors may take on strategic tasks for the journal, such as developing a new article type or process, and they contribute to the overall direction and quality of the journal.
JCTS is seeking nominations from scientists with expertise in any of the following areas:
- Preclinical translational research
- Data science, informatics, and biostatistics
- Acute and critical care research
- Science policy and ethics
- Qualitative methods
Anyone interested in being considered for the Board should submit a letter of intent along with their CV to jcts@cambridge.org no later than July 1, 2024.
Meet the ACTS Committees
The beginning of the 2024-2025 term saw several of our committees welcome new volunteers. These committees work year round to add value for ACTS members and assist the Board of Directors with the execution of their strategic plan. Take a moment to get to know this year's rosters as they gear up for another exciting year ahead!
Interested in volunteering with ACTS? Be on the lookout for future calls for volunteers in your inbox, or reach out to info@actscience.org for more information about the committees.
Member Highlight: Mendy Dunn
Today’s ACTS Member Highlight features Elizabeth ‘Mendy’ Dunn, MSN, RN, who serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the University of Florida’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Alexandria Carey writes of her colleague, “Mendy's passion for advancing Translational Science is evident in her unwavering dedication and enthusiasm for leading in a positive way. Her innovative approaches to collaborating with her team and all research professionals have led to groundbreaking relationships and partnerships throughout the University of Florida and national Translational Science Institutes.”
“As a Registered Nurse (RN), her successful partnerships with clinical colleagues across various clinical disciplines result in impactful clinical projects and publications,” Carey continues. “She is willing to adapt to any need presented to her, from working at the bedside in the Clinical Research Center with participants to presenting at national Translational Science Conferences. Her work has a profound effect on Translational Science, improving patient outcomes and inspiring the next generation of Translational Science researchers.”
Mendy’s contributions to ACTS span from research presented at the annual Translational Science meetings to membership in multiple Special Interest Groups (SIGs). She’s also in her final year as a PhD student in translational science.
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
Researchers Discover Key Functions of Therapeutically Promising Jumbo Viruses
Viruses known as "jumbo" phages are seen as a potential tool against deadly bacterial infections. But scientists must first decipher the extraordinary makeup of these mysterious viruses. Researchers have now uncovered a key piece of jumbo phage development that helps them counter bacteria.