Letter from the JCTS Editor

We are living in an exciting time of scientific discovery and innovation, where new technologies and methods are opening whole new avenues of discovery. They are also opening whole new avenues for communication and dissemination. As scientists, we have a responsibility to ensure that our work is not only rigorous and reliable, but that it is also accessible and impactful. We need to communicate our science effectively and ethically, not only to our peers and collaborators, but also to the public and policymakers. We need to engage diverse audiences and stakeholders in our scientific endeavors, and foster a culture of dialogue, feedback, and mutual learning. Communication is essential to advancing science and society.

However, communication is not always easy or straightforward. We face various barriers and obstacles, such as language differences, disciplinary boundaries, information overload, and misinformation. We also face ethical and practical dilemmas, such as how to balance accuracy and clarity, how to avoid plagiarism and bias, how to maintain the quality and trustworthiness of our scientific outputs, and how to respect the intellectual property and privacy rights of the authors and sources that we use and cite. These are some of the challenges that we need to address as a scientific community, and we invite you to join us in this endeavor.

The Journal of Clinical and Translational Science aims to promote ethical, innovative, and inclusive scientific communication. We are committed to providing a platform for scientists from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and career stages to publish their work, learn from each other, and engage with the public. Since clinical and translational science is broad, it is imperative that we focus on effective interprofessional communication inclusive of the people and communities we serve. We believe that communication can be a powerful ally for science, if we use it wisely and responsibly, and our editors work tirelessly to ensure manuscripts have clear messaging understandable to all.

We are always looking for authors who share our vision and values, and who are eager to contribute to the advancement of clinical and translational science and scientific communication. As an author, you will have the opportunity to publish your work in a reputable journal, receive constructive feedback from our editors and reviewers, and reach a wide and diverse audience. You will also be part of a dynamic and diverse community of editors, reviewers, authors, and readers who are passionate about clinical and translational research.

If you are interested in publishing with us, please visit our website and follow our submission guidelines. We welcome submissions from scientists of all disciplines, career stages, and backgrounds. We especially encourage submissions from those underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce, including women, minorities, and early-career researchers. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion in our journal.

We look forward to hearing from you and working with you to make the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science a leading voice for science. Together, we can make a difference in how we communicate science, and how science communicates with the world.

News from the Hill

The House completed its first appropriations bill markup of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations process. The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations bill was reported out of committee on a party-line vote. While the FY 2025 House MilCon-VA bill is a Defense bill and receiving additional funding through a generous budget allocation, the specific spending items are in mixed-bag. While healthcare for veterans receives further investment through the bill, the VA research program sees a sizable, proposed cut in annual funding. The House has announced intentions to mark up all twelve appropriations bills by mid-July but is starting to temper expectations for the bills scheduled for late in the process, including the Labor-HHS-Education (L-HHS) measure.

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Publish your Research to 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 at a discounted fee.

JCTS is currently accepting manuscripts for two upcoming thematic issues:

• Advancing Understanding and Use of Impact Measures in Implementation Science Deadline for Submission: May 27, 2024
• Institutional Transformation to Support Community Based Participatory Research and Patient- and Community -Engaged Research Deadline for Submission: June 30, 2024

Visit JCTS

Fund your Research through NCATS

We'd like to remind ACTS members to take advantage of the numerous funding opportunities available from the National Center for Advancing Translation Sciences (NCATS). You can explore and apply for all open funding opportunities through the NCATS website.

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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

Study defines major genetic form of Alzheimer's disease

In a study of people primarily of European descent, those with two copies of a certain gene, APOE4, predictably began to develop the underlying abnormalities of Alzheimer's disease as early as age 55.

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