University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s awarded $37.2 million grant renewal

This award combines federal and other institutional support from UC and Cincinnati Children’s to advance translational science with regional and national impact — totaling more than $65 million in funding for the CCTST.

Established in 2005 to support the future of science across the Academic Health Center, the CCTST has successfully secured funding since 2009. Since its inception, the center has supported more than 8,000 investigators and trainees, serving as a central hub for accelerating clinical and translational science and research in the Cincinnati region and beyond.

"The renewal of the CCTST is a powerful affirmation of the collaborative research enterprise between the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's," said Gregory C. Postel, MD, dean of the College of Medicine, Christian R. Holmes professor, executive vice president for health affairs at UC and chair of the UC Health Board of Directors. "The CCTST continues to serve as the central engine driving translational science across our Academic Health Center. This renewed award empowers us to advance our mission, deepen our community partnerships and strengthen our ability to respond to urgent public health needs."

During the next seven years, the CCTST will transform into an integrated Clinical and Translational Learning System (CTLS), accelerating the discovery, dissemination and implementation of innovative research that improves health across the lifespan.

"Both Cincinnati Children’s and the University of Cincinnati have benefited from the scientific cooperation supported by the CCTST," said Tina Cheng, MD, chief medical officer and chair of pediatrics for Cincinnati Children’s and director of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation. "These funds provide crucial support to the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that makes high-level medical research possible. That research in turn continues to produce better outcomes for children and adults in need. We are grateful to continue this important work."

The new award will enable the CCTST to speed the pathway from scientific discovery to better health outcomes. Its goals include improving the way research is conducted, strengthening partnerships among scientists and communities and ensuring that innovations reach people more quickly. The program will also include expanded training for the next generation of researchers, promoting precision health approaches to tackle urgent public health needs, and building stronger systems that make clinical research more efficient, safe and effective.

"The CCTST provides the infrastructure, training and collaborative environment needed to turn foundational discoveries into real-world solutions," said Brett Kissela, MD, executive vice dean and senior associate dean of clinical research for the College of Medicine, professor in the UC Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, chief of research services at UC Health and director of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute. "This renewal underscores the national leadership of our investigators and the transformative role of the CCTST."

The CCTST is led by co-directors Jareen Meinzen-Derr, PhD, executive associate director of the Cincinnati Children’s Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Medicine professor of pediatrics and associate dean for clinical and translational science and training; Achala Vagal, MD, professor and chair of the UC Department of Radiology and College of Medicine associate dean of clinical and translational science and training; and Jeffrey Strawn, MD, professor in the UC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, who spearheaded the successful grant submission. This effort also involved work from more than 40 faculty and staff across UC and Cincinnati Children’s.

The CCTST co-directors expressed their deep gratitude for the opportunity to build upon two decades of dedicated, collaborative work across the Academic Health Center, the Tristate area and beyond. Guided by their vision to build an integrated clinical and translational learning system — one that brings together scientists, clinicians, trainees and community partners — the co-directors aim to unite strengths to accelerate the translation of discoveries from the lab to patients and communities faster, ensuring that innovation truly improves lives.

To learn more about the CCTST and how to access services, please click here.

Featured image at top: CCTST co-directors. From left to right: Achala Vagal, MD; Jareen Meinzen-Derr, PhD; and Jeffrey Strawn, MD. Photo/Emma Jones/CCTST.