Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) joined colleagues from across the nation at the CTSA Fall Program Meeting in Arlington, Virginia, October 22-24, 2025. This year’s theme — CTSAs Leading the Way: Resilience, Innovation, and Impact — set the stage for three days of strategic dialogue, cross-hub collaboration, and celebration of translational science leadership.
Representing Duke with Purpose and Presence
The Duke CTSA team was well represented across sessions, panels, and poster presentations. Attendees included principal investigators, enterprise committee members, and operational leaders who contributed to discussions, reflecting Duke CTSI’s commitment to advancing the CTSA mission through thought leadership, operational excellence, and trustworthy collaboration.
Some highlights:
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Joseph McClernon, PhD, presented a poster, “Element E” poster that received top honors for its innovative approach to translational research impact. The recognition of the poster underscored the value of operational research and programmatic evaluation in shaping translational outcomes. The poster highlighted strategies for promoting institutional capacity and measuring impact — core tenets of Duke CTSI’s approach.
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Cinthia Sanchez and Deborah Chavis-Keeling moderated table-talk sessions on communication strategies, reporting, and operational best practices at the administrator meeting.
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Gina Maria Pomann and Chris Lindsell spoke, sharing insights on biomedical informatics and data science and hub operations.
Strengthening the CTSA Network
Throughout the meeting, Duke CTSI team members engaged in:
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General sessions focused on pivoting to address emerging priorities.
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Strategic panels exploring communicating translational science impact, resilience in times of crisis, AI-enabled clinical research foundations, real world data in action, workforce development, and Element E projects.
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Administrators table talks on building stronger teams and improving communication across their hubs and the CTSA consortium.
These conversations reinforced the importance of adaptability, innovation, and shared learning in driving translational impact.
As one attendee said, “This meeting reminded us that resilience isn’t just about weathering challenges — it’s about leading with purpose, adapting with creativity, and collaborating with trust.”
Looking Ahead
The CTSA Fall Program Meeting was a reaffirmation of the Duke CTSI’s role as a national leader in translational science. By contributing to key conversations and showcasing innovative work, the team continues to shape the future of the CTSA network.
Duke CTSI remains committed to fostering resilience, driving innovation, and amplifying impact —locally, regionally, and nationally.