The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Duke University $69 million to accelerate how scientific discoveries translate to better health for all. The seven-year grant will help support the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) as it builds and sustains “Trustworthy Partnerships to Improve Health Through Translational Science.”
Duke received one of the original 12 grants in 2006 under the NIH’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, with previous renewals of $47 million in 2013 and $60 million in 2018.
The CTSA program supports a national network of more than 60 medical institutions that offer expertise, resources, and partnerships at the national and local levels to improve the health of individuals and communities. The program also nurtures the field of translational science (bench-to-bedside research) through education, training, and career support at all levels.
This new award builds on nearly two decades of work advancing clinical and translational research locally, regionally, and nationally, and includes a strong partnership with North Carolina Central University (NCCU). The collaboration has launched pilot research partnerships, a junior faculty development program, and many other initiatives related to workforce development, community engagement, and research.
“Through strong, trustworthy partnerships, we will not only accelerate the translation of discoveries into practice, but also ensure those discoveries are shaped by — and benefit — the communities we serve,” said Susanna Naggie, MD, MHS, Catherine Wilfert Distinguished Professor of Medicine and vice dean for clinical and translational research at Duke University School of Medicine and contact principal investigator of the grant.
Co-principal investigators are Kimberly S. Johnson, MD, MHS, professor of medicine, and Christopher J. Lindsell, PhD, professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics.
“We thank all of the collaborators engaged on the CTSA application and look forward to our continued work together,” said Johnson and Lindsell.
Efforts will include:
- Catalyzing innovations to advance clinical and translational science
- Expanding best-in-class research services, resources, and infrastructure
- Creating and nurturing community-partnered research to improve health across the lifespan
- Training an interprofessional research workforce prepared to deliver trustworthy science
- Propagating informatics frameworks for transparent and ethical data use, including artificial intelligence
Efforts at NCCU will be led by subcontract principal investigator Deepak Kumar, PhD, associate provost and dean of research and sponsored programs at the Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute.
Administrative oversight for the grant will be provided by an executive leadership team: Deborah Chavis-Keeling, MSM, chief administrative officer, CTSI, and Cinthia E. Sanchez, PhD, hub administrator and director of research administration, CTSA.
As partnerships and collaborations are central to the CTSA’s mission, Duke and NCCU will work closely as partners with multiple collaborating institutions, including Durham Technical Community College, Lincoln Community Health Center, Carolinas Collaborative, Durham County Department of Public Health, Granville Vance Public Health, AME Zion Partnership, and Duke LifePoint Healthcare, Naggie said.
“The Duke CTSI will engage nationally and provide leadership, while disseminating innovative approaches across the CTSA consortium, with the ultimate goal of improving health for all,” she said.
CTSI has also received $7.9 million over five years to support early-stage investigators, through the CTSA Mentored Career Development Program.