USF Health has begun an ambitious plan to transform how clinical research is taught, administered and fostered.  A critical component of this initiative is the goal of obtaining a Clinical and Translational Science award by 2010. 

Beginning in 2005, the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) announced its restructuring and the implementation of CTSA awards.  The goal of the Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program is to transform the local, regional and national environment for clinical and translational science, thereby increasing the efficiency and speed of clinical and translational research.  The NCRR has eliminated previous funds for General Clinical Research Centers (GCRC’s) and many training grants to combine into large clinical translational science awards available to institutions.  The RFA calls for the creation of an academic home comprising faculty and programs that integrate clinical and translational science across multiple departments, schools, clinical and research institutes and hospitals.  USF has developed the Institute of Clinical and Translational Research which will form the frame work for the CTSA process for USF Health, and will partner with institutions such as Moffitt Cancer Center to develop a successful model.

All together there will be approximately 60 institutions granted CTSA awards, approximately 12 per year for the next five years.  USF received a CTSA planning grant in September 2006 under the directions of Ken Zuckerman, MD and Phil Marty, PhD.  This one year grant will develop the governing structure of the USF Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and strategically plan for the application which will be submitted in January 2009.  Members of the planning group include: Ken Zuckerman, PI of planning grant, Pat Emmanuel, Co-PI, Jeffery Krisher, Daniel Lim, Shyam Mohaptra, Scott Antonio, Daniel Sullivan, John Sleasman, Steven Mastorides, Mary Evans, Phil Marty, Richard Heller, Sandra Anderson, Sally Houston, Lynn Wecker and Abdul Rao.  Workgroups will identify current strengths and weaknesses, review current research training programs, engage the community and institutional partners and outline the structure and function for the Institute.  Additional participants are needed in areas such as community participation and program evaluation.

The ultimate goal of the Institute is to facilitate research and research training and create an environment where investigator initiated research can thrive.  The Institute will have a broad training program in clinical and translational science, the foundation of which is the current K30 award or SPOR grant.  The Institute will develop clinical trial, biostatistics and informatics support and address ways to improve the regulatory and operational aspects.  The Institute will serve as a point of contact for industry and the community and will foster multidisciplinary collaboration.

To be successful in this endeavor, USF Health will need institutional, community and individual investigator buy in to the planning and implementation.  Many experts are needed to help create a vision for the future.  This is a critical time in clinical research, with increasing regulatory oversight and diminishing monies available to faculty from NIH; obtaining a CTSA award is of the highest priority at USF Health.  These awards are changing the landscape of clinical and translational research across the country and will transform the DNA of clinical research at USF.