Millions in funding awarded to UC, Cincinnati Children’s partnership

CINCINNATI — Millions in funding will help the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital advance translational science through the Center for Clinical & Translational Science & Training (CCTST), a partnership between the two institutions. 

CCTST received a seven-year, $37.2 million Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health. With this award, CCTST has received more than $65 million in funding. 

“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 Dr. Gregory C. Postel, 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.”

The partnership was founded in 2005 to support future scientific work and has secured funding since 2009. Since its formation 20 years ago, more than 8,000 investigators and trainees have been supported. 

Over the next seven years, it will transform into an integrated Clinical and Translational Learning System to help accelerate the discovery, dissemination and implementation of research to improve health.

“Both Cincinnati Children’s and the University of Cincinnati have benefited from the scientific cooperation supported by the CCTST,” said Dr. Tina Cheng, 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.”

With this latest reward, CCTST aims to improve how research is conducted, strengthen partnerships between scientists and communities and ensure innovations reach people more quickly. Training for the next generation of researchers will also be expanded.

“The CCTST provides the infrastructure, training and collaborative environment needed to turn foundational discoveries into real-world solutions,” said Dr. Brett Kissela, 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.”