| Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute Secures More Than $2 Million in NIH/ARRA Funding October 5, 2009—The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute has received four supplement awards totaling more than $2 million from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The awards — made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) — support the NUCATS’ mission of developing cross-disciplinary scientific teams focused on accelerating biomedical research discoveries to improve human health. Each new award will provide two years of funding for collaborative projects, during which teams are expected to complete the research. The funded projects, which span a number of schools throughout the University, are: - Engineering in Medicine Program Between McCormick School of Engineering and the Feinberg School of Medicine. A two part initiative, the first of which addresses education and training in clinical and translational research for engineering post-doctoral trainees. This two-year program includes a structured life sciences/medicine educational experience, and co-mentored research with faculty from FSM and MCC, integrating engineering and life sciences/medicine. The second program creates a new mini-sabbatical fellowship for engineering faculty to collaborate in a clinical or translational research lab at FSM. The project is led by Lewis Smith, MD, Professor of Medicine and co-director, Center for Education and Career Development, NUCATS Institute, and Bill Miller, PhD, professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at McCormick School of Engineering (MCC)
- Centralized Clinical Studies Informatics Infrastructure. Developed with the University Office of Research, NMH Office of Research Compliance, and NMFF, the web-based workflow system, eNOTIS, will provide the ability to share clinical trials information, integrate with the IRB and centralize process across the University to advance the pace at which clinical and translational research is conducted. The project is led by Warren Kibbe PhD, research associate professor, NUCATS Institute and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM)
- Biomedical Intelligence Core. Building on partnership between NUCATS and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, the goal of this collaboration is to better understand the potential application of and addressable market for biomedical research projects. Identifying business literacy and technology transfer issues earlier in the process will speed the translation of treatments into health solutions. The project is led by Alicia Löffler, PhD, Kellogg professor and director for the school’s Center for Biotechnology Management
- Science of Team Science Learning Module. Northwestern leads this emerging discipline examining the process by which transdisciplinary research teams organize themselves. Researchers from Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Kellogg School of Management and the School of Education and Social Policy are involved in this project, which will produce online learning modules, intended to draw new students into the field. The project is led by Bonnie Spring, PhD, professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and director of Behavioral Medicine, FSM and Kemi Jona, PhD, research associate professor, School of Education and Social Policy and Department of Computer Sciences
“The NUCATS Institute, through partnerships with other schools at Northwestern University, is clearly demonstrating strong commitment to building interdisciplinary teams,” said NCRR Director Barbara Alving, M.D. “The ARRA funding will provide training in business principles and technology transfer, as well as access to robust informatics infrastructure.” “The ARRA funding will significantly advance our progress toward the NUCATS mission,” said Dr. Philip Greenland, director of the NUCATS institute. “Each award promotes our ability to catalyze research collaborations across the University and provides an infrastructure for innovative translational research and entrepreneurship. More broadly, the awards will support job creation and economic goals associated with a research enterprise.” The NUCATS Institute is an integral link in Northwestern University’s clinical and translational research enterprise, including schools, partners and medical affiliates. The Institute accelerates translational innovation by providing research teams with consultative resources and expertise. NUCATS is valued as a complete partner and is strategically positioned to remove the roadblocks that slow interdisciplinary clinical and translational research. This approach promotes a dynamic research environment focused on discoveries and solutions to improve human health. The Institute is a member of the Clinical and Translational Science Award consortium, which is led by NCRR. More information on NUCATS can be found at: http://www.nucats.northwestern.edu. |
