NUCATS Continues to Improve, Innovate, Implement Translational Science Initiatives
Rachel Hess, MD, MS, projected a white slide void of text. A single mouse stood perched on its hind legs.
The animal, it turns out, may be the perfect analogy for what the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences refers to as translational science, a field of study that generates scientific and operational innovations to overcome challenges along the translational research pipeline.
Discovered by Nobel Laureate Mario Capecchi, PhD, knockout mice — which can have specific genes turned off so that scientists can better understand their influence — are used to investigate human diseases ranging from cancer and heart disease to Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. The idea of the mouse itself, Hess says, is translational science. Whereas the work using the mouse is translational research.
Like the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute, the mouse created new ways to facilitate research to better illuminate our understanding of human health and disease.
Hess, co-director of the Utah Clinical and Translational Science Institute, spoke to NUCATS members during a one-day summit marking the institute’s second year of UM1 funding.
Gathering at the start of the year gives us the space to reflect, align on priorities, and ensure we remain responsive to the evolving nature of our work.”
“As we head into the second year of our seven-year grant, it’s important that we take the time to come together — in person, as a team,” says Nicole Woitowich, PhD, NUCATS executive director and research associate professor of Medical Social Sciences. “Gathering at the start of the year gives us the space to reflect, align on priorities, and ensure we remain responsive to the evolving nature of our work.”
Following opening remarks from NUCATS multiple principal investigators Richard D’Aquila, MD, Sara Becker, PhD, and Clyde Yancy, MD, MSc, the annual meeting revisited successes from the past year, while also looking ahead at how the institute will improve, innovate, and implement translational science initiatives at Northwestern over the next 12 months.
Among the institute’s biggest accomplishments was the strengthening of its Hub Liaison Team (HLT), comprised of members from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Northwestern Medicine, McCormick School of Engineering, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Communication.
“The value of the Hub Liaison Team is tremendous, especially from the perspective of making connections with aspiring individuals in Northwestern Medicine who aren't downtown,” says Michael Ellis, PT, DPT, professor of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and director of translational rehabilitation research at Northwestern Medicine. “The HLT champions are in a position to facilitate connections that otherwise would not happen due to traditional barriers.”
Year one also saw renewed NUCATS management infrastructure, the launch of numerous advisory and integration committees, improved data intake and access workflows, the launch of a Clinical Research Professional Community of Practice (with 220-plus members), expanded mentor training workshops, support for two largescale pilot projects, and more:
- Trio of Investigators Receive NUCATS Pilot Funding
- Bucek Named NUCATS Director of Evaluation
- Cameron Named Senior Director of NUCATS Mentoring and Leadership Development
- Center for Clinical Research Grows Under Peters' Leadership
- EQuaTR Conference Illuminates Complexities of Research Environments
- Inaugural Chicagoland Community Research Fellows Named
- Informatics, Data Science Take Center Stage
- Changing the Way We Talk: How Science Communications Brings Research to the Masses
- Recruitment & Retention Service Launched
The year-two kickoff concluded with strategic aim integration discussions, an evaluation workshop, and flash talks by UM1 Pilot Awardees Rachel Zmora, PhD, and Susan Parker, PhD.
Written by Roger Anderson
