New NIH-funded network focused on energizing the discipline of clinical and translational science.
The NIH awarded a consortium of Philadelphia-based institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, $98 million in Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs).
“The development of this consortium represents the first systematic change in our approach to clinical research in 50 years,” says NIH director, Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. “Working together, these sites will serve as discovery engines that will improve medical care by applying new scientific advances to real-world practice. We expect to see new approaches reach underserved populations, local community organizations, and healthcare providers to ensure that medical advances are reaching the people who need them.”
In addition to the Philadelphia collaboration, 11 other academic health centers throughout the nation are receiving CTSAs. An additional 52 institutions are receiving planning grants to help them prepare applications to join the consortium. When fully implemented in 2012, about 60 institutions will be linked together to energize the discipline of clinical and translational science.
