Clinical and Translational Science Institute Receives $59M Grant
The UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), a research partnership among UCLA, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, has received a $59-million Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).
The UCLA CTSI is among the largest institutes of a 60-member consortium established by NCATS to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into effective health interventions that improve clinical care. The intent of the consortium is to harness the strengths of its members in achieving greater health impact than a single institution can achieve on its own. This is the second renewal for UCLA after receiving its first award in 2011.
“The importance of addressing and eliminating health disparities is abundantly clear. Diverse health science research leads to equitable health outcomes and plays a key role in tackling pressing medical and well-being challenges in all communities. Our dynamic partnership of four institutions has remained unswervingly focused on this pursuit of health equity through research, and this renewed support from NIH will allow us to continue unabated for another half-decade,” said Dr. David Carlisle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
The UCLA CTSI was instrumental in the rapid research response to the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting more than 200 basic, clinical, and translational studies at UCLA and its partner institutions. The institute has supported more than 2,100 researchers, which has contributed to important discoveries related to lung cancer and breast cancer, two of the leading causes of premature death and disability in Los Angeles County. During its first decade, the UCLA CTSI has trained more than 1,080 junior faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate and healthcare professional students, undergraduates and research staff.
In the next five years, the UCLA CTSI will build on its progress by broadening collaborations with the community as well as with faculty across a wide area of expertise, including engineering, business, and public health.