The CTSA Program at NIH: Opportunities for Advancing Clinical and Translational Research

Released:: June 25, 2013
Type:: Consensus Report
Topic:: Biomedical and Health Research
Activity:: Review of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Board:: Board on Health Sciences Policy

The past half century of biomedical and health research has led to significant improvements in individual and public health. However, it often takes many years before the benefits of research reach the targeted beneficiaries due to the challenges of translating scientific findings into practice. Created in 2006, and currently funded by the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program aims to facilitate and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into new and better preventive and treatment solutions to improve health. The IOM was asked by NIH to review the mission and strategic goals of the CTSA Program.
The IOM committee finds that the CTSA program is contributing significantly to advancing clinical and translational research, and recommends a number of revisions that could make the program more efficient and effective and could ensure future successes. If enacted, these changes would help establish the CTSA Program as the national leader for advancing innovative and transformative clinical and translational research.