Institute for Clinical and Translational Science

Our goal is to build the UCI CTSA Hub as an innovative, nimble, and dynamic virtual laboratory that can implement NCATS’s bold vision for translational science. Fueled by unprecedented growth in UCI’s research portfolio, new inpatient and outpatient capacity, and robust collaboration with community stakeholders, our Hub is positioned to profoundly impact the science of translation and public health in our region and beyond. Two formative and synergistic themes guide our Hub’s strategy for the next funding cycle. The first, “From Lab to Life,” was developed by our community partners at the inaugural CTSA funding in 2010 and reflects the seminal and ongoing NCATS’s focus on nurturing the kernels of translational science that can be found in virtually all clinical research. We will catalyze a wide range of basic and applied innovations enabled by unique UCI and community talent, such as: 1) transforming clinical trials in rare diseases, 2) reimagining cell-based diagnostic and therapeutic technologies for a broad spectrum of health conditions, and 3) reconceptualizing the practice of neurorehabilitation through AI-based mechanistic use of haptic robotics. Our second theme, “From Hub to Health,” embraces NCATS’s and our Hub’s burgeoning focus and expertise on bringing new translational science discoveries to clinical practice and benefit of people in our region dealing with a wide range of diseases and health conditions. In preparing “From Hub to Health” objectives, we worked closely with the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), our county public health department, which serves more than 3.2M people, reflecting the healthcare needs not only in our region but seen across the U.S. The Healthy School Restart Program pioneered data-driven policy guidance for public and private schools during the pandemic and blossomed into a formal Hub-OCHCA collaboration. “From Hub to Health” projects for the next funding cycle are wide ranging and include: 1) the request from OCHCA for the Hub to serve as the translational science collaborator for a regional OC System of Care Think Tank to improve health care delivery in our region, 2) expanding our Hub Medical Student Research Program to achieve unprecedented gains in health science student participation in translational science, 3) leading a novel, nationally funded program to train a uniquely talented workforce in population-health informatics and data science, and 4) re-envisioning design of investigator-initiated clinical trials by developing, demonstrating, and disseminating our program of Quality-by-Design Studios. Our partnerships with UCI-affiliated Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the Long Beach Veterans Administration ensure that these essential populations will be well represented in all Hub activities. The Hub will support these projects by careful allocation of resource modules, training opportunities, and continuous quality improvement with a vigorous application of the translational science benefits model. In sum, we are positioned to promote “more treatments for all people more quickly,” the translational science goal that has guided our Hub since 2010.