July 2022

Letter From the JCTS Editor: Half Year Mark

This has certainly been quite a year so far—it seems almost unreal that we have completed the first half already. No one can predict what the rest of the year will bring and I am not sure we yet have fully digested all the things that have happened so far. Mass shootings and gun violence seemingly out of control, very consequential and divisive Supreme Court decisions, a war with very uncertain outcomes and the smoldering presence of COVID. With this under our belt, what could possibly go wrong during the rest of the year? Yet, we all need to look forward and continue our work to improve health, develop new treatments and diagnostics and to engage and stimulate our trainees. At least by now, everyone has the option to return to laboratories, clinics and classrooms. On the other hand, a choice of working remotely remains a viable option for many and may be a lasting outcome of the COVID pandemic. On my end, as an emeritus, remote work has now been standard for a long time and I must confess it has significant advantages. The many Zoom meetings allow flexibility and the screen-to-screen reality bring a sense of community. While being glued to computer screens and phones seems to be the standard for the youngest generation, some of this must have rubbed off also on those of us getting up in age. Interestingly, as reported recently in the Economist of all places, the many hours in front of computer screens seems to have brought an epidemic of myopia among children. This condition already seems to affect many of the decision makers in society.

The first six (6) months of the year have been very productive for JCTS. We are in the process of completing three ongoing thematic issues and look forward to their publication in the coming months. As mentioned in the June letter, the number of submissions is higher than for any other comparable time, and we are grateful to our colleagues for placing their trust in the journal. In recent weeks, we have issued two additional calls for thematic issues. One of the calls is focused on the use of diverse sources of Real-World Data (RWD) and Real-World Evidence (RWE) to Advance Translational Science. The goal is to assemble a set of manuscripts that highlight the translation of RWD from a range of sources into RWE that can enhance the full translational science continuum, ultimately improving the development, approval, adoption and use of safe and effective medical products. The second call is to address broad issues related to improving the informativeness and quality of clinical trials. Through this call, we are soliciting manuscripts that contribute to understanding and improving the informativeness of trials. Colleagues who might have an interest in these areas are warmly encouraged to look at the more detailed descriptions available under “Call for Papers” on the JCTS website. The deadline for both of these calls is January 31, 2023 so hopefully this will be sufficient time to develop manuscripts. We are also in discussion with other groups regarding additional thematic initiatives and will provide more information in the coming months. In addition, we are of course open for business and encourage everyone who might be considering JCTS to send us your manuscripts. We are doing our very best to have timely responses and we understand the importance of this for everyone submitting manuscripts.

Finally, we should acknowledge that summer is in the air. For someone who grew up in the North and endured dark and cold winters, this time of year has almost a magic glow, but perhaps increasingly, the glow may be of more threatening nature due to fires. Nevertheless, we wish everyone a healthy and joyful summer and look forward to an interesting fall.

Lars Berglund, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (JCTS)

Save the Date: Translational Science 2023

ACTS and its partners are looking forward to connecting in Washington, DC for Translational Science 2023, taking place April 19-21, 2023.

Additional details, including information on abstract and scientific programming submissions, as well as registration, will be available in the coming months.

News From the Hill: July 26, 2022

With Congress preparing to leave town for the prolonged August recess (the ceremonial start of the mid-year election campaign), lawmakers are scrambling to advance a number of critical or “must-pass” legislative items. Most notably, the Senate is preparing to release drafts of its Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations bills. With the House marking up and passing most of its annual spending measures, the release of the Senate bills should facilitate negotiations between both parties and both chambers on final FY 2023 appropriations (for planned completion during the lame duck session at the end of the calendar year).

Read more on the ACTS Advocacy page.

Member Highlight

The Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative is embarking on exciting advancements in illustrating our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in research. 

We've added DEI resources to our website and a Research Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) newsfeed where we highlight: 

• DEI resources; 
• health disparities researchers; 
• CTSC-involved events (recaps); and 
• community organizations that we partner with. 

We also launched a REDI Consultation service to support researchers with building diverse, equitable, and inclusive research programs and studies. Read about the first consultation experience here. 

Submitted by: Gelise Thomas, JD MS

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for outstanding or groundbreaking work? Is your institution embarking on an exciting project? Send ACTS your story to be highlighted in future versions of the ACTS Connection.

Career Center

The ACTS Career Center is the premier resource for connecting those in the field of translational science with career opportunities. Visit today to find a wealth of resources to help achieve your career goals.

ACTS members receive a 50% discount on the site—use code ACTSMEMBER to save!

JCTS Featured Article

Check out this article on the conference proceedings at Translational Science 2022!

Translational Science 22 Conference Proceedings

Elina E. Pliakos, Laneisha K. Tague, Roy E. Poblete

Published online 12 July 2022

Translational Science Today

Dr. Harriet Kluger Named Vice Chair, Translational Research

Harriet Kluger, MD, Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Internal Medicine (Oncology) and Professor of Dermatology, has been named vice chair, Translational Research for the Department of Internal Medicine, effective immediately. This new...

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medicine.yale.edu