March 2021
Issue 1
Letter From the President
We are all really busy finding ways to prevent and treat Covid-19 while solving the research problems that were present before. We have been working on it for a year and we have made astounding progress. The massive mobilization of our workforce has made a difference to the course of the pandemic. It is remarkable what we have achieved together. It has been hard, we have learned lessons, and we know there is a long way to go. Much remains unknown, and our acute response is pivoting to tackle the long-term health consequences of not only Covid, but also racism and inequity. It is up to us to sustain the momentum, and we will continue to race towards a healthier future. We will be able to do so because we were primed.
The team science and multidisciplinary problem solving that are central to clinical and translational research were critical for designing and implementing complex multi-site and international platform trials, navigating the ethical and regulatory frameworks for doing clinical research with restricted access to participants, developing the laboratory systems needed to collect and process specimens to inform discovery research, and joining data from highly disparate organizations and sources. This is an incredible national resource, and the ability to respond to the pandemic is a worthy reflection on those who have had the vision to invest in our foundational clinical research infrastructures. Maintaining and growing a trained workforce, integrating novel methods and processes into institutional infrastructures, and sustaining a portfolio of innovation and discovery requires the coordination that can only be achieved when a robust clinical and translational research infrastructure is a priority. While the outcomes may not always be easily tangible, the agility of our community to pivot and innovate to solve real-time research problems despite organizational complexity is a clear result.
When I mentioned team science, I want to emphasize the magnitude and quality of the teams. The best way to understand what I mean is by attending Translational Science. It is the one venue where the entire depth and breadth of our clinical and translational research community can be found in one place, learning and leading together. The meeting is designed to build bridges and break barriers. Attendees span academics, federal agencies, and industry. It is a place for trainees and scholars to connect with department chairs and deans, where data scientists and social scientists examine common problems through a team lens, where regulatory professionals and investigators develop new pathways for discovery that protect participants, where researchers working with the community engage with laboratory scientists to better align the science with community health priorities, and where administrators and faculty are building the business and operations of research together. We celebrate the nation’s top clinical research discoveries and practice changing innovations. It is an astounding display of our national research infrastructure treasure.
As we enter our second year of the pandemic and we take some satisfaction in what we have accomplished, I encourage you to join me and over a thousand of your colleagues at Translational Science 2021. Discover what it takes for a nation to tackle a pandemic. Challenge yourself to attend sessions that might offer different ways of thinking, and to connect with strangers, as well as friends. Consider exploring how diversity of backgrounds and perspectives lends strength to complex problem solving. I also encourage you to reflect on what it will truly take to achieve health for all, and ask whether you are ready to join us in strengthening our clinical and translational research ecosystem. If you are, reach out to us and we will connect
Christopher John Lindsell, PhD
ACTS President
Translational Science 2021: There's Still Time to Register
While we may not be able to gather in-person this year, we can still come together as a community to break barriers and build bridges across clinical research and science at Translational Science 2021!
Register now to experience a can't-miss scientific program, virtual poster hall, and insightful presentations from 145 key scholars and leaders March 30—April 2.
View the full schedule of events and register today!
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!
Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
Volume 4 / Issue 6 of the Journal of Clinical and Translational is now available online!
Visit our website for more information on the journal and how you can submit a manuscript. Submit your article today to be featured in future issues of JCTS!
Translational Science Today
LITTLE ROCK - The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has received an $800,000 grant from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services Temporary Assistance for Needed Families program....
Read more
news.uams.edu