June 2025
Issue 2
Letter from the JCTS Editor
I am frequently asked whether a particular article is suitable for our journal, and a common follow-up question is, "What is clinical and translational science?" At its core, clinical and translational science focuses on translating discoveries into improved health outcomes. The field aims to understand how to transfer research findings into practical applications - such as clinics, communities, policies, and practices - where they can have a significant impact.
However, it is not merely about accelerating this process; it is about optimizing it. Translational science seeks to identify obstacles that impede progress. It examines barriers that slow or distort the movement of evidence through the system, including trial bottlenecks, communication silos, implementation inefficiencies, and outcome inequities. Importantly, it poses the question: "What can we do differently?" and then follows up to test whether hypothesized benefits are realized when changes are implemented.
Clinical and translational science is inherently interdisciplinary. It encompasses methodologists developing improved study designs, informaticians enhancing data pipelines, community partners co-creating interventions, health system leaders testing changes at scale, and regulatory scientists ensuring safety and trust. Clinical and translational science bridges laboratory discoveries with human health and policy ideas with patient impact.
Significantly, clinical and translational science is not confined to any specific disease area or clinical domain. It represents the science of how we conduct scientific research and how we ensure its relevance and impact.
At JCTS, we take pride in being the leading journal of this field. We publish research addressing the full spectrum - from early-phase studies to pragmatic trials, from workforce development to data equity, and from stakeholder engagement to system transformation. Our priority is on work that demonstrates real-world relevance and practical insight. We welcome both successes and lessons learned.
If you are working towards improving how evidence is generated, interpreted, applied, or sustained, you are part of clinical and translational science. There is a place for your contributions here.
Chris Lindsell, PhD
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
ACTS Updates
TIER SIG Grand Rounds with Antonio A. Bush, PhD
Don't forget to join the Translational & Integrative Engagement in Research (TIER) SIG (formerly the JEDI SIG) for their next Grand Rounds webinar on Wednesday, July 2 at 12:00pm ET. Guest speaker Antonio A. Brown, PhD, will host a collaborative session on how to navigate the challenges of the evolving EDI research landscape. Save your spot by registering today!
ACTS Digital Badging Pilot Expanded
In case you missed it: the pilot for the ACTS Digital Badging Program has been expanded! This means all ACTS members, regardless of SIG affiliation, are eligible to earn our brand new Team Science Fundamentals badge. Take advantage of this opportunity to be among the first to earn this credential, and help us build the foundations of the ACTS digital badging program.
Instructions for taking part in the pilot and earning this badge can be found on our website. Once you've completed the required trainings for the badge and our team has verified your proof of completion, you will receive an email from Credly with instructions to claim your new badge. Questions? Email us at info@actscience.org!
Partner News
News from the Hill
Congress has begun marking up bills for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations process. True to form, the House is moving on bills before the Senate and has started with the easier bills while planning to progress to more difficult bills later. The House Appropriations Committee is currently scheduled to mark up its Labor-HHS-Education measure (which provides funding for NIH, ARPA-, CDC etc) on July 24, just ahead of the August recess. Thus far, the House Appropriations Committee has considered the Veterans Affairs, and related agencies (MilCon-VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). The Committee paused the markup for agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies (Ag-FDA) before fully approving the measure on June 24. The House bills provide relatively stable funding and advance some emerging administration priorities.
"News from the Hill" briefings are generously provided by our advocacy partners at the Health and Medicine Counsel.
Stories from our Members
SC CTSI Statistician Helps Reveal Key Biomechanical Factors in Elbow Pitching Injuries
A new study co-authored by SC CTSI biostatistician Choo Phei Wee is shedding new light on the biomechanics behind elbow injuries in baseball pitchers. Collaborating with researchers from the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California, the team analyzed data from 87 NCAA Division I pitchers to identify key physical and mechanical factors that contribute to high elbow torque—a major risk factor for ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries. By using advanced statistical methods, the study moves beyond isolated variables to examine how combinations of strength, flexibility, and body mechanics influence injury risk.
Taking the pressure out of intubation
"Pressure injuries" from intubation can be painful, and sometimes even require plastic surgery to fix, making the hospital stay even more complicated for patients who are already facing serious illness.
But now, a group of UNC researchers is trying to make these complications a thing of the past through a project coordinated by FastTraCS, the biomedical engineering and commercialization division of the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences (NC TraCS) Institute. The team is developing a mouthguard that could secure an endotracheal tube without putting pressure on a person's skin—helping to limit the potential for complications during this life-saving procedure.
Want to see your institution's stories featured in this section? Head to our new story submission form to share your recent articles!
Engage with ACTS
Share your Stories
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 using this form to be highlighted in future issues of the ACTS Connection.
Learning Library
The ACTS Learning Library is the centralized location for all ACTS educational offerings, including partner webinars and past Translational Science recordings. ACTS members receive complimentary access to webinars and recordings.
Upcoming Events
TIER SIG Grand Rounds: Looking Back, Being Present, and Moving Forward: Reflections and Pathways Toward EDI Research
Online | July 2, 2025
Pragmatic Research Planning Workshop*
CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO | August 22, 2025
Online | September 5, 2025
*Promoted event; Not hosted by ACTS