Letter from the President

Dear ACTS members,

I missed seeing you in Milwaukee, but I hear attendees had a fabulous time! I am looking forward to reconnecting next April in Washington, DC, where Translational Science will be on April 20-23. And yes, for those who have asked, there’s a good chance that I will bring back the bubble wands. 

We have  big plans for the society this year. In support of that, I want to welcome our new board of directors: Elizabeth Burner, Orlando Gutiérrez, Vanessa Jacoby, Jareen Meinzen-Derr, and Jen Kraschniewski as Secretary. In addition, Heidi Spratt and Joy Balls-Berry are beginning their second terms on the board. I am incredibly thankful to all of those serving on the board and committees, as well as those who participate in special interest groups. These teams bring incredible richness to our society.

I also want to encourage everyone to become familiar with Tradewing, the communication platform we use for the groups above. I myself recently discovered that Tradewing has a phone app. That’s made it even easier to keep up with the special interest groups, committees, and even working groups I’m on. There will also be future opportunities to more fully engage with Tradewing for our volunteer and members alike.

You probably noticed that I alluded to big plans but didn’t tell you what those plans are. That’s called a teaser. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, take some time to support yourself just as you support others. Your work matters, and you matter.

In community,

Felicity T. Enders, PhD, MPH

ACTS President

ACTS Updates

Mark your Calendar: Translational Science 2027

Enjoyed your Translational Science 2026 experience? Bummed you missed it? Start making your plans to attend next year! The premier annual gathering for clinical and translational science returns to Washington, DC in 2027. Get ready for more opportunities to network and learn, as well as added opportunities to get involved with ACTS' advocacy efforts right on Capitol Hill.

Translational Science 2027 will take place April 20-23, 2027. Stay tuned for further announcements on abstract submissions, award nominations, registration and more!

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New Leadership at ACTS

The Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) is delighted to celebrate leadership transitions and new members to our Board of Directors. At Translational Science 2026, Felicity T. Enders, PhD assumed the role of ACTS' President. Allan Brasier, MD completed his term as the President for ACTS. He will now serve as Past President until Translational Science 2027. We are grateful for his leadership, dedication, and vision.

Also at Translational Science 2026, Jennifer L. Kraschnewski, MD, MPH joined the ACTS Board of Directors as Secretary, and Elizabeth Burner, MD, MPH, PhD, Orlando M. Gutiérrez, MD, MMSc, Vanessa Jacoby, MD, MAS, and Jareen Meinzen-Derr, PhD, MPH, FACE stepped into the role of Director at Large.

The board is representative of the scope and expertise of our profession and will provide strategic guidance and prudent governance of ACTS for the next year. Please join us in welcoming our 2026-2027 ACTS Board of Directors! 

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Celebrating the Inaugural Fellows of ACTS

As part of the Translational Science 2026 festivities, ACTS had the honor of inducting our inaugural cohort of the Fellows of ACTS (FACTS). These individuals were selected for their exemplary achievements in the field of clinical and translational science, as well as their contributions and lasting impacts to ACTS. Join us in congratulating this group of leaders and innovators as they continue to drive advancements in human health!

ACTS members will have a chance to nominate their colleagues to be among the next to receive the FACTS designation later this year. Stay tuned for further announcements.

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Stories from our Members

Study links cancer metabolism to DNA replication errors

Loss of an enzyme necessary for a process called lipoylation disrupts the way cancer cells copy their DNA, increasing their vulnerability to a class of anticancer drugs known as PARP inhibitors, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. The findings, published in Science Advances, reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism to protect DNA replication and genome stability that could lead to new treatments for some cancers.

“This study shows that metabolism doesn’t just fuel cancer cells – it also directly shapes how DNA is copied and protected. This helps explain why inhibiting lipoylation could make tumors especially sensitive to PARP inhibitors,” said Yuanyuan “Faith” Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and a member of the Experimental Therapeutics Research Program in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern. Dr. Zhang co-led the study with first author Zengfu Shang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology in the Zhang Lab.

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Engage with ACTS

Special Interest Groups

ACTS offers its members the opportunity to participate in Special Interest Groups (SIGs) related to the field of clinical research and translational science. SIGs connect individuals who share similar goals and interests, providing a channel to network and participate in knowledge and resource sharing among peers.

Career Center

We're excited to announce a quality of use upgrade for the ACTS Career Center! We have added a dual single sign on option for our Career Center. Your current membership login credentials now allow you to log directly into our Career Center. Try it out here.

Don't forget ACTS members get a 50% discount on job postings - just use code ACTSMEMBER to save!