September 2025
Issue 2
Letter from the JCTS Editor
When I was young, I never thought I would end up doing one of the hardest jobs in the world. Navigating highly regulated environments under constant scrutiny while striving to create, innovate, and disrupt is a tightrope to walk. Yet along the way I have had the opportunity to do some remarkably interesting things. Today, I spent time with experts in commercialization learning about inventorship. Yesterday, I was with lawyers, appreciating how substantial a subtle change in wording can be. On Monday, I was developing a strategic plan for a new research group—work that quickly evolved into a business plan and a pitch deck. Later this week, I will be knee-deep in cybersecurity, mentoring, and human resources, all while remembering that my human subjects training is due.
Some days, the volume of these activities makes it feel as though I am not doing research at all. Those are the days my mind turns to problem solving: What can I automate? Are there different ways of doing things that could be more efficient? How do I prepare a workforce for rapidly changing science? What technology solutions would make translation faster, better, and less burdened by unnecessary steps? Perhaps it is the engineer in me, but when I see the process map for a clinical trial, I see redundancies everywhere. Some have a clear purpose. Many are artefacts of history and laggards to change. For more than a decade, regulatory agencies have encouraged risk-based approaches. Guidance for clinical trials emphasizes that activities should be fit for purpose and free of undue burden. Yet as a community, we often resist change. Today, the drivers for transformation are aligning.
This is an exciting moment for clinical and translational science. As we pivot research programs, redirect institutional resources, and set new directions for the years ahead, I encourage you to approach this work systematically. Learn from what did and did not succeed. Evaluate the journey from discovery to practice, and assess the true value of what we do. Share evidence of both implementation and de-implementation. And consider JCTS as a venue for disseminating those insights.
Finally, I invite you to think not only about the science of translation, but about the science of dissemination itself. How might we disrupt the publication process to serve today’s society better? Addressing that question may be among the hardest—and most important—jobs of all.
Chris Lindsell, PhD
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
ACTS Updates
Coming Soon: FACTS
At Translational Science 2025, ACTS proudly announced plans to release a new Fellows of ACTS (FACTS) program, a premier membership program for individuals who have made substantial contributions to and service within the clinical and translational science field. After months of planning and consulting with volunteers from the community, we are thrilled to announce that nominations to be part of the inaugural cohort of FACTS will open on Wednesday, October 1!
ACTS members in good standing who have contributed at least 10 years of substantial service to the field of clinical and translation science are eligible for nomination. More details regarding the nomination process, including materials to submit and judging criteria, can be found on our new FACTS webpage. We look forward to seeing your nomination!
Translational Science 2026: Call for Poster Abstracts
Thank you to everyone who submitted a Scientific Session proposal for Translational Science 2026. Didn't submit for a session but still want to be part of our educational programming? Our call for Poster Abstracts is still open! Showcase your research as part of the evening poster receptions, a marquee event of the meeting each year. Don't forget to visit our website for submission rules and a list of eligible topics. The portal to submit your abstract is open until Monday, October 20, so don't miss out!
Translational Science 2026 will be held in Milwaukee, WI from April 20-23, 2026. Stay tuned for more information on awards, travel, and registration coming over the next few months.
ACTS Collaborative SIG Webinar - Digital Strategies for Scientific Success
The ACTS Scholar and TREATS Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are teaming up for a live webinar, "Digital Strategies for Scientific Success: Tools, Mentorship, and Communication in the Modern Age." This session will cover digital strategies you can use to leverage your scientific career, including video content, digital credentials, and more. Watch this webinar live on Tuesday, October 28 beginning at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Save your spot by registering through the link below!
Partner News
News from the Hill
After returning from the August congressional recess, the House moved forward with a markup of its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor-HHS-Education (L-HHS) Bil. While the bill took a more muted approach than the Senate (which aggressively pushed back on several administration proposals), it similarly did not reorganize NIH, create a new public health agency nor reduce funding for HHS by 20%. Rather, the bill increased NIH funding by $100 million and cut HHS by 6% through the elimination of funding for programs that are viewed as progressive. In fact, the House increased a number of accounts that it prioritizes, and where these increases land and their size will form the basis of upcoming negotiations with the House. These House increases included a $25 million increase for the Institutional Development Awards (IDeA).
"News from the Hill" briefings are generously provided by our advocacy partners from the Health and Medicine Counsel.
Stories from our Members
Innovative approach helps new mothers get hepatitis C treatment
Hepatitis C, a bloodborne virus that damages the liver, can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death if left untreated. Despite the availability of highly effective treatments, the prevalence of hepatitis C infection remains high, particularly among women of childbearing age, who account for more than one-fifth of chronic hepatitis C infections globally. Within this group, new mothers are especially vulnerable because treatment has traditionally required outpatient follow-up appointments during the challenging postpartum period.
Now, a new study on an innovative clinical program developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that giving postpartum mothers with hepatitis C the opportunity to start antiviral treatment while they are still in the hospital after giving birth, and bringing treatment to bedside prior to discharge, significantly increases their odds of completing the therapy and being cured.
Protein Found in the Eye and Blood Significantly Associated with Cognition Scores - May serve as a biomarker for the detection of mild cognitive impairment, early dementia
While prior reports have suggested a link between Slit Guidance Ligand 2 (SLIT2) protein levels and late-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, these findings have not been validated by a current commercially available SLIT2 immunoassay. Additionally, there is no currently published data on SLIT2 protein levels in an early-onset dementia population.
A new study by researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center has shown that in middle-aged individuals, there is a significant association between levels of SLIT2 protein in both vitreous humor (the gel-like substance in the eye) and plasma (blood) and neurocognitive test scores. This is the first study to report relative concentrations of SLIT2 in vitreous and plasma and establish an association between SLIT2 levels from both sources with cognitive function.
Want to see your institution's stories featured in this section? Head to our new story submission form to share your recent articles!
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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
AAMC Webinar - Rethinking ‘Race’ to Reconstruct Research Practices: Introducing Population-Conscious Analysis*
Online | October 6, 2025
2025 Fall CTSA Program Annual Meeting*
Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA | October 22-24, 2025
Scholar & TREATS SIG Webinar - Digital Strategies for Scientific Success: Tools, Mentorship, and Communication in the Modern Age
Online | October 28, 2025
*Promoted event; Not hosted by ACTS