September 2026
Issue 1
Letter from the President
Dear ACTS Members,
First, I know many of you are working hard to finish proposals for sessions for Translational Science. Thank you!!! The meeting is impactful precisely because we receive so many excellent session proposals.
As you work on your proposals, please consider whether your session would have particular value for our mid-career members. Allan Brasier and I were awarded a U13 conference grant from NCATS to increase our offerings for mid-career translational scientists. In this case, mid-career might be thought of as either K alums or anyone in the Associate Professor phase. TS27 session proposals will have a place for you to check “mid-career” to show your session aligns.
As we talk about TS27, I want to close with an apology. TS27 is timed such that it overlaps with Passover. I know this is very hard for some of our members, and I want to share that this choice was incredibly challenging. For those who attend despite this conflict, we are looking to host a Seder on site at TS27. Those who practice Judaism will be given priority for the Seder, followed by those who don’t personally practice but would like to participate.
ACTS continues to be a community in which we can each be our authentic selves, celebrate our differences, and let our differences help bring us together.
In translational community,
Felicity T. Enders, PhD, MPH
ACTS President
ACTS Updates
Translational Science 2027: Scientific Session Proposals Close September 14
The deadline for your Translational Science 2027 session proposals is right around the corner! The call for scientific session proposals will close on Monday, September 14 at 11:59 PM CT. This marks your last chance to submit your ideas for panels and workshops to be included in our next educational program. Don't wait; visit our website for submission instructions and a full list of accepted topics. Remember that the call for poster abstracts will stay open until Monday, October 19.
Translational Science 2027 will be held in Washington, DC from April 20-23, 2027. Keep checking back here for more updates about the meeting, including registration, awards, and keynote speakers, as they become available!
JCTS Call for Papers: The Qualitative Dimensions of Translational Science
The Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (JCTS) is seeking manuscripts for a new thematic issue, "The Qualitative Dimensions of Translational Science." The issue will focus on ways to enhance the value of qualitative approaches in clinical and translational science, highlighting innovation, theory development, methodological rigor and translational impact. Accepted manuscript types and additional requirements can be found on the JCTS website. Submissions for the thematic issue are being accepted until May 31, 2027.
Have an exiting idea for a manuscript outside of this issue? Learn how you can submit your research year-round and gain visibility through one of science's fastest growing open access journals!
NIH Releases Draft Policy on Sharing Summary Level Study Results with Clinical Research Participants for Public Comment
Research participants are at the heart of the NIH mission to transform discovery into health. By volunteering to take part in research, participants are key partners in the success of the biomedical research enterprise by helping to advance scientific understanding, improve treatments, and shape a healthier future for everyone.
To uphold our commitment to our partners in research, NIH is announcing a new policy proposal to ensure research participants receive the results of the studies they participate in.
All are encouraged to comment on NIH’s Draft Policy for Sharing Summary Level Study Results with Clinical Research Participants. Comments on the Draft Policy will be accepted until October 26, 2026, and must be submitted through the online comment form found at: https://osp.od.nih.gov/comment-form-draft-sharing-summary-results-policy/.
Additional information on NIH’s approach to the sharing of summary level and individual level study results with clinical research participants can also be found on the OSP website.
Questions may be sent to SciencePolicy@od.nih.gov.
Stories from our Members
Ultrasounds, glowing molecules and the brain: A summer in VCU's research labs
Madison Bivins didn't expect to spend her summer studying ultrasound images of hip muscles. A rising sophomore at Old Dominion University majoring in biomedical sciences, she arrived at Virginia Commonwealth University in May with a broad interest in medicine. She left with a specific finding — and a much clearer sense of where her career is headed.
"I had no idea that ultrasounds could be used to look at muscles," Bivins said. "So that was really interesting."
Bivins was one of 16 students accepted into this year's Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program. The intensive nine-week initiative is co-hosted by the Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the VCU Honors College — which has successfully run the summer research program for several decades. High-achieving students from VCU, Old Dominion University and Virginia State University are paired with faculty mentors and embedded in active, state-of-the-art research labs, where they design, execute and prepare to present independent research projects.
Low-carb diet delivers added liver benefits beyond weight loss
There is no shortage of popular diets to try, and they can generally produce weight loss if followed to the letter. But are all diet plans created equal in terms of reducing the cardiometabolic risks that come with obesity, such as Type 2 diabetes and liver disease?
A randomized clinical trial from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests they aren’t, even when they lead to identical amounts of weight loss. Comparing three commonly recommended diet plans, the researchers found that losing weight on any of them improved overall metabolic health in adults with obesity who also had elevated blood sugar and excess fat in their liver — which are important risk factors for developing diabetes. But limiting carbohydrates through a ketogenic diet offered additional benefits for liver health and blood sugar control.
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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!