Letter from the JCTS Editor
In today’s research landscape, the most impactful advances often emerge from incredibly large and diverse teams. Coordinated networks, consortia, and programmatic initiatives bring together hundreds of individuals across disciplines, sites, and specialties. With that scale comes both opportunity and responsibility: when the time arrives to describe the work in print, authorship must reflect the true contributors while upholding the principles of scientific integrity.
At JCTS, we affirm that authorship is more than a byline—it is a public acknowledgment of accountability, creativity, and stewardship. Ghost authorship, guest authorship, and “authorship for sale” undermine trust in science. To safeguard against these practices, we now require use of the CRediT taxonomy, which transparently details each person’s contribution. This approach helps ensure that everyone—from research professionals to principal investigators—receives recognition proportionate to their role and that accountability is clear to readers. Our shared responsibility is to make authorship an honest record of the scientific process.
We also want to highlight a refinement to our approach to scoping reviews. While scoping reviews can be powerful tools for mapping evidence landscapes, identifying gaps, and shaping new directions, not every review serves this purpose. To ensure that JCTS publishes reviews that advance translational science, we now request that authors wishing to submit scoping review manuscripts submit for prior approval to ensure a fit with JCTS priorities. We prioritize topics that illuminate barriers in translation, map infrastructure or methods across networks, and propose clear next steps for research and implementation.
These updates reflect our ongoing commitment to clarity, fairness, and rigor in scientific publishing. They also reflect our belief that journals must not only curate knowledge but also model the values that sustain it. Thank you for your continued dedication to ethical, impactful, and collaborative science.
Chris Lindsell, PhD
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
ACTS Updates
Translational Science 2026: Call for Proposals
Don't forget that our Call for Proposals for Translational Science 2026 is now open! Apply to be part of next year's educational programming with either a scientific session or poster. Submissions for scientific sessions will be accepted until September 22, 2025, and the call for poster abstracts will remain open until October 20, 2025. A full list of topics that will be considered along with instructions for submitting your proposal can be found on our website.
Translational Science 2026 will be held in Milwaukee, WI from April 20-23, 2026. Mark your calendars so you can be part of our next celebration of progress!
Submit Your Proposal
Partner News
News from the Hill
Congress began to actively push back on administration efforts to reorganize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and disrupt grant and program funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) led a group of thirteen Republicans that sent correspondence to the administration sternly asking that FY25 NIH funding be distributed as intended. Shortly after the letter was sent, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up its FY26 L-HHS Appropriations Bill and reported the measure out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Senate bill calls for increasing NIH funding by $400 million and level-funds nearly all other HHS programs while maintaining existing agency structure and line items.
Read More
"News from the Hill" briefings are generously provided by our advocacy partners from the Health and Medicine Counsel.
Alzheimer's Association 2025 Health Equity Impact Report: Fostering Collaboration and Understanding
The Alzheimer's Association is pleased to share their 2025 Health Equity Impact Report, entitled "Fostering Collaboration and Understanding." This report highlights the association's ongoing efforts to ensure equitable brain health and dementia care for all communities. The report documents wide-ranging initiatives to promote early diagnosis, risk reduction, and quality care for everyone affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. It also features stories from across the country showcasing partnerships, programs, and strategies that are advancing health equity. Read the full report online through the link below!
Read More
Stories from our Members
Bariatric Surgery Lightens Load of Diabetes Care
Bariatric surgery doesn’t just help patients manage their type 2 diabetes. It can also save them thousands of dollars in health care costs over the long run, according to new research from Duke University School of Medicine. Analyzing data from over 25,000 adults, researchers revealed surgical patients saved almost $2,500 a year, and their health care costs were lower than non-surgical patients for 5.5 years after the weight loss procedure.
Read More
New Wireless Sweat Patch May Improve Cystic Fibrosis Treatment
A new wireless and wearable device developed by Northwestern Medicine scientists, in collaboration with Northwestern University spinout company, Epicore Biosystems, measures specific biomarkers in a person’s sweat with similar accuracy to standard testing methods and has the potential to improve clinical decision-making for cystic fibrosis, as detailed in a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Read More
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
Online | September 10, 2025
Online | September 16, 2025
Online | October 6, 2025
Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA | October 22-24, 2025
*Promoted event; Not hosted by ACTS