Great Plains IDeA-CTR - PROJECT SUMMARY – OVERALL The Great Plains IDeA Clinical and Translational Research Network (GP IDeA-CTR-N) advances the PAR- 23-241–aligned infrastructure uniting rural and urban partners to accelerate discovery and improve health outcomes across a region where geographic and access barriers limit care. Established in 2016 and led by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) with partners across Nebraska and neighboring IDeA states, the network has built enduring capacity in governance, infrastructure, workforce, and community engagement. Over the past cycle, GP IDeA-CTR-N became a regional hub for translational research, launching 200+ pilot projects, mentoring 70+ early-career investigators, and securing major NIH and federal awards. Collaborations with national CTRs, CTSAs, and NIH advanced best practices, team science, and competitiveness. This renewal transitions the program from a U54 to a P50 funding mechanism, reflecting maturity, sustain- ability, and national leadership readiness. Specific Aims are: 1) expand a cohesive, multidisciplinary network of academic, clinical, and community partners; 2) strengthen the CTR workforce; 3) support community-driven research on regional health priorities; and 4) build an interoperable data infrastructure to accelerate discovery. These aims are guided by NIGMS, partner institutions, advisory bodies, and a Community Advisory Board. The P50 transition strengthens impact by consolidating BERD and BIBCE into the Research Design, Compliance, and Data Management (RDCD) Core; integrating Tracking and Evaluation into the Administrative Core; and forming the Health Research (HR) Core from the Pilot Projects Program. Oversight by Steering, Executive, and External Advisory Committees ensures progress and accountability. The GP IDeA-CTR-N unites partners from the Nebraska University System (UNMC, UNO, UNL, UNK), Boys Town National Research Hospital, Creighton University, Children’s Nebraska, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa, and Nebraska Medicine, fostering robust university, hospital, and community collaboration. It engages IDeA collaborators across states to extend its reach and enable multi-institutional research. The network powers key innovations, including NIH ODSS Data COUNTS; the TRIAD initiative for data science and Artificial Intelligence; and the Team Science Mentoring Committee, which develops leadership pathways across the CTR workforce. With a 104-site PBRN, FHIR-HL7 integration, and secure, reusable data, the network delivers the region’s first comprehensive Learning Health System. The interoperable infrastructure offers secure data sharing, rapid cohort discovery, decentralized trials, and efficient research translation. The network expands workforce capacity through tiered training, career development, and digital health curricula, while strengthening community partnerships through co-design. Strengthened by IDeA, CTR-D, and CTSA collaborations, the GP IDeA-CTR-N accelerates discovery, improves care, and serves as a national model for health innovation.
