Saturday, May 3, 2025
5/3/2025
NRSA Training Core - PROJECT SUMMARY – TL1 TRAINING PROGRAM The University of Kentucky (UK) Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) proposes to sustain and enhance the current pre-doctoral and post-doctoral TL1 program, currently in its ninth year of National Institutes of Health (NIH) support. By providing a multidisciplinary training program that integrates trainees across diverse fields and offers rigorous and solid translational research education, the TL1 program has effectively prepared clinicians- and scientists-in-training for careers as leaders in clinical and translational science. The UK TL1 program features substantial collaborations across a robust cohort of productive investigators, a talented pool of qualified applicants, solid infrastructure and strong institutional support. The program takes advantage of the physical juxtaposition of UK’s six health care colleges (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Health Sciences, Dentistry) and key disciplines on the main campus (e.g. Engineering, Social Work, Biology, Psychology, Education) to train scholars across wide-ranging fields necessary for successful clinical and translational research (CTR). The program supports career development of scholars with research interests that cross the lifespan (prenatal through elderly) and the full spectrum of clinical and translational science, including translational, clinical, community/policy studies and CTR methods/processes (e.g., biomedical informatics) focusing on a broad array of health topics. The TL1 trainees are making important contributions to science through published work, and all of the program graduates are actively engaged in CTR. This program and other CCTS-sponsored efforts are engaging underserved students in projects focused on health disparities of Kentucky and the Central Appalachian area. We are requesting renewed NIH support for eight TL1 scholars. The foundation of the proposed program will continue to be practical research experiences within multidisciplinary teams guided by experienced mentors along with educational and training offerings, such as certificate, Master’s and PhD degrees, to ensure successful career development of these future CTR leaders. Scholar competency assessments, based on the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory, serve to guide new program offerings with the theory that trainees who have high confidence in their skills are more likely to pursue a career in CTR. UK CCTS-developed pipeline programs targeting professional and graduate students, including new initiatives to support health equities researchers and trainees from under-represented groups, will ensure the availability of a strong pool of candidates for the TL1 program. In sum, the TL1 program is designed to accelerate career development of future leaders in the translational science workforce who will be prepared to address today’s complex research challenges and spearhead advances in human health. Project Summary/Abstract
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).