August 2020 | CTSC Newsletter
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Heidi Gullett receives OAFP 2020 Family Physician of the Year Award
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) has bestowed its 2020 Family Physician of the Year Award to current CTSC KL2 Scholar and Medical Director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Heidi Gullett, MD, MPH!
The OAFP annually presents the Family Physician of the Year Award to an individual who meets and exceeds the criteria of being an outstanding family physician. Other criteria includes maintaining high professional standards and service orientations; providing high quality and family-centered continuing health care; and being active in their community. Read more about this honor on the OAFP website.
Heidi's KL2 research mentors and program leadership have this to say about her achievement:
This award recognizes Heidi's constant quest for fairness in her tireless work with patients, families, and community. She is an inspiring leader and human being.
Kurt C. Stange, MD, PhD
CTSC KL2 Research Mentor
It is a true privilege to work with Dr. Gullet, an authentic leader in the field of medicine. She is a true inspiration to those healthcare providers to strive to make a significant and meaningful difference in our community. It will be even more exciting to work with her as a KL2 scholar.
Ruth Farrell, MD, MA
CTSC KL2 Career Mentor
Dr. Gullett is a caring physician, an innovative scientist and a true servant leader. Her leadership as COVID-19 incident commander for the Cuyahoga County Department of Health has been exemplary. She brings people together at a time when we need unity. She is most deserving of this award.
Al Connors, MD
CTSC KL2 Leadership
We are very excited for Dr. Gullett on receiving this honor and we are certainly not surprised. When she applied for our KL2 program, she stood out among many qualified applicants from healthcare institutions across the city. We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber in our program.
Raed Dweik, MD
CTSC KL2 Principal Investigator
Congratulations, Dr. Gullet!
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In Cuyahoga County, Gullett leads the incident command for the local coronavirus response, overseeing a team of 50 people. Under her guidance, the Board of Health has developed a complex system of contact tracing and cluster identification of COVID-19 cases using board staff and Case Western Reserve University students. And in recent months, it’s a model that has been replicated throughout the country.
“If there ever was a time for public health to rise to the occasion, it’s now,” said Gullett, who holds the Charles Kent Smith, MD and Patricia Hughes Moore, MD Professorship in Medical Student Education in Family Medicine at Case Western Reserve.
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Congratulations to the Inaugural Translational Fellows Program 2020-2021 Cohort
This summer saw the launch of the CWRU Translational Fellows Programs (TFP). This program was designed to train individuals in entrepreneurship and translation and connect the fellows to existing programs and workshops around campus while protecting their time to actively participate in entrepreneurial activities designed to translation technology developed at CWRU and/or our affiliates. We are excited to formally introduce them to the community as our 2020-2021 fellows:
Ben Clayton, PhD, School of Medicine
Denise Dewald, MD, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Eun Kyung Lee, PhD, School of Medicine
Chhavi Jain, PhD, Cleveland Clinic
Jessica Scarborough, School of Medicine
Jose-Andres Portillo, MD, School of Medicine
Selva Jeganathan, PhD, School of Medicine
Samantha Oblander, PhD, School of Medicine
Curtis Merriweather, Jr., Weatherhead School of Management
Dhruv Seshadri, Case School of Engineering
Zachary Eschweiler, College of Arts and Sciences
Yehe Liu, School of Medicine
This diverse group of fellows brings many different backgrounds, areas of expertise and technologies to the cohort. We look forward to watching all of our fellows grow through this experience over the next year.
The TFP is sponsored by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Cleveland Clinic, and the Clinical & Translational Science Collaborative of Cleveland.
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The Racial Disparity, Social Justice and the Opioid Crisis Live Webinar Series Runs August through November 2020
Examining Disparities Requires Action: Structural Racism, Healthcare Disparity and the Opioid Crisis
August 22, 2020 3-5 PM EST
Yvonka Hall, MPA Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
Zinzi Bailey, SCD, MSPH University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Jay Weiss Institute for Health Equity
Pooja Lagisetty, MD, MSc Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School and Research Investigator at the Center for Clinical Management and Research, Ann Arbor VA
Trauma, Mental Health and Substance Use
September 10, 2020 10-11:30 AM EST
Valerie Alloy, PhD Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Early Childhood Lead Administrator
Alissa Huth-Bocks, PhD, IMH-E Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Center
Christina Delos Reyes, MD Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Director, Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship and Addiction Services, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
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The 6th Annual North Coast Conference on Precision Medicine is Going Virtual
This Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology symposium will be held the afternoons of August 31 and September 1, 2020. This year's theme is "Polygenic Risk Scores in Precision Medicine: Predictably Unpredictable in Diverse Populations".
Registration is free but required to receive the Zoom link via email days prior to the event.
We hope to see you there!
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Register Now for the Artificial Intelligence in Oncology 2020 Virtual Symposium: Advancing Science and Policy
This symposium on October 19-20, 2020, presented by the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Computational Imaging and Personalized Diagnostics, will feature an impressive lineup of speakers from a variety of institutions - academic and commercial - providing unique perspectives on how AI and machine learning are impacting the major areas of radiology, pathology and -omics in the contexts of precision medicine approaches for characterizing tumors and predicting therapeutic response.
Beyond the science, attendees will be able to network virtually and enjoy a special session highlighting some of the brightest rising stars in the field of AI in oncology, selected from abstract submissions. Please encourage your students, postdocs, residents and fellows to submit abstracts.
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The CTSC can provide investigators with awareness of regulatory requirements and acceptable standards for the conduct of clinical trials and the protection of human subjects. A primary goal of regulatory and compliance is to help reduce regulatory burden for investigators. We can help investigators understand the function of the FDA and investigator responsibilities for those pursuing or holding Investigational New Drug (IND) applications or Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE) or those investigators conducting research under and IND or IDE.
Request the CTSC's
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Impact of COVID-19 on the Clinical Research Professional Workspace: Perspectives across the CTSC |
We are all witnessing the immense impact that the COVID-19 situation is having on research activities across our institutions. The CTSC is particularly interested in how this pandemic is affecting clinical research professionals (CRPs) across the spectrum. We surveyed our CTSC-affiliated CRPs seeking to gain feedback and insight from their first-hand experiences. The CRPs who shared their perspectives included staff from the IRBs, grants and contracts offices, clinical research management, and other areas of research administration representing Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth Medical Center, and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.
The universal theme in the responses received from our CRPs was adaptability. All areas of research administration reacted to the pandemic restrictions immediately to ensure staff safety while maintaining essentially uninterrupted service to the investigators and research teams in our community. While researchers were halting or modifying operations, our institutions were processing the changes and assisting investigators in navigating new options like electronic consent, shipping study drugs to participants, and starting in-home research visits. Most staff and committee operations were successfully transitioned to remote conduct, observing some extra benefits associated with the shift. We also collected perspectives on the most common challenges faced by investigators.
For more details, read the full article to see the combined summaries of the feedback from our CRPs.
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Drs. Clara Pelfrey (top) and Kelli Qua (bottom) lead the evaluation efforts of the CTSC program.
CTSC Program Evaluation integrates data tracking and evaluation for all CTSC research components and training cores, and incorporates a utilization-focused, participatory, and methodologically flexible approach which is based on the CDC Framework for Program Evaluation and the American Evaluation Association Program Evaluation Standards. We are actively involved in all levels of CTSA evaluation, from national to community-based, and are available to consult with investigators on services such as developing data collection instruments, social network analysis data collection, bibliometric analysis, and more.
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Evaluating Translational Science Training through Bibliometric Analysis of Mentored-K Awardees at CWRU |
Evaluating clinical and translational research (CTR) mentored training programs is challenging because no two programs are alike. Clara Pelfrey, PhD and Kelli Qua, PhD took to the task of comparing bibliometrics between individuals and between programs and have published their results in the Journal of Clinical & Translational Science.
The KL2 program provides mentored-training for early stage CTR investigators. Clinical and Translational Awards (CSTAs) across the country have unique KL2 programs. The evaluation of KL2 programs has begun to incorporate bibliometrics to measure KL2 scholar and program impact. This study investigated demographic differences in bibliometric performance and post-K award funding of KL2 scholars and compared the bibliometric performance and post-K award federal funding of KL2 scholars and other mentored-K awardees at the same institution. Data for this study included SciVal and iCite bibliometrics and NIH RePORTER grant information for mentored-K awardees (K08, K23, and KL2) at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) between 2005 and 2013.
Results showed no demographics differences within the KL2 program scholars. Bibliometric differences between KL2 and other mentored-K awardee indicated an initial KL2 advantage for the number of publications at five years post-matriculation (i.e., the start of the K-award). Regression analyses indicated the number of initial publications was a significant predictor of federal grant funding at the same time point. Analysis beyond the five-year post matriculation point did not result in a sustained, significant KL2-advantage.
Factors that contributed to the grant funding advantage need to be determined. Additionally, differences between translational and clinical bibliometrics must be interpreted with caution and appropriate metrics for translational science must be established.
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Dr. Nicole Ward is professor of Nutrition, Dermatology, and Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Ward received CTSC Core Utilization grant funding that was critical to the development of the KLK6+ transgenic mice. "We used this funding to pay the costs associated with the pronuclear injections of transgenic DNA performed at the Case Transgenic and Targeting Core Facility," says Dr. Ward. "Once we had engineered and characterized the mice, we were able to leverage these initial pilot funds into a much larger $3.5 million NIH R01 entitled "Kallikrein-PAR interactions in skin inflammation”.
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Research Uncovers Connections between Psoriasis and Joint Disease |
Psoriasis is characterized by red, scaly patches that are itchy and painful; it is chronic, incurable and affects 2% to 3% of the population worldwide. The associated condition, psoriatic arthritis, can cause disabling damage to bones and joints. Because that damage also is irreversible, study researchers said it is critical to identify patients with psoriatic arthritis early to prevent further destruction to their bones, tendons and joints.
Dr. Ward and her colleagues, including 20 researchers from Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, the University of Michigan and New York University, found that an overabundance of a protein known as Kallikrein-related peptidase 6, or KLK6, can produce and worsen the skin inflammation characteristic of psoriasis, and—even more significant—that KLK6 can play a key role in damaging the joints and bones of people with the disorder.
The research also revealed that normalizing the level of KLK6 can eliminate skin inflammation and lessen the arthritis-like damage. The research, which used mouse models and patient skin samples, appeared earlier this year in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
This work has also been highlighted as a commentary in Nature Reviews.
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July 2020: CTSC KL2 Scholar graduate, Dr. Kathy Wright, faculty at Ohio State University's Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Brain Injury Program, works with at-risk communities on preventative methods to ward off high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease. In this video, Wright explains the importance of keeping your blood pressure in check, tips for how to do it, and how Ohio State is designing interventions to help the African American community.
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The Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center is a Department of Veterans Affairs Research Center in the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. Learn about grant awardees and more in the APT Newsroom.
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Watch the first I Am Translational Science video; learn about the IDG Program’s new project, Target Watch; find out how tissue chip technology is helping to address the national opioid public health crisis; and more, in the newsletter.
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Single IRB Start-up Packages for Investigators and Study Teams
Let SMART IRB's single IRB start-up packages steer you in the right direction. Download the essential tools, templates, and checklists to help you prepare for and navigate sIRB arrangements for your studies, along with guidance on how, when, and why to use these resources.
These packages are the newest addition to SMART IRB's Single IRB Learning Center, where you'll also find brief (very brief!), informational videos with just-in-time information on the NIH sIRB policy and its effect on research costs, study team roles and responsibilities, and how to select a single IRB.
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Read the CTSA Ansible for CTSA-related news and updates, find links to the COVID-19 Discussion Forum and more!
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News from the Urban Health Initiative |
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Have you received support from the CTSC?
"Cite it and Submit it"
Acknowledge your support by citing our grant in each publication, press release, abstract, or other publication and submitting your publications to PubMed Central – it’s required by the NIH.
The National Institutes of Health requires that investigators who use CTSC resources and services (e.g., REDCap) or receive funding through the CTSC (e.g., pilot grants, KL2/TL1 Scholar Awards) acknowledge that support in publications, press releases, and posters, and comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.
When support from the CTSC will be acknowledged in a publication, the publication must be submitted to PubMed Central to comply with the NIH Public Access Policy. Refer to these sites for submission requirements.
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