April 2025 | CTSC Newsletter

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Hello Everyone!

As we reflect on the continued growth and impact of the CTSC of Northern Ohio, we are proud of the strides we have made in advancing clinical and translational science (CTS) over the past 18 years. Supported by the CTSA grant program and our partner institutions, we have successfully streamlined research processes, nurtured innovation, strengthened community engagement, and built a workforce ready to meet the challenges of today’s research landscape.

This past year, we have also welcomed many enthusiastic new staff members who are passionate about our mission. They are eager to engage with you, whether you are a trainee, faculty member, research staff, or community partner. We are confident that our services, training programs, and resources will support your research efforts and help you make a meaningful impact. If you’re unsure where to begin, our Navigator is always available to assist with your research needs.

Currently, we are focused on completing our Annual Research Performance Progress Report, which allows us to highlight our scientific progress, address significant changes, report on personnel updates, and outline plans for the upcoming budget period. This is an essential component of our ongoing work and provides transparency and accountability as we continue to advance our mission.

Finally, we are excited to promote our Workforce Development & Community Engaged Research efforts, which includes an upcoming event named “Community-Based Research Career Day”. Join us on Wednesday, April 9th, from 9 AM to 1 PM at Cleveland State University’s Glasscock Ballroom, where we will explore career opportunities in community-based research. Actively engaging the community in research strengthens the relationship between researchers and community and leads to improved efficiency and impact of the research. Rural communities in particular are the focus of our planned upcoming year. Join us in this event as the keynote speaker, Edith Parker, DrPH, MPH, from the University of Iowa, will share her expertise in community engagement and the future of public health research.

We are grateful for your continued partnership, and we look forward to collaborating with you to make a lasting impact on the research community and beyond.

Meet the CTSC Team |

Lixin Zhang, PhD, M.Ed.

Assistant Director of

Research Evaluation

Dr. Lixin Zhang joined the CTSC in September 2024 as Assistant Director of Research Evaluation. She holds a Ph.D. in Evaluation Studies and an M.Ed. in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota. With over seven years of experience in program monitoring and evaluation across academic, government, and healthcare settings, she is known for her methodological rigor and her ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. Her work centers on theory-driven, innovative evaluation methodologies that demonstrate program impact. She has led evaluation efforts for numerous federally funded initiatives, including grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, and USDA.

Dr. Zhang has presented her work at international conferences, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) National Evaluation Capacities Conference, where she discussed leveraging network analysis for sustainable learning and global knowledge sharing. She has also led sessions at the American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference, presenting on network analysis in evaluation, visual methods in participatory evaluation, and ethical considerations in program evaluation.

In addition to her applied work, Dr. Zhang serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Health Organization and Management and has contributed to peer-reviewed journals. She is currently preparing her book, Network-Informed Complex Evaluation: Theories, Measurement Models, and Applications of Network Analysis in Program Evaluation, under contract with Springer.

Dr. Zhang is a strong advocate for the transdisciplinary power of evaluation. She states:

“The power of evaluation lies in its transdisciplinary nature, bringing together diverse fields to strengthen evaluation design. By integrating evaluation theories, theories from other disciplines, and appropriate methodologies, it provides a deeper, more accurate understanding of the true impact of programs." With a background that bridges academic training and hands-on evaluation practice, Dr. Zhang is committed to advancing the effectiveness and impact of clinical and translational science through rigorous, systematic evaluation.

Fun Fact: Outside of work, Lixin enjoys practicing yoga, playing badminton, hiking, and indoor climbing. She's also a big fan of animated films and comic books.

Preclinical Proof of Concept Studies for Rare Diseases (R1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) This notice of funding opportunity provides funding to conduct efficacy studies in an established rare disease preclinical model to demonstrate that a proposed therapeutic agent warrants further development. In addition to preclinical efficacy, accompanying pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies would be supported.
Due date: June 02, 2025 (PAR-25-002)

Awards Supporting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Translational Science (ASCETTS) (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) This program supports early-stage proof of concept, high-risk and potentially high-reward studies for feasibility and exploratory technology development, which can transform or significantly improve the efficiency of therapeutic development to achieve NCATS ultimate goals - more treatments to all people more quickly. The research proposed should be for the development of technology that can break new ground or extend present technology toward new directions or novel applications.
Due date: June 19, 2025 (PAR-25-157)

Limited Competition: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program: Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) The CTSA Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award (CCIA) aims to accelerate the pace of translational research by supporting the collaborative development, dissemination, and sustainable implementation of innovative solutions across the CTSA Program Consortium and beyond. It is available to active CTSA Hubs and partnering organizations. For both UG3 and UH3 Phases, an application must include at least three currently active eligible organizations. The UG3 phase is the first of the bi-phasic approach designed to fund exploratory and/or developmental research, followed by the UH3 is to successfully complete the milestones set in the UG3. Additional CTSA member institutions can provide valuable skills and resources to build collaboration and innovation in translational science.
Next Due Date: June 16, 2025 (PAR-25-296)

HEAL Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program: Embedded Entrepreneurs for Small Businesses in Pain Management (SB1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The purpose of this opportunity is to facilitate the transition of previously funded SBIR and STTR Phase II and Phase IIB projects in pain management to the commercialization stage by providing additional assistance for private partnering activities through the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) program. Specifically, this FOA supports the addition of entrepreneurial expertise into small business leadership teams along with supporting partnering activities to aid in commercialization through private third-party funding or partnership with industry.
Next Due Date: September 5, 2025 (PAR-23-069)

NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Small Market Awards to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technologies for Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Disorders and Diseases (R44 Clinical Trial Optional) This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites small businesses to submit SBIR grant applications to support later stage research and development (referred to as Phase IIB) for promising projects that were previously funded by SBIR or STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) Phase II awards that address rare diseases or young pediatric populations (aged 0-12 years and defined in Section IV, part 7), and will require eventual Federal regulatory approval/clearance.
Next Due Date: February 26, 2026 (RFA-HL-26-015 )

Resources for Funding:

Implementation of New Initiatives and Policies: The NIH has posted an Implementation of New Initiatives and Policies page on the NIH Grants & Funding Website to pull together the latest information on recent and upcoming changes that impact applications and grants administration.

New Categorical Spending in Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools: (RePORT)

Explore More NCATS and CTSC Related Funding Opportunities

2025 CTSC Themed Pilot Awardees

We would like to congratulate the recipients of this year’s 2025 Themed Pilot Awards. These awards support innovative and impactful projects that contribute to the advancement of integrative health research. The goal of the 2025 Themed Pilot program, in collaboration with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), was to explore new strategies for defining and mapping a path to whole person health. These projects address key areas such as the effects of diet, physical activity, sleep, and stress on health outcomes, as well as the delivery of complementary therapies in community-focused settings. The following projects have been selected for their exceptional proposals, and we look forward to seeing their work make a significant impact on the future of integrative health.

Open Office Hours for Scientific Editing

Starting Thursday, April 3, the CTSC will host regular Scientific Editing Open Office Hours. During these sessions, attendees can bring specific questions related to their grants and receive expert guidance on how to improve their proposals. These office hours are open to all members of the CTSC and partner institutions.

Topics covered can include:

How to find grant opportunities (NIH, R, K, & T)
Reading and interpreting funding announcements
Developing hypotheses and research questions
Writing biosketches, and much more!

Join the Scientific Editing Office Hours Here

CTSC Event

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM | Virtual via Zoom

CTSC Spotlight Series -

Community-Engaged Research Design & Recruitment Methods from the iHERO Study

In this session, our presenters will provide an overview of the iHERO study, including its objectives and innovative design. Learn how community engagement played a central role in the study, featuring partnerships with local organizations, active involvement of a Community Advisory Board (CAB), and the implementation of equitable enrollment and randomization strategies.

Additionally, we will highlight the study's expanded recruitment methods and the use of decentralized procedures, including the integration of lab kits, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and remote participation options to enhance accessibility and participant involvement. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore cutting-edge research methods and community-focused approaches in clinical trials.

Special guests: Julia Blanchette, PhD, RN, BC-ADM, CDCES; Dionne Williams, PhD, RN; and Jorden Rieke, BSN, RN

CTSC Event

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 9:00AM - 1:00PM | Cleveland State University, Glasscock Ballroom

Community Based Research Career Day

Explore the dynamic world of Clinical and Community-Engaged Research at this exciting event, designed to connect community health workers, researchers, and leaders in the field of community-based research. Whether you're just beginning your career or looking to expand your professional network, this event offers valuable insights, inspiration, and opportunities for growth.

Event Overview:

A welcome breakfast to kick off the event
Panel discussions on Community Partners as Researchers, Staff Support in Community-Engaged Research (CER), and Principal Investigators Conducting CER
Opportunities to network with leaders in the field
A keynote address by Edith Parker, MPH, DrPH, Dean and Professor, Community and Behavioral Health at The University of Iowa. Dr. Parker will provide an engaging overview of Community-Engaged Research (CEnR), its history, challenges, and benefits, and showcase CEnR projects in biomedical research.

Why Attend?

Discover careers that align with your passions and expertise;
Gain insight into the daily work of community-based researchers;
Connect with influential leaders and professionals in the field; and
Explore diverse career paths and see representation across the industry.

View the event agenda to see the full line up of speakers. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and explore exciting career opportunities in clinical and community-based research!

CTSC Event

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Virtual via Zoom

CTSC of Northern Ohio Science Cafe -

Women's Health

We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Pope, MD, MPH

Division Director, Urology Institute at University Hospitals, for our April Science Café.

Dr. Pope will explore under-researched areas in women's health, with a particular focus on menopause research. She will emphasize the need for greater support to advance these critical areas of study.

CTSC Event

Wednesday, April 21, 2025 | 8:30AM - 10:00AM | Wolstein Research Building (1217), CWRU & Virtual via Zoom

Workforce Development Speaker: Conversations to Ignite the Advancement of Implementation Science

Join us for a fireside breakfast featuring Dr. Brian Mittman, PhD, a leading expert in implementation science and healthcare delivery. He will discuss key developments and ongoing debates within the field, including:

The growing focus on policy, practice, and application versus theory and methods in implementation science.
Advances in conceptualizing and measuring national adoption of learning health care system innovations.
New approaches to harmonizing, coordinating and synthesizing research in implementation and improvement science and healthcare delivery science.

After the talk, we'll open the floor for an opportunity to ask questions and engage directory with Dr. Mittman on these crucial topics.

CTSC Event

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM |

In-Person Event, WRB Auditorium (1430), CWRU & Virtual via Zoom

Distinguished Speaker Series -

Practice-Based Research Networks: Assessing Research Readiness in Primary Care

Dr. Katrina Donahue is the Director of Research at the University of North Carolina's Department of Family Medicine. Her research interests span primary care practice redesign, chronic disease management and prevention, health behavior change, and fostering collaboration between public health and primary care. In her seminar, Dr. Donahue will delve into the history of Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs) and showcase current pilot projects aimed at evaluating research readiness in primary care through the Practice Assessment for Research Readiness. Boxed lunches will be provided to those attending in-person.

Following the seminar, we invite you to join us for a

brief networking session from 1:00-2:00PM!

CTSC Partner Event

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Virtual via Zoom

Cardi-OH Statewide Webinar -

Identifying & Addressing Food Insecurity in the Medical Setting

The Ohio Cardiovascular and Diabetes Health Collaborative (Cardi-OH) will present a free webinar on April 30, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. titled “Identifying and Addressing Food Insecurity in the Medical Setting,” featuring keynote speaker David H. Holben, PhD, RDN, LD, from the University of Mississippi.

Objectives of this 1.00 CME credit webinar include:

State the prevalence of food insecurity in Ohio and the U.S.
Provide evidence-based screening for food insecurity
Recognize national and local resources available to address food insecurity
Share ideas on how to educate others on the impact of food insecurity on health and well-being.

View the full flyer for the webinar for more information.

Click on the images below to be directed to more information:

Click on the images below to be directed to more information from the CTSC and our colleagues:

ACTS Membership for Community Members

CTSC community partners are eligible to become members of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS). Community members are able to access ACTS' member benefits, including: