May 2025, Issue 1 | CTSC Newsletter



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Dr. Grace McComsey Appointed to Tucker Professorship



We are proud to announce that Grace McComsey, MD, FIDSA, has been appointed chairholder of the Gertrude Chandler Tucker Professorship in the Prevention and Treatment of Diseases of Children. Dr. McComsey currently serves as Vice Dean for Clinical and Translational Research and is the Principal Investigator at the CTSC of Northern Ohio.

This distinguished professorship is a testament to Dr. McComsey’s unwavering commitment to advancing child health through research, prevention, and compassionate care.

“Receiving the Gertrude Chandler Tucker Professorship is an incredible honor that underscores the vital role of translational science in improving child health,” said Dr. McComsey. “This recognition not only highlights the importance of prevention and early intervention, but also strengthens our mission at the CTSC to accelerate discoveries from bench to bedside. It’s both a personal and professional inspiration as I continue working to build collaborative, innovative research that truly impacts our communities.”

Join us in congratulating Dr. McComsey on this well-deserved honor and in celebrating her continued leadership in translational science!

Meet the CTSC Team |

Andrea Ham

Manager of Administration for

Dr. Grace McComsey

Andrea joined the CTSC team in October 2023 as the Manager of Administration for Dr. Grace McComsey. In addition to supporting Dr. McComsey’s extremely busy schedule, she supports the CTSC team and partners in the planning and executing of many events and workshops.

Andrea is originally from Indiana where she attended Ball State University. In her early career she was a Human Resources Manager within the manufacturing and non-profit industries. She and her husband lived in a few different states before making Cleveland their home 20 years ago. While taking a career hiatus to raise her two children, she found her passion through volunteer leadership roles introducing her to event planning. She loves the attention to detail and the multi-tasking that comes with planning and executing both large and small events.

Outside work, Andrea and her husband John love spending time with their daughter Julia, an RN at the Cleveland Clinic, and their son John, who lives in Pensacola and is training to become a Naval Flight Officer. Most weekends in the spring and summer you will find them biking through the Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley, attending Guardians games, and hanging out in their backyard with their two dogs, Holly and Freddy. 

Fun Fact: Andrea can’t resist any food with sprinkles!

CTSC of Northern Ohio Presented with 'Rising Star' Award

The CTSC has been honored with the CWRU "Office / Department Rising Star" award! The Rising Star Awards celebrate Case Western Reserve University community members who go above and beyond to strengthen connections, encourage meaningful dialogue, and create a positive and supportive campus environment.This recognition highlights our team's dedication to creating a supportive and respectful environment where everyone feels valued and heard. The CTSC is honored to receive this recognition and we extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible team of collaborators!

The 2025 Clinical & Translational Science (CTS) Research Program RFA is open!

The CTS Research Program seeks applications for 2-3 year pilot projects. The specific goal of the CTS Research Program is to support projects promoting overall health and reducing the burden of chronic illness through innovative technology.

Eligibility:

• Full-time faculty from CWRU or CTSC partner institutions who are eligible for NIH grants, all applications must include 2 or more CTSC partner institutions
• New investigators are highly encouraged to participate

Projects must involve multiple CTSC partners and address mid- to late-stage clinical research with measurable health outcomes. Funding ranges from $125,000 to $175,000 per year, providing an excellent opportunity to enhance translational research and community health.

Review the full 2025 CTS Program RFA

Other Funding Opportunities:

• Information and Practice Needs Relevant to Late Talking Children (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) NIH is seeking R21 proposals to explore the information and practice needs of caregivers, professionals, and others who support late-talking children. Part of the TALK initiative, this opportunity aims to assess and improve how these needs are identified and addressed.
• Due date: October 02, 2025 (PAR-25-217)

• Leveraging Extant Data to Understand Developmental Trajectories of Late Talking Children (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) This notice of funding opportunity aims to explore the information and practice needs of caregivers, professionals, and others who support late-talking children. Part of the TALK initiative, this opportunity aims to assess and improve how these needs are identified and addressed. Watch the full video on Tackling Acquisition of Language in Kids (TALK) Initiative
• Due date: October 02, 2025 (PAR-25-220)

Clinical Research Student Summer Observation Program 

The CTSC Workforce Development (WFD) team is offering a week-long immersive program designed to introduce high school and college students to the diverse career paths in clinical research. This is a unique chance to gain real-world insight into the daily work of research professionals and discover if a career in clinical research is right for you.

The program will accept 10–15 students, ages 16 and up, offering a personalized and hands-on experience with mentorship from experts in the field.

The application deadline is Monday, May 19, 2025.

CTSC of Northern Ohio Showcases Regional Innovation at ACTS Translational Science 2025 Conference

The CTSC showcased its innovations at the Translational Science 2025 conference in Washington, D.C. Their contributions included noteworthy poster presentations and panel discussions, with Jerry Tribout's poster on decentralized clinical trials ranking 4th out of 602. Key themes included effective communication, rural outreach, and advancing translational research. Highlights included Dr. Umut Gurkan receiving the ACTS Distinguished Investigator Award for his work on sickle cell disease, and Dr. Keith McCrae earning a Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Award. The conference reinforced leadership in community-connected research to enhance health outcomes.

Full article: CTSC at ACTS 2025

Dr. Umut Gurkan Receives 2025 ACTS Distinguished Investigator Award

Congratulations to Dr. Umut Gurkan, Wilbert J. Austin Professor of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, on receiving the 2025 ACTS Distinguished Investigator Award for Translation from Proof of Concept to Widespread Clinical Practice. Presented by the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), this national honor recognizes Dr. Gurkan’s groundbreaking work developing Gazelle, a portable diagnostic tool that has revolutionized sickle cell disease screening in low-resource settings.

Dr. Gurkan, who serves as our CTSC Pilot Lead, continues to drive innovative solutions with the potential to transform healthcare. This achievement highlights the ongoing commitment of CTSC-supported researchers to advance health equity through innovation and implementation.

Learn more about Dr. Gurkan’s Distinguished Investigator Award

CTSC Celebrates Dr. Keith McCrae's Award for Clinical Research Excellence



The CTSC of Northern Ohio is proud to be a member of the Clinical Research Forum (CRF), aligning with national leaders to advance clinical and translational research for better health and well-being. We congratulate Dr. Keith McCrae from our partner institution, Cleveland Clinic, who received a 2025 Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Award for his study on "Pomalidomide for Bleeding in Patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.

Meet the 2025 CRF Top Ten Clinical Research Awardees

Building the Future of D&I: Mapping Competencies Across Audiences



Anita Misra-Hebert, MD, CTSC site lead, co-authored a study reviewing 42 articles on capacity-building efforts in dissemination, implementation, and translation sciences. The study highlights a lack of consistent competencies across programs and calls for clearer, equity-focused training tailored to diverse roles.

Explore Dr. Misra-Hebert’s Insights on D&I Training

Exploring Hormonal Links to Kidney Stone Risk with CTSC Support

A recent study in the International Journal of Impotence Research explores the link between low testosterone and first-time kidney stones in men not on testosterone therapy, calling for broader research to clarify the connection. With critical data support from Dr. David Kaelber via the TriNetX Network and partial funding from the CTSC, the study showcases how CTSC resources drive large-scale, collaborative translational research.

Read About Dr. Kaelber’s Role in Kidney Stone Research

CTSC Partner Event

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Virtual via Zoom

Implementation Evaluation: Adapting Programs for Diabetes and Obesity Treatment



The Cleveland Clinic’s Healthcare Delivery & Implementation Science Center hosts a session on applying implementation science to bridge research and real-world practice, highlighting how context shapes care and outcomes—ideal for clinicians, researchers, and healthcare leaders.

CTSC Event

Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Virtual via Zoom

CTSC of Northern Ohio Science Cafe -

Bionutrition

We’re excited to welcome Alicia Thomas, MS RDN LD GXMO, Director of Bionutrition Research at CWRU, to our May Science Café. She will share insights on research bionutrition, available resources, current studies, and opportunities for collaboration.

CTSC Partner Event

Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 5:00PM - 7:30PM | Greater Cleveland Food Bank

CHEEER 2025 Annual Community Research Dissemination Day 2025: Uncharted Water

The Center for Health Equity Engagement Education & Research (CHEEER) at MetroHealth invites you to its annual Community Research Dissemination Day at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. This in-person event will bring together community partners and colleagues from Northeast Ohio for discussions and breakout sessions on this year’s theme.

CTSC Event

Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM | Virtual via Zoom

CTSC Spotlight Series- Research Integrity

In this session, Dr. Grace McComsey and Beth Hagesfeld of University Hospitals will explore the ethical complexities of research, offering practical guidance for addressing real-world challenges and maintaining integrity throughout the process.

CTSC Partner Event

Friday, May 16, 2025 | 4:00PM - 7:00PM | MidTown Collaboration Center

MidTown Collaboration Center -

Grand Opening Block Party

Join us for the grand opening of the Midtown Collaboration Center (MCC), a new hub for innovation and community impact. Enjoy a ribbon cutting, health screenings, wellness activities, community art, and technology showcases while connecting with organizations driving positive change.

CTSC Partner Event

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 9:00AM - 2:00PM | UH Atrium

Celebrate Clinical Trials Awareness Week 2025 at the Clinical Research Awareness Fair

This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with research teams and discover the groundbreaking clinical research happening at UH. Learn how you can participate in clinical trials, visit resource tables from various research departments, and enjoy light refreshments.

CTSC Event

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Virtual Via Zoom

Distinguished Speaker Series - 'Achieving Thriving Communities through Trustworthiness & Meaningful Engagement'

Join Philip Alberti, PhD, Founding Director of the AAMC Center for Health Justice, as he explores the connections between trust and community engagement. Attendees will learn strategies for ensuring clinical and translational science benefits all communities.

CTSC Partner Event

Thursday May 29, 2025 | 12:00PM - 1:00PM | Virtual Via Zoom

Dissemination & Implementation Town Hall:

Open Forum for Project Discussion

This interactive forum will cover key D&I frameworks like RE-AIM and CFIR, offering strategies for measuring outcomes. Participants can share projects, discuss challenges, and connect with peers.

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:

• Discounted registration to the annual Translational Science meeting
• Opportunities to participate in Special Interest Groups and Committees
• Access to the ACTS community platform website, Tradewing
• And more!

To join, community members can create an account on the ACTS website and join under Case Western Reserve University.

Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio

case.edu/medicine/ctsc