Dear Colleague,
Welcome to the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine’s September newsletter. This month, we highlight the work of CIAPM-funded Lead PI George Slavich, PhD, including the launch of the California Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (CAL STAR) Network. We also celebrate the expansion of CIAPM’s work beyond administration of research projects. Read on for new job announcements, updates on the California Precision Medicine Advisory Council and working groups, CIAPM staff, the new Depression Research Program, the new Representative Research Collaborative, and more.
In partnership,
The CIAPM Team
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George Slavich, PhD, serves as Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. In 2021, as part of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Program, Dr. Slavich and his team launched their CIAPM-funded project titled Identifying Social, Molecular, & Immunological Processes for Mitigating Toxic Stress & Enhancing Personalized Resilience.
Project Overview
The overarching aim is to harness the power of cutting-edge tools from psychology, immunology, multi-omics, and translational bioinformatics to identify social, molecular, and immunological processes that can be targeted to mitigate toxic stress effects and enhance personalized resilience.
Toward that aim, we are conducting a highly collaborative, multi-site demonstration project in which we are monitoring the stress levels and physiologic and biological functioning of more than 700 adults using state-of-the-art tools for life stress and ACEs assessment, mobile/smartwatch physiologic assessments, non-invasive blood microsampling, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, immune protein assessments, electronic health record mining and analysis, and translational bioinformatics. In addition, we are developing a personalized online biopsychosocial resiliency training program, a Personal Health Dashboard, and a stress tracking website, which will display real-time estimates of stress burden at the city, state, and country level to predict stress-related health events and inform policymakers and health officials across California and the world.
Our goal with this project is to help reduce the substantial disparities in human health and those attributable to ACEs and toxic stress, which are one of the most costly, burdensome, and deadly social and medical challenges that we face today.
Major Milestones
We are excited about the launch of the California Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (CAL STAR) Network. This is an amazing collaboration among scientists, academic institutions, healthcare providers, and public health advocates in California. Our main goal is to connect innovative research, public engagement, and leadership development to enhance resilience, promote community health and well-being, and prevent and mitigate toxic stress and health inequities caused by ACEs.
As part of this work, we are developing a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on stress, health, and resilience, and we will soon be launching the CAL STAR Research Training Program, which will help trainees advance their conceptual and technical knowledge of topics related to stress, health disparities, multi-omics research, and precision medicine. Our website just went live, and we hope folks will reach out and join us in this important work. For more information visit http://www.calstarnetwork.org.
How does state research funding differ from other sources?
I think the biggest difference between CIAPM projects and those funded by other sponsors is the direct focus on translating cutting-edge science into practice. By requiring each CIAPM project team to have clinical and/or community partners, CIAPM is helping ensure that the taxpayer dollars that are spent supporting cutting-edge science in California will translate into better health and wellbeing for the great people of this state.
All too often, projects that are funded by other sponsors yield incredible breakthroughs that are never translated into better health or health care. That's why we are so honored and proud to be supported by CIAPM. We really want our work to have an immediate and positive impact on the health and well-being of the people of California, and we simply cannot think of a better way to accomplish this important goal than to work with this amazing organization.
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Updates to the CIAPM Statute
On the final day of the 2022 Legislative Session, the legislature passed AB 156, which included important updates to the laws which authorize and govern CIAPM, summarized below.
The program may continue through June 30, 2029, allowing time for the two newly approved projects to be implemented, described further in this newsletter.
In addition, CIAPM has always served as a convener of cross-sector and interdisciplinary stakeholders since its first days at UCSF in 2015. With the budgetary approval of the Representative Research Collaborative, the statute was due for an update. Pending the Governor’s signature by September 30, the bill reflects the program’s natural evolution from solely a grant-making entity toward a dual mission that funds research and also develops and fosters networks, creates and curates educational content, administers the Asset Inventory, and more.
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Representative Research Collaborative
Upon the Governor’s approval of AB 156 by Sept. 30, CIAPM leadership aims to launch the newly funded $9.25 million project, Representative Research Collaborative. Partnering agencies and organizations will come together across government, academia, and non-profits to study strategies, develop targeted and modern promotional materials, mobilize trusted community-based organizations and leaders, and implement evidence-driven informational campaigns that galvanize interest and action in research participation among historically underrepresented communities, including those with racially diverse backgrounds and older, LGBT, rural, youth, and/or Californians with physical or developmental disabilities.
The project will soon launch via the following first steps:
- Hire new staff: Two new positions will be advertised as early as October for a Precision Medicine Equity Officer and a Project Administrator
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Establish a steering committee; nominations are now welcome at julianne.mccall@opr.ca.gov
- Launch an RFP for external partners, expected in Winter 2023
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Depression Research Program
The CIAPM team is collecting feedback from precision medicine and mental health experts to help shape a request for proposals that will provide up to $9 million for research that uses a precision medicine approach to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression. CIAPM staff are still finalizing the timeline for the RFP.
If you would like to provide input on the scope, emphasis, or other facets of the RFP, email your suggestions to Depression@opr.ca.gov by Sept. 30, 2022.
For reference, view the most recent RFP for precision medicine research for Adverse Childhood Experiences.
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Communications Specialist & Administrator
Through Oct. 2, CIAPM is recruiting for a Communications Specialist and Administrator to support the program’s work and communicate the promise of precision medicine for health equity.
The full-time staff member will be responsible for administrative duties such as meeting coordination, scheduling, and processing invoices, while also managing the Initiative’s communications efforts including newsletters and social media. The employee will have numerous professional development opportunities, enjoy a hybrid work environment, and interact with high-level academics, community-based organizations, business leaders, legislators, and members of the Newsom Administration.
Communications & Administrative Student Assistant
CIAPM is currently seeking a half-time, remote, California-based student assistant to support administrative duties and communications. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.
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Farewell to Graduate Student Intern
Dr. Esther Omaiye
Esther recently earned a PhD in Environmental Toxicology at UC Riverside. Her doctoral research focused on emerging tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and their potential effects on human health using analytical and in vitro approaches. She received her master's degree in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics from the California State University Channel Islands while studying counterfeit electronic cigarette products, and in 2016, she was a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Bridges intern. During her CIAPM internship, Esther contributed to the forthcoming Impact Assessment, 2021 Annual Report, legislative outreach, and communications projects. We are indebted to Esther for her gracious and generous approach to data-heavy projects and know that she’ll continue to make change for the better.
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Welcome to Graduate Student Intern Yuki Hebner
Yuki is a PhD Candidate at UCLA in Cellular and Molecular Biology, with a focus on Gene Regulation, Epigenomics and Transcriptomics. She received a BA and MA in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Wesleyan University, conducting research into genetic mechanisms. In addition to her work in the lab, Yuki serves as President of the Science Policy Group at UCLA and co-founded and directs the Neuroscience Communication Seminars at the UCLA Brain Research Institute. Beyond academia, she is also engaged in scientific publishing as an Editor of Knowing Neurons, science communication as a published author of policy memos in the Journal of Science Policy & Governance, and public outreach as a volunteer with numerous community organizations. At CIAPM, she will support the Impact Assessment project, among others.
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CA Precision Medicine Advisory Council |
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Summer Meeting Update
The council met on August 31 for updates on and discussions about the Depression Research Program, the Representative Research Collaborative, and the ongoing development of the CIAPM impact assessment that will provide an overview of the Initiative’s accomplishments, study its innovative models for community partnerships, and highlight the ways CIAPM’s research has affected communities, scientific research, healthcare, and Californians’ lives. The council members also discussed progress of the two working groups. The next council meeting will be held in November, day and time to be announced.
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Data Integration Working Group
The Advisory Council Data Integration Working Group continues to follow the state’s rapid progress in adopting and implementing data systems in service of evidence-based decision-making, optimized resource allocation, and improved coordination among public and private entities, including the California Health and Human Services Agency Data Exchange Framework, the Department of Health Care Access and Information All-Payer Claims Database, and the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal program, focused on better linking the social determinants of health. The next public meeting will be scheduled for mid- to late-October and will be posted online with a notification through OPR’s social media channels.
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Equitable Consent Working Group
The Equitable Consent Working Group met in September to review the progress on a website it is developing, namely Equitable Engagement and Consent in Clinical Research. The website will provide partners with tools, resources, and best practices to increase participation by underrepresented minorities in clinical research. CIAPM staff have created a mockup of the first phase of the content which is currently under review by advisory council members and OPR leadership. Staff will then transfer the content to a test site for review by external partners. If you are interested in participating in the project by reviewing the test site and/or helping with dissemination, please email CIAPM@opr.ca.gov. The next working group meeting will take place in December.
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CIAPM Network in the News |
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CAL STAR Network Launch
A major milestone was met by ACEs Lead PI Dr. Slavich and his team at UCLA, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Stanford University, and UCSF when they launched the California Stress, Trauma, & Resilience (CAL STAR) Network this summer. CAL STAR is a collaboration among scientists, academic institutions, healthcare providers, and public health officials and advocates focused on enhancing resilience, promoting community health and well-being, and preventing and mitigating toxic stress and health inequities in California related to ACEs. For more information visit https://calstarnetwork.org/.
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OMB Launches New Public Listening Sessions on Federal Race and Ethnicity Standards Revision |
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The public can now share their perspectives and input on OMB’s statistical standards for collecting race and ethnicity data (Policy Directive No. 15). The Interagency Technical Working Group will solicit public input through a Federal Register Notice. It will also hold virtual, bi-monthly listening sessions beginning mid-September.
Explore more external opportunities curated by CIAPM here.
Find upcoming external events curated by CIAPM here.
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P.O. Box 3022
Sacramento, CA 95814-3022
(916) 322-2318
info@opr.ca.gov
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