The CCTS Investigator            
Accelerating Discoveries Toward Better Health
September 2019   
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science held an open house to introduce investigators and their teams to the services we provide.

More than 70 attendees met with our research support representatives to learn about behavioral outcomes, biostatistics, clinical research, community engagement, genomics, recruitment and retention, regulatory and ethics, research evaluation, research informatics, veterinary clinical studies, and more. 

In addition, the CCTS hosted a drawing for three Amazon Echo Dots. Congratulations to our winners: Rachel Mason , Nationwide Children's Hospital, Tom Lawson , Ohio State University, and Crystal Phommasatit , Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

If you weren't able to attend, but would like to receive additional information about upcoming CCTS events and program updates, be sure to become a member of the CCTS below.

It's not too late to register to attend this year's Appalachian Translational Research Network   Health Summit, "Working Toward Health Equity in Appalachia: Exploring Solutions"  . The event,  co-hosted by the CCTS and  Ohio State University's Office of Extension , will be held  in Columbus, Ohio on October 14 - 15, 2019 at the  Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center   . 

The ATRN Health Summit is an annual two-day event that includes key-note speakers, poster and podium presentations, opportunities for networking and collaboration, and informational/educational sessions related to health-focused research and programs in rural communities.

Congratulations to the following faculty who were awarded funding for the 2019-2020 cycle of the Integrating Special Populations (ISP) Pilot Program:

  1. Jodi Ford, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University: ​"Feasibility of Collecting Stress Biomarkers among Homeless Youth"
  2. Nicole Fortier O'Brien, MD, Pediatric Critical Care, Nationwide Children's Hospital​: "The neurodevelopment, social, and economic impact of febrile coma in Malawian children: exploring community based rehabilitation opportunities"

ISP pilot funds are awarded for 12 months and are available to investigators holding clinical or research faculty appointments at The Ohio State University (OSU) or Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH). To be eligible for ISP pilot funding, proposals must focus on a methods-related, biomedical and/or psychosocial health-related research problem in one or more special population group. Consultations on integrating special populations into research are available to all faculty at OSU or NCH, regardless of interest in the pilot funding opportunity. 
 
Intramural grants for clinical, translational, and medical education research are available to physicians, psychologists and other clinical staff at Nationwide Children's Hospital if they also hold a faculty appointment at The Ohio State University. Residents and fellows also may apply. Research Institute faculty are eligible to apply if a collaboration with a Nationwide Children's clinician is proposed. 

As of September 2018, project eligibility criteria for intramural grants has been expanded to also include Medical Education (MedEd) Research.

For more information on the Intramural Funding Program and the newly expanded eligibility criteria, please visit  the ANCHOR website  (NCH intranet/campus access only) or email  [email protected] .
 
The CCTS is seeking applicants for the TL1 Mentored Clinical Research Training Program . The TL1 award supports pre- and post- doctoral trainees pursuing clinical and translational research. Trainees will receive a stipend, research funds, training, tuition support, and access to CCTS resources. The grant is available for up to two years.

For more information, please contact Stuart Hobbs.
 
The CCTS and the College of Medicine Office of Research are pleased to call for applications for the Davis Bremer Path to K Grant . The grant supports the career development of early stage investigators who have an MD and conduct either patient-oriented or translational research. The Davis Bremer Path to K Award is available for a period of two years (contingent on satisfactory progress) and provides salary support for release time and research funding. 
 

The CCTS is pleased to call for applications for the KL2 Mentored Career Development Grant . This funding supports the career development of junior faculty with fewer than three years since their appointment who conduct patient-oriented or translational research, The KL2 Award is available for a period of up to three years. Benefits include 75% salary support and appropriate fringe benefits, access to special training, and funds for research expenses. Up to 2 awards will be funded.

For more information, please contact Stuart Hobbs .
 
Research auditors and monitors who require access to documentation in IHIS need to have an account created in DocLink with both the university and the medical center. The process for requesting an account has recently been updated.
 
Researchers should allow at least a week for account creation. Please note that because it is a guest account, it will expire after a year if not renewed.   

Are you researching the complex pathologies of diabetes, cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome? Or perhaps you focus on obesity, hypertension or atherosclerosis? Do you need to measure chemokines or cytokines?

If so, the Clinical Research Center’s Analytical and Development Lab can help you. Our Meso Scale Discovery electrochemiluminescence platform can measure many different biomarkers in your clinical and animal samples. It can multi-plex up to 10 different compatible markers with great sensitivity and dynamic range.Minimal sample volume is needed. The kits are customizable or come in off-the shelf panels.

New MSD U-PLEX kits have just been released for such Metabolic Research, which include GLP-1, glucagon, insulin, leptin and more. Contact Trina Wemlinger for more information.

The NIH, AHRQ, and CDC announced in July 2019 that individuals who receive research training, fellowship, research education, and career development awards will be required to have ORCID iDs beginning in fiscal year 2020. If you are a prospective applicant for individual fellowships or career development awards, visit your personal profile in the NIH’s eRA Commons and follow the link to “Create or Connect your ORCID iD.”

The NIH has announced the opening of the next cycle to receive applications to the Loan Repayment Programs. Five different Extramural Loan Repayment Programs are available. The application period for this cycle begins September 1 and will end November 15 at 8:00 PM.

If you haven't previously benefitted from the expertise of one of our 3 board-certified veterinary pathologists for your preclinical animal studies, please stop by with your slides for a free consultation to discuss interesting lesions, animal model selection, best practices for tissue preparation/preservation, and more!

When: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Where: 933 BRT, multi-headed microscope

The Translational Therapeutics Think Tank (T4) is a free CCTS resource designed to assist investigators at all career levels by providing input, consultation, and guidance on research study design, drug and device development projects, and translational projects of all kinds.

The T4 committee is made up of expertise from the OSU colleges of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Biostatistics, as well Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) and can provide feedback on most aspects of study design including biostatistics, helping to identify potential funding mechanisms and collaborators across the OSU/NCH network, relevant animal disease models, regulatory and ethical issues, and all aspects of study design. The service functions as a true “think tank” where investigators can bring a brief presentation of their proposed or on-going study and receive real time, in-person feedback on specific questions or needs they may have related to their project.

A meeting with the T4 group can be requested by visiting the CCTS website and selecting the Research Consultation tab, follow it down to the “Translational Therapeutics Think Tank T4, Click on that link and chose the “request a meeting” option. If there is an issue with that link, please feel free to go directly to the online service request.
ResearchMatch brings together people who are trying to find research studies and clinical trials, and researchers who are looking for volunteers. 
ResearchMatch is a national volunteer registry that researchers at OSU can use to find potential volunteers at no cost. The aim of ResearchMatch is to serve as an effective, useful and complementary recruitment tool that will help connect willing volunteers with researchers who are searching for appropriate volunteers to be placed in their research studies.  Ohio leads the nation in registered volunteers. The Recruitment + Retention office at the CCTS provides assistance obtaining IRB approval to use ResearchMatch.org for recruitment and best practice tips.

Want to learn more? Get started here!
Biofabrication 2019 will bring together scientists, engineers, regulatory specialists, industry participants, and clinical investigators to present and share their recent discoveries, research direction, and views on the current problems and opportunities in the exciting field of biofabrication. Five plenary, fifteen keynote, ninety podium, and hundreds of poster presenters will gather for 2 and a half days at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to a sponsor’s trade show, special fora are planned on publishing strategies, translational research, regulatory issues, industrial technologies, and for young researchers, and a Gala Dinner at the Columbus Museum of Art. There will be ample opportunity to meet old friends and new collaborators, learn about funding opportunities, and meet the organizers of national and international consortia dedicated to promoting the field of biofabrication.

When: October 20-22, 2019
Where: The Ohio State University

New Online Course: Being a PI: Roles, Responsibilities, and Resources
Title: Being a Principal Investigator: Roles, Responsibilities, and Resources
 
This online course, designed by the Office of Research, provides guidance for Principal Investigators (PI) and their staff. “Being a PI: Roles, Responsibilities, and Resources” benefits all members of the research community and enhances Ohio State’s efforts towards supporting the responsible conduct of research. The course content covers research administration/compliance processes & tools, explores the life cycle of sponsored project, and provides access to additional resources. This session is open to all members of the research team.
 
Instructions:
  1. Login to http://buckeyelearn.osu.edu
  2. Search for “Being a Principal Investigator...” to register.
  3. Click [Request] then select course from transcript to launch this course.
  4. This course will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
ResearchMatch   (RM) is the national online recruitment tool that matches people interested in research with investigators throughout the U.S. ResearchMatch has recently launched a Spanish version of the website inviting Spanish speakers to sign-up in Spanish, while Researchers from OSU are now able to connect with and recruit Spanish-speaking volunteers for their studies. 
 
RM is a not-for-profit activity and is funded through the NIH’s CTSA program. With more than 131,000 registered volunteers and over 6,100 investigators at 154 participating institutions, ResearchMatch hopes to increase the pool of Spanish-speaking volunteers and to increase the recruitment of underrepresented groups in research. 

A  Research Study Participant Satisfaction Survey developed by OSU study coordinators and CCTS staff is available to the OSU research community. The survey helps researchers assess and improve the research experience of participants for a single study, studies conducted within a Division or Department, or potentially across the entire research enterprise.
 
For ease of use, the survey has been created within REDCap and can be offered digitally or paper-based. Any OSU research team with an IRB approved study may request use of the survey to collect data that includes participant demographics, source of recruitment, motivation, understanding of the consent process, level of satisfaction with research staff, overall experience and desire to participate in future studies at OSU.
 
Do you have questions about using an external IRB or making Ohio State the single IRB for your multi-site study? Join the Office of Responsible Research Practices and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science as we host walk-in office hours on Tuesdays from 12:30 am - 4:30 pm at the CCTS, room 259 .
 
IRB Submission Assistance
The Office of Responsible Research Practices (ORRP) is offering assistance for Biomedical and Cancer researchers who prepare IRB submissions. Open office hours are held in the CCTS suite, room 259 in Prior Hall. Appointments are recommended; walk-ins are also accepted:

  • Wednesdays from 12:30 pm - 4:30

These individualized sessions are intended to help navigate IRB forms, policies, and review procedures. You can schedule an appointment by contacting Brandie Dickens.

ORRP continues to offer specialized assistance with single IRB review and IRB reliance Tuesday afternoons at the same location.
Call for Proposals: T rial Innovation Network
What makes a good Trial Innovation Network proposal?

The Trial Innovation Network is looking for study projects with:
  • Principal Investigators who are willing to partner with the TIN through the project lifecycle
  • Innovations in operations
  • Multiple sites
  • Inclusion of many populations
  • Academic evidence to improve clinical trial design

Any full-time faculty member at The Ohio State University and/or Nationwide Children’s Hospital is eligible to submit a study proposal to the Trial Innovation Network through the  CCTS TIN Hub Liaison Team.

To submit a proposal or for questions about the Trial Innovation Network, please contact Hub Liaison Team Administrator, Angela Sow .
The OSU Office of Research provides a campus-wide subscription to an excellent newsletter on Research Grantwriting News. Writers are experts in research/proposal development and this resource should be required reading for anyone preparing a grant proposal. Recommendations are especially helpful to those who are new to grant writing or want to enhance their grantsmanship skills.

If you are thinking about your next research project, we encourage you to schedule a research funding consult and learn how to use SPIN, an extensive research funding opportunity database. SPIN contains over 40,000 opportunities from more than 10,000 sponsors. With SPIN, you will learn how to:
 
  • Create and save customized searches that generate daily email funding alerts
  • Organize and share funding announcements with colleagues
  • Access an extensive Keyword list, allowing for greater flexibility in your searches
  • Quickly locate Federal or non-Federal programs
  • Locate all types of funding information, e.g., travel grants, fellowships, and other sponsored programs
 
All Ohio State faculty, staff, and students are able to create an account in SPIN. Please visit   http://go.osu.edu/funding  for step-by-step instructions.
We need your help in educating scientists, particularly junior faculty, about peer review. The  NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR)  would like to create materials that experienced reviewers on your faculty could use to teach more junior people. Currently, we are creating materials to make peer education about NIH peer review easier. But before going too far, we would like to hear from the CTSA community. Many experienced reviewers have told us that they conduct, or are interested in conducting, talks on NIH peer review for colleagues, especially early career colleagues, at their institutions.

CSR is looking for your ideas to help us provide the most useful resources to you. We’re specifically wondering . . .
  • What additional information would make the talks you provide easier and/or better?
  • Would an annotated slide deck for “NIH Peer Review 101” be helpful?
  • What about specialized slide sets for the review of fellowship or SBIR/STTR applications?
  • Would slides and background information on NIH rigor and reproducibility policy in review be helpful?
  • What other materials would be useful? Handouts? Videos?

Please, share this message with your local community and email your thoughts to  [email protected] .
The Scripps Research Translational Institute and drug discovery affiliate Calibr invite proposals for collaborative drug repurposing screens. This translational endeavor aims to partner clinical proficiencies throughout the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) network with drug discovery resources. CTSA-affiliated researchers and clinicians who have identified potential drug targets, pathways or screening approaches and are interested in accelerated translation into patients through drug repurposing are encouraged to respond. 

The Accelerator Awards program helps advance the translation of cutting-edge Ohio State innovations from the university into the marketplace. The purpose of Accelerator Awards is to fund activities that will demonstrate the commercial viability of a technology. Applicants may apply for direct costs up to $150,000 for biomedical/life sciences projects and up to $100,000 for all other projects.

The Department of Internal Medicine is pleased to announce the beginning of a new intramural funding program. Applications are solicited for funding under the categories listed. Deadline for submission is 5 pm, November 1, 2019. The program will provide Junior Investigator, Bridge and Multi-Investigator Awards. Details of the awards and application instructions are attached. Following peer-review, the award period is anticipated to start on February 15, 2020.

The Gale and Ira Drukier Institute for Children's Health at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City is proud to announce a call for nominations for the Third Annual Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children's Health Research. This award honors an early career pediatrician who, through his/her basic, translational, or clinical research program has made important contributions towards improving the health of children and/or adolescents
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A new and improved listing of all campus-wide, internal funding opportunities is available below.

Funding Opportunities from the NIH.

Read about the latest translational science news, opportunities, and announcements in the latest edition of the NCATS e-Newsletter and the NIH's Weekly Funding Notice.



Learn more about PCORI through their blog, video room, news releases, and other resources.

Discover the latest news in translational science and grant opportunities from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science's monthly newsletter. 

When you sign up as a member of the OSU CCTS, you are entitled to become a member of The Association for Clinical and Translational Science at no cost .

As a member of the ACTS, you have access to a wide variety of benefits and tools to assist you with your research. These benefits include:

  • Discounted registration for the Translational Science Meeting
  • Email updates and web access to relevant translational science topics
  • Access to the ACTS newsletter, the ACTS Connection
  • Access to articles in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, published by Cambridge University Press
  • Opportunities for development and participation in committees and special interest groups