03.9.2018 CTSA PROGRAM UPDATE
CTSA PROGRAM UPDATE
March 9, 2018
PROGRAM UPDATES
CLIC OPPORTUNITIES BOARD NOW LIVE
The CLIC Opportunities Board, which allows individuals and employers to find and post translational science jobs, internships, sabbaticals and training opportunities, is now live. Members of the translational science community, including but not limited to CTSA Program hub members, are encouraged to post applicable opportunities.
Further details, including instructions for adding an opportunity, can be found here. You can also learn more about the resource here: CLIC launches Opportunities Board in support of translational science workforce development.
Questions? Contact CLIC
CTSA PROGRAM SUCCESS STORIES – WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The NCATS communications branch welcomes article submissions from NCATS grantees that may be used in the Center’s monthly e-newsletter and possibly in other ways. Please find forms on the CTSA Program Consortium website here or on CLIC’s website here.
MARCH PI MEETING AGENDA
The March 28 (2 – 3 p.m. ET) PI Meeting will be on Delayed Onset Prior Approval Processes. Please register here for the meeting.
There will be no April PI Meeting due to the Spring CTSA Program Meeting taking place April 18. Reminder that if you want to suggest topics for these calls please use the CLIC Suggestion Box and select “PI Meeting Topics.” The Suggestion Box can also be used to suggest topics for the Steering Committee, the CTSA Program Meeting, Consortium Activity or other.
Questions? Contact Erica Rosemond
CTSA Spring Program Meeting
Date
April 18 – 19, 2018
Location
Marriott Wardman Park
2660 Woodley Rd NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tentative Agenda
*Times subject to change
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 | |
| 8:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. | CTSA Program Steering Committee Meeting (Separate Registration) |
| 1:00 – 5:15 p.m. | Spring CTSA Program Meeting (Agenda) |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 19 | |
| 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | KL2 Meeting* |
| 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Methods & Processes DTF Meeting |
| 10:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Workforce Development DTF Meeting |
| 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Collaboration/ Engagement DTF Meeting |
| 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | TL1 Meeting* |
*Included on the agenda for informational purposes only. Separate registration may be required.
Hotel Reservations: A limited block of discounted rooms is available at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel for April 17 & 18. Additional details will be included upon registering for the program meeting. The cut-off date for the discounted rate is March 19, 2018.
Questions? Contact help@clic-ctsa.org
“Un-Meeting” to Address the Opioid Crisis through Translational ScienceL
Date & time: Saturday, June 2, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (informal reception on the evening of June 1)
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Saunders Research Building
This “Un-Meeting,” hosted by the CLIC, is focused on bringing together researchers, clinicians, policy makers, public health professionals, healthcare innovators, opinion leaders and other interested groups to discuss and develop new, innovative and effective ideas to address the opioid crisis through translational science. The overall intent of this Un-Meeting will be to foster new, collaborative teams/networks and generate ideas to advance research that will reduce the misuse and abuse of opioids, while exploring innovative approaches to improve outcomes for those affected by this epidemic.
This Un-Meeting is an event without the rules and structure of a classical conference, as the attendees create and drive the agenda and discussions. This format provides a unique approach for attendees to discuss their experiences and identify areas of potential research and healthcare innovation and collaboration to address Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) and to help prevent opioid overdoses.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE (registration details coming soon)
Questions? Contact Tricia DiQuattro
STEERING COMMITTEE UPDATES
FEEDBACK ABOUT PODS
At the direction of NCATS and the CTSA Program Consortium Steering Committee, CLIC gathered feedback on the “CTSA Program pods.” Questions addressed the current pod call structure and value of the pod calls, what has been working well, what could be improved, and recommendations for changing or improving these calls. The feedback results are now featured on the CLIC website here.
Questions? Contact Tricia DiQuattro
DOMAIN TASKFORCE (DTF) UPDATES
INFORMATICS DOMAIN TASKFORCE
The Informatics DTF is holding a Face-to-Face Spring Meeting on Friday, March 16, 2018 in San Francisco from 7:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT.
Tentative Agenda
| FRIDAY, MARCH 16 | |
| 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. | Introduction and Updates |
| 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. | BREAK and “Un-Meeting” Topic Voting |
| 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Breakout Session 1 – CD2H Interest Groups |
| 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. | 4-minute “Lightning Presentations” |
| 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. | BREAK and “Un-Meeting” Topic Voting |
| 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Breakout Session 2 – iDTF Working Groups |
| 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. | Breakout Session Follow Up / Wrap Up |
This meeting has multiple goals, one of which is to gear up for the next phase of iDTF collaborative work and bring to a focus the topics and issues important to you. The first round of working groups for iDTF have completed, or are in their last stages, and it’s time to determine those topics for the second round to move forward.
The CD2H efforts are working to bring their interest groups to life in concert with new iDTF working groups to create a synergistic interaction between the CD2H interest groups and iDTF working groups – avoiding repetition and overlap – and executing the best use of all our finite resources.
Membership Reminder
Although there is only ONE voting member permitted per CTSI hub to be a part of the iDTF, any member of a given hub is welcome to join the iDTF Full Team. Once you join the iDTF, you are welcome to participate in the monthly calls (first Friday of each month at 1:00 pm ET), register for the CLIC website (link to instructions) to access past information and join any iDTF working group. Being a part of the iDTF will also allow you the opportunity to join any of the CD2H interest groups.
How to sign up to be a part of the iDTF? There are two ways:
- When you register for the CLIC website, you are automatically registered for the iDTF.
- Email the iDTF coordinator at informatics_dtf@clic-ctsa.org.
LIFESPAN DOMAIN TASKFORCE
The Lifespan DTF’s manuscript, “Opportunities for Lifespan Research through the Integration of Data across Clinical and Translational Research Institutes,” has been accepted for publication to the Journal of Clinical and Translational Sciences (provisional to minor edits). Congratulations to our hard working Early Life Exposure team and our first author, Heidi Hanson.
‘All of Us Initiative’
Several ideas that include a lifespan approach (and the representation of special populations) were identified in the “All of Us Initiative” gathering use cases. Thanks to all of our DTF members who took the time to vote and add their ideas.
COLLABORATION/ENGAGEMENT DOMAIN TASKFORCE
The Collaboration/Engagement DTF is holding an in-person meeting on Thursday, April 19 from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. The meeting is the day after the Spring CTSA Program Meeting and prior to the ACTS Meeting.
Tentative Agenda
| TIME | TOPIC | PRESENTER(S) |
| 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. | Registration | |
| 12:30 – 12:35 p.m. | Welcome, Introduction and Meeting Objectives | Co-chairs: Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, University of California, Davis and Joel Tsevat, University of Texas, San Antonio |
| 12:35 – 12:45 p.m. | Overview of NCATS Initiatives | Patricia Jones, NCATS |
| 12:45 – 12:50 p.m. | Steering Committee/ Program Meeting Update | Joel Tsevat, University of Texas, San Antonio |
| 12:50 – 1:30 p.m. | Overview of Accomplishments/ Workgroup Updates | Louisa Stark, University of Utah |
| 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. | Table Discussion 1 – Team Science & Community Engagement | Syed Ahmed, Medical College of Wisconsin |
| 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. | Table Discussion 2 – Tools and Measures. What do we have and what do we need? | Tabia Henry Akintobi, Emory University |
| 3:15 – 3:45 p.m. | Group Discussion: Plan for moving the DTF forward
|
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, University of California, Davis and Joel Tsevat, University of Texas, San Antonio |
| 3:45 – 4:15 p.m. | Summarization, Wrap Up and Next Steps | Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, University of California, Davis and Joel Tsevat, University of Texas, San Antonio |
| 4:15 – 4:30 p.m. | Open Networking | |
| 4:30 p.m. | Adjourn | |
Methods & Processes Domain Taskforce
The Methods & Processes DTF is holding an in-person meeting on Thursday, April 19 from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. The meeting is the day after the Spring CTSA Program Meeting and prior to the ACTS Meeting.
Regulatory Science to Advance Precision Medicine Working Group
SAVE THE DATE: Fall Forum – Thursday, September 27, Washington D.C. Additional details on the logistics to follow and upcoming discussions to develop the sub-topics and issues for the breakout sessions.
Have suggestions for new Working Groups? E-mail them to methods_processes_dtf@clic-ctsa.org.
Questions? For more information on the DTFs (including points-of-contact), click here.
COMMON METRICS UPDATES
REMINDER: DEADLINE FOR ENTERING 2017 COMMON METRICS VALUES AND UPDATING TURN-THE-CURVE PLAN
This year’s deadline for your CTSA Program hub common metrics data reporting is August 30, 2018. This involves updating your hubs Common Metric values through 2017 and modifying, as needed, your Turn-the-Curve (TTC) plans for the first three metrics: Careers in Clinical and Translational Research, IRB Duration, and Pilot Funding and Publications. Updating your TTC plan includes describing any changes to underlying factors, the progress you have made by implementing selected strategies, and the results of any additional measures you are using to track progress with these strategies. As in the past, work with your teams (evaluator, content expert(s), data support person, others as warranted).
Questions? Assistance is available from our Common Metrics team at common_metrics@clic-ctsa.org.
REMINDER: CLEAR IMPACT SCORECARD LICENSE TRANSITIONAL
On May 1, 2018, the management of the Clear Impact Scorecard Licenses for hubs will transition from Tufts University to CLIC. The number of licenses supported is also changing; CLIC will purchase two licenses per hub. The option to purchase a third license (or more) will be available. The cost is $240/user/year.
Over the next month, Clear Impact will reach out and inform you of the transitioning licensing process. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this upcoming process, feel free to contact Lauren Chambers, Impact Consultant at Clear Impact.
REMINDER: 2016 COMMON METRICS DATA ANALYSIS
The CLIC Common Metrics and Data teams have begun our analyses of 2016 updated data including both the Common Metric values and Turn-the-Curve plans with the goal of sharing de-identified results and commonalities across approaches. Results will be shared soon.
Questions? Contact CLIC Common Metrics implementation team or call 585-276-4817.
ACCRUAL TO CLINICAL TRIALS (ACT) NETWORK UPDATES
ACT NETWORK NEWSLETTER
The ACT Network, a real-time platform allowing researchers to explore and validate feasibility for clinical studies across the CTSA consortium, has begun national dissemination across its first 21 sites! In addition to the next group of 13 sites currently staging for connection to ACT, the network also welcomes 13 new sites to the pre-staging process, with onboarding slated to begin later this year. Current geographic distribution of production, staging, and pre-staging CTSA hubs is highlighted in this graphic. If you are interested in registering for the ACT monthly newsletter, please sign up here.
CD2H UPDATES
Project infrastructure updates
The CD2H team has been setting up the project infrastructure to enable ongoing and upcoming areas of work. Some key updates include:
- We are delighted to announce CD2H advisory board members! We are grateful and excited to have such diverse expertise helping to guide CD2H. We’ll next fill community board member spots, so please let us know if you have suggestions! (read more)
- Please welcome new CD2H Assistant Director, Dr. Sarah Biber. Sarah has a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Brandeis University, experience working in rare disease research, and extensive knowledge of the biotechnology entrepreneurial landscape. She started work on Feb 26th. Welcome, Sarah! (read more)
- The CD2H team will launch 9 Interest Groups at the upcoming AMIA Summits and iDTF meeting in San Francisco next week. We look forward to discussing ways to maximize existing and new synergies to benefit the CTSA Program. We enthusiastically welcome collaboration on CD2H activities and look forward to sharing more information about how you and your teams can get involved in CD2H after the meeting. (read more)
OPPORTUNITIES
2018 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – NCATS / ELI LILLY EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Call for 2018 NCATS / Eli Lilly Externship Program applications is expected in early March. Application deadline is April 16, 2018. Externship activities are expected to start in July 2018 at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information about the experience, eligibility and application procedures see here.
Questions? Contact Joan Nagel
REMINDER: COLLABORATION INNOVATION AWARDS – FOCUS ON OPIOID USE DISORDER
This is a reminder that NCATS has expanded the list of high priority translational research opportunities through the Collaborative Innovation Award Program (PAR-18-244), to conduct novel clinical research studies intended to develop and test models of care for Opioid Use Disorders within medical settings including primary care, emergency departments, and neonatal units. See NOT-TR-18-013 for more information. Next due date is July 11, 2018.
Questions? Contact PJ Brooks
SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES
Funding opportunities are now open. Applicants to NCATS may address a range of its research priorities relevant to any stage of translational science, from target validation through pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, to intervention implementation and dissemination, including Drug Discovery and Development, Biomedical, Clinical and Health Research Informatics, and/or Clinical, Dissemination and Implementation Research.
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant Applications: PA-18-574 (R43/R44)
- Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant Applications: PA-18-575 (R41/R42)
Receipt dates: April 12 / August 12 / December 12
Questions? Contact NCATS-SBIRSTTR@mail.nih.gov
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: NATIONAL RESEARCH MENTORING NETWORK
Through a variety of programs, the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) is developing a national network of mentors and mentees from all biomedical disciplines relevant to the NIH mission. These provide mentorship, professional development, mentor/mentee training and networking opportunities to individuals from the undergraduate to early career faculty levels. The NRMN has recently released funding opportunities to support these efforts:
- National Research Mentoring Network: The Science of Mentoring, Networking, and Navigating Career Transition Points (RFA-RM-18-004)
- National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) Coordination Center (RFA-RM-18-003)
- National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) Resource Center (RFA-RM-18-002)
Note that applications for the NRMN Resource Center should describe how the proposal will serve as a platform for other NIH-supported mentoring activities (e.g. the CTSA Program).
Receipt date: June 11, 2018
Questions? Contact Mercedes Rubio
NIH – Strategic Plan for Data Science – Request for Information
In order to capitalize on the opportunities presented by advances in data science, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is developing a Strategic Plan for Data Science. This plan describes NIH’s overarching goals, strategic objectives, and implementation tactics for promoting the modernization of the NIH-funded biomedical data science ecosystem. As part of the planning process, NIH has published a Request for Information (RFI) to seek input from stakeholders, including members of the scientific community, academic institutions, the private sector, health professionals, professional societies, advocacy groups, patient communities, as well as other interested members of the public.
We invite your comments and suggestions on the draft NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science.
Notice Number: NOT-OD-18-134
Key Dates
Release Date: March 5, 2018
Response Date: April 2, 2018
Questions? Contact DataScienceRFI@mail.nih.gov
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADVANCE NOTICE OF TRANSITION TO THE XTRACT SYSTEM FOR PREPARING RESEARCH TRAINING DATA TABLES
Beginning with RPPRs due on or after October 1, 2019 and applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2020, NIH anticipates that it will mandate that required training data tables submitted with T32, TL1, T90/R90, and T15 applications and progress reports be created via the xTRACT system. Learn more about xTRACT. See NOT-OD-18-133
Questions? Contact NIHTrain@mail.nih.gov
POST AWARD ADMINISTRATIVE – UNOBLIGATED BALANCES POLICY HAS BEEN UPDATED
NCATS grantees are required to adhere to NCATS requirements as well as those outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, unless the Notice of Award states otherwise. Grantees are strongly encouraged to work with their institution’s Authorized Business Official for any post award administrative actions, including, but not limited to, requests for carryover of funds from one budget period to the next. Prior to submitting a carryover request, the grantee is encouraged to discuss it with their Program Officer (PO) and Grants Management Specialist (GMS). In addition, the grantee must ensure that the Federal Financial Report for the last (and all prior) budget period(s) have been submitted AND accepted by the NIH Office of Financial Management. Please see the following guidance for more information and guidance on requesting carryover: Post Award Administration – Unobligated Balances
MEETINGS & EVENTS
UPCOMING MEETINGS
CTSA Program hubs can find information about meetings and events on the events page on the CLIC website, this page was created to spread the word about hub-sponsored conferences, activities, and/or items relevant to the CTSA Program and the advancement of translational science. If you would like to showcase an event please fill the event form (login required) on the CLIC website.
Recent additions are listed below. Please click the Event Name for more information!
Upcoming NCATS Events
| Date | Event | More Information |
| Second Monday of the month;
2:30 – 4 PM ET |
CTSA Program Steering Committee Meeting Executive Session | CLIC Steering Committee Meetings Page* |
| Fourth Wednesday of the month;
2 – 3 PM ET |
CTSA Program PI Meeting | Webinar Registration** |
*CLIC will post meeting summaries from the S/C calls onto the CLIC-CTSA Program website and continue to circulate monthly CTSA Program newsletters with important project-level updates and consortium activities.
**To add the PI Meeting to your calendar: Please make sure that once you submit the completed registration form, choose “add to calendar” on the Registration Approval page OR in the Confirmation email that you receive, then open and save the downloaded calendar file.
You can find this or any of the past CTSA Program Updates on the CTSA Program Communications page.
Questions? Contact help@clic-ctsa.org
– – – This is a test version of the newsletter. – – –