University of Illinois at Chicago - Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS)

Welcome to the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (UIC-CCTS) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. We were established in 2008 to provide an "integrated home" dedicated to improving clinical and translational research at UIC by coordinating resources and services that facilitate health research and advance knowledge across the translational spectrum. The goal of the UIC-CCTS is to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into innovative diagnostics and therapies, disease prevention, and improved health care delivery, with a special emphasis on reducing health disparities. As one of the few U.S. universities with the full range of health science colleges, including the largest medical college in the country, UIC with its diversity, richness and experience in clinical and translational research, has provided fertile ground for the establishment and growth of the UIC-CCTS. The UIC CCTS, with its strong and hard-earned foundation of community engagement, helps ensure that research advances are relevant to and used by communities and populations most in need.

With initial strong and continuing institutional support, we were able to compete successfully for funding from the National Institutes of Health via a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), now administered under the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). With this funding, we have been able to catalyze the transformation of UIC into becoming a leader of translational research by:

• Improving the clinical and translational research infrastructure at UIC
• Expanding the efficiency, quality and flexibility of all clinical research at UIC
• Supporting all aspects of the development of a comprehensive workforce for translational research

Simply put, the UIC-CCTS has established a new research environment at UIC, one that will speed up transformative research discoveries to clinical applications, by providing a less siloed, center-based operational structure. We strive to reduce, if not completely eliminate, institutional barriers enabling more efficient conduct of clinical and translational research; maximize innovation by developing "team science"; deliver educational programs for development of a comprehensive translational science workforce; and provide an integrated access to and navigation through campus resources and services to better meet the needs of the clinical, translational researcher. The dynamic, multidisciplinary nature of translational research with its unparalleled rewards demands no less!

Lastly, I invite you to navigate our website to learn more about UIC-CCTS, including the mission, governance, leadership and the wealth of resources and services available for simplifying and expanding your research and training. Together, we can reconfigure the research environment here at UIC and deliver on the indisputable promise of translational science.

Thank you, and on behalf of the UIC-CCTS, we invite you to join us in this exciting endeavor to accelerate research for improving health and ensuring health equality!