BackgroundThe NIH has challenged academic medical centers to accelerate the pace at which we integrate research findings into clinical practice. The University of Massachusetts and its clinical partner UMass Memorial Health Care are committed to this challenge and are aggressively expanding translational and clinical research under the following vision: To be a national leader in creating the ideal environment to foster interdisciplinary research to enhance the public’s health.
A key and enabling element of this commitment is the recent establishment of the UMass Center for Clinical and Translational Science (UMCCTS). Building upon our strong reputation as a world-class research institution, producing noteworthy advances in clinical and basic research, the new center provides the infrastructure necessary to support outstanding clinical and translational investigators and their work. This new structure fosters collaboration among researchers and disciplines and fulfills the organizational mission: To promote the development of a broad agenda in clinical and translational research in order to positively impact the health of communities and populations; and serve as a national model for others.
| Benefits of MembershipMembers of the Center are eligible to apply for internal pilot grants through the Center and the University. Members also have access to core facilities and services in the offices and programs operated by the Center. In the case of cores operating on a fee-for-service basis, members will receive the on-campus faculty rate. Members may also participate in education, training, and scientific programs sponsored by the Center. Members are expected to contribute to the Center as potential mentors or instructors and to serve on scientific review panels. Eligibility for Membership In order for individuals from University of Massachusetts research community to become UMCCTS members, they must provide a demonstration of their engagement in clinical or translational research. Apply for Membership To apply, fill out this brief form and be prepared to email a copy of your 4-page NIH Biosketch including a list of recent publications. |
Definitions of Clinical and Translational Research The NIH defines Clinical Research as patient-oriented research. Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator (or colleague) directly interacts with human subjects. Patient-oriented research includes - mechanisms of human disease,
- therapeutic interventions,
- clinical trials, or
- development of new technologies.
- epidemiological and behavioral studies.
- outcomes research and health services research.
Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues that cannot be linked to a living individual. The NIH defines Translational Research as the process of applying ideas, insights, and discoveries generated through basic scientific inquiry to the treatment or prevention of human disease. |