Developing, Demonstrating and Disseminating Innovations That Turn Science into Medicine Faster

The CTSA Program’s network shows that new scientific discoveries and logistic innovations can speed up translational research projects of all sizes. The program is supported by partnerships with research centers and communities which help provide the benefits of translational science to all people more quickly. Read about success stories in turning science into medicine faster.

December 2023

GEMINI Study Reveals Advantages for Whole Genome Sequencing in Infants
GEMINI researchers, supported by the CTSA Program, compared two approaches to genetic testing in infants. The results of the study could help doctors choose the right testing options for their patients.

March 2023

Collaboration Opens Door to Potential Therapies for Children With a Rare Disease
Clinicians historically have focused on treating the symptoms of a rare lung disease called primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). A recent study using medical images from children with PCD could help point to new therapeutic candidates for slowing damaging effects linked with the disease. It also can help diagnose this disease sooner. The study was a collaboration among researchers funded through the Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium within the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) and the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.

February 2023

Community Engagement Approach Targets Louisville’s Colorectal Cancer Disparities
An innovative study conducted in partnership with Black churches highlights the need for additional outreach and education to reduce colorectal cancer screening disparities in Black communities. Researchers will apply lessons learned to develop community-based interventions that target disparities in an upcoming study.

October 2021

Genetic Analysis Suggests Dilated Cardiomyopathy Therapies May Work for Rare Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Analyzing genetic information drawn from patients and multiple databases, CTSA Program researchers discovered similarities between nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and peripartum cardiomyopathy.

September 2021

National EHR Data Resource Reveals COVID-19’s Stark Mortality Risk in People with COPD
Northwestern University researchers using data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative Data Enclave found that individuals with COPD were more likely to be hospitalized and die of COVID-19 than those without COPD.

March 2021

Low Vitamin D Levels May Boost COVID-19 Risk in Black People
CTSA Program researchers find a link between low vitamin D levels and a higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19 in Black people.

January 2021

CTSA Program-Supported Researchers May Turn Brown Fat into an Ally Against Obesity
CTSA Program researchers discover how brown fat may help reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases, particularly in people who are obese.

January 2020

NCATS Funds Network to Improve the Use of Telehealth in Children’s Health Care
CTSA Program-supported researchers are harnessing their resources and expertise to evaluate access to high-quality telehealth care for rural and underserved children.

October 2019

Ketogenic Diet May Offer a New Approach to Treating Alzheimer’s Disease
CTSA Program-supported researchers tested the hypothesis that ketones could serve as a source of energy for the brain in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The study found improved brain function in those with mild AD after a three-month ketogenic diet.

August 2019

NCATS-Supported Research Reduces Time to Diagnosis for Seriously Ill Children with Genetic Diseases
NCATS-supported researchers have developed an automated approach to diagnosis of genetic diseases in seriously ill children to allow faster diagnosis and initiation of treatment, and, ultimately, better outcomes. The study appeared in the April 24, 2019, issue of Science Translational Medicine.

June 2019

CTSA Program Support Enables Development of Life-Saving Blood Loss Monitor
NCATS-supported researchers used applied machine-learning to develop an innovative device that detects internal bleeding and monitors a patient’s response to blood loss. The monitor helps medical staff identify appropriate treatment before a patient goes into life-threatening shock. The device was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018 and is in clinical use today.

January 2019

NCATS-Supported Researchers Find Exercise May Help Protect DNA
CTSA Program-supported researchers who studied older caregivers found that those who exercised had longer telomeres (the caps that protect the ends of DNA). These findings may lead to better health outcomes for older adults as they age.