The NIH Translational Science Training Program (TSTP) provides NIH graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with opportunities to learn about the scientific and operational principles of the full spectrum of translation. On March 31 and April 1, 2016, trainees participated in a “boot camp” on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, that focused on topics from early stage drug discovery to marketing of an approved drug. NCATS speakers included Christopher P. Austin, M.D., director; Sitta Sittampalam, Ph.D., senior advisor; Madhu Lal-Nag, Ph.D., research scientist; and Todd Wilson, D.O., medical officer.
In addition, on April 27, 2016, NCATS hosted a TSTP Preclinical Development Workshop at its intramural laboratories for participants representing 11 NIH Institutes and Centers. NCATS staff led the workshop, with a focus on the early development stages of translation, and challenged participants to create a plan to translate their own basic research. Topics included assay design, medicinal chemistry and the experiments required to launch a human clinical trial. Participants also toured the NCATS high-throughput drug screening facility and received constructive feedback on their translational research plans in small group discussions with NCATS drug development scientists.