In 2006, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees voted to create a new entity, The Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science, to speed the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical therapies to improve human health for all. The late Dr. Rebecca Jackson, was named to lead the new enterprise based on her international recognition and outstanding leadership of numerous multi-center research collaborations. Her first task was to develop the application for a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) grant to fund the new endeavor.

In 2008, the NIH awarded a $34-million, five-year CTSA grant to The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to fund the CCTS. Among the largest research grants in the university’s history, the CTSA award was a team effort based on the clinical and translational research enterprise, training programs, informatics capabilities, trans-disciplinary collaborations and partnerships with private and public organizations.

In 2013, the NIH renewed the CTSA grant to The Ohio State University for a second five-year funding cycle with Nationwide Children’s Hospital continuing as the pediatric institutional partner. CTSA funding via a U54 specialized center, TL1 trainee program and KL2 scholar program is combined with significant local resources to provide core resources, essential mentoring and training and opportunities to develop innovative approaches and technologies designed to re-engineer existing capabilities. Program support also fosters collaborations to improve the quality, safety, efficiency and speed of clinical and translational research.  

In 2018, the NIH awarded $25M to the CCTS to continue its work for an additional five years in clinical and translational science. This UL1 grant supported team science initiatives, workforce development and partnerships with private and public organizations. The CCTS also continues to partner with local communities to improve health outcomes in areas such as mental health, substance abuse, infant mortality and obesity.

In 2022, the NIH awarded a new, seven-year $37.9 million UM1 award to continue to fund the center’s work. With a health equity lens, this new grant will focus on the development of innovative methods and approaches to address roadblocks in clinical and translational research, support workforce development, increase collaboration across academic and scientific disciplines and expand access to research technologies. The grant supports collaborative research across The Ohio State University, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital and other community partners across the state of Ohio. 

Founding Director and PI, Dr. Rebecca Jackson, 2006 – 2022 

Dr. Jackson was a visionary and nationally recognized leader in the world of translational science and research. She helped establish the CTSI in 2006 as its founding director and served through 2022. While her clinical work specialized in understanding and improving women’s health, she built a legacy that lives on through her impact as a leader. She supported the education and training of translational scientists and physicians and served as a mentor to many. Dr. Jackson’s work will forever leave a profound impact for the future of medicine. 

(August 18, 1955 - October 11, 2022)

Read more about Dr. Jackson on Ohio State News . 

Vision, Mission and Strategic Goals

Synergizing strengths and leveraging resources to catalyze scientific innovation….Turning the scientific discoveries of today into life-changing disease prevention strategies and the health diagnostics and treatments of tomorrow for all.

• Vision: Catalyze research teams and facilitate innovation through the creation of an environment that fosters translation of knowledge to improve human health.
   
• Mission: Transform and advance the discipline of clinical and translational science at The Ohio State University
   
• Strategic goals:
  • Build on the unique and diverse strength of our institution to create an integrated academic home for innovative, team-oriented clinical and translational science.
  • Enhance and nurture the career development of highly trained investigators with an emphasis on innovation and transdisciplinary science.
  • Optimize the efficient conduct of the highest quality, generalizable clinical and translational science that is relevant to the community setting.
  • Develop, enhance and integrate a portfolio of outstanding shared resources
     
• Core values: Innovation, Collaboration, Integration, Transformation, Enabling through Education, Sustainability