Access to core facilities and other research resources provided by the Clinical and Translational Science Awards

Abstract

Principal investigators who received Clinical and Translational Science Awards created academic homes for biomedical research. They developed program-supported websites to offer coordinated access to a range of core facilities and other research resources. Visitors to the 60 websites will find at least 170 generic services, which this review has categorized in the following seven areas: (1) core facilities, (2) biomedical informatics, (3) funding, (4) regulatory knowledge and support, (5) biostatistics, epidemiology, research design, and ethics, (6) participant and clinical interaction resources, and (7) community engagement. In addition, many websites facilitate access to resources with search engines, navigators, studios, project development teams, collaboration tools, communication systems, and teaching tools. Each of these websites may be accessed from a single site, http://www.CTSAcentral.org. The ability to access the research resources from 60 of the nation's academic health centers presents a novel opportunity for investigators engaged in clinical and translational research.

Figure 1

Relationship of core facilities and other research resources to clinical and translational science‐supported product development. Not shown are comparative effectiveness and development of devices, vaccines, behavioral interventions, and best practices, all of which constitute areas of CTSA‐supported research. NIH product development scheme as depicted by Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director, NIH.