CTSI Annual Retreat Marks Five Years of Progress, and a Vision for Five More

CTSI Retreat 2011
CTSI Retreat 2011

Continuing the momentum created by news from the National Institutes of Health that it has received a second, five-year grant award, UCSF's Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) focused its 2011 annual retreat not only on celebrating successes, but assessing progress and laying out a vision for the future.

"One of things we've tried to do at CTSI is think big," said Bernard Lo, MD, director of CTSI's Regulatory Knowledge and Support program. That sentiment was echoed by S. Claiborne "Clay" Johnston, MD, PhD, director of CTSI, who kicked off the event by comparing CTSI's expansion of resources and services to the development of the American railroad during the late 19th century.

Clay's presentation focused on some key CTSI achievements including: work to reduce Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval times from 139 days in 2009 to 71 days in 2010; the increase in the number of investigators receiving CTSI services and the growth in the number of publications crediting the CTSI grant award; and the increase in recharge funds, approaching $6 million in 2010, generated through CTSI programs.

Among the highlights of the retreat was an American Idol-style "competition" that showcased presentations from CTSI programs, with each presenting examples of key achievements and measurable progress during the past five years. Playing the role of "judges" were Talmadge King, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF; Sam Hawgood, MBBS, dean of the UCSF School Medicine; and David Vlahov, RN, PhD, Dean of the UCSF School of Nursing.

Bluestone

A cross-section of the UCSF community was in attendance, including Jeff Bluestone, PhD, UCSF's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost; Renee Navarro, MD, UCSF's Vice Chancellor of Diversity and Outreach; Regis Kelly, PhD, director of QB3; and many others who participated in a lively question and answer session after each presentation.

"Not only was the 'CTSI Idol' interaction enjoyable, but it increased CTSI's transparency and allowed us to get critical feedback from the UCSF community and our partners," said Maninder "Mini" Kahlon, PhD, CTSI Deputy Director and CIO.

To learn more, view photos of the event, quick facts about CTSI, or presentations from CTSI programs via the links below.

Consultation Services: Expert advice for your research from UCSF faculty and senior staff

Clinical Research Services: Amuse bouche: The palate for change

Career Development: CTSI initiatives to foster career development

Strategic Opportunities Support: Funding research, contributing to new policies, standards of care, and technology

Regulatory Knowledge & Support: What's next?

Planning, Evaluation & Tracking: Using metrics to improve performance

Global Health: Providing more solutions in more countries for more researchers

Early Translational Research: Programs, plans & partners

Clinical and Translational Science Training: CTSI Training: Deborah Grady and a cast of thousands

Virtual Home: UCSF Profiles: Connecting more people to more expertise more quickly

Community Engagement and Health Policy: Improving the health of San Francisco

CTSI at UCSF is a member of the national, NIH-funded CTSA network focusing on accelerating research to improve health and offering 50+ resources and services to support investigators at UCSF and its affiliates.

Photos by Cindy Chew