For over 10 years, the CTSI-CN has worked to accelerate health research at our partner institutions to achieve better health and more equitable healthcare for our community, with a particular emphasis on children and families. We have served as a catalyzing force across the institutions to strengthen the research workforce, support investigators and innovative projects, provide cost-effective services and resources, and streamline research processes. To get a better understanding of how CTSI-CN impacts research locally and nationally, explore the below examples of recent accomplishments.
COVID-19 Response
- COVID-19 Vouchers
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Awarded 10 rapid-response vouchers enabling research teams to access critical tools and services for COVID-19 research
- COVID-Related Proposal Preparation Support
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Provided study design support, database development services, and research tool creation for over 60 investigators, resulting in over 350 publications
- Collaboration and Community Engagement Support
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- Accommodated over 150 clinical and translational studies transferred from outpatient clinics due to physical distancing requirements
- Provided research nurse staffing for CNH-DC Department of Occupational Health collaboration to screen 5,000 CNH healthcare workers for seroconversion
- Matched 10 multi-site COVID-19 clinical trials to CNH/GW investigators
- Partnered with Children’s Health Equity Institute to create regional demographic database to examine disparities in pediatric testing that led to EHR data used in over 50 publications to date
- Data Coordination
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- Developed REDCap database and associated Wiki to aggregate all COVID-19 studies developed at CNH/GW
- Supported genomic sequencing of viral isolates/patients with MIS-C
- Contributed data from 59,805 patients (CNH & GW) to NCATS National COVID Collaborative (N3C)
- New and Improved Processes
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- Developed a REDCap-based eConsent process for non-FDA-regulated studies, utilized by over 50 studies to date
- Streamlined COVID-19 biosample accrual/distribution from the central Biorepository
- Accelerated over 40 COVID-related protocols through the Scientific Review Committee
Clinical and Translational Research Initiatives
- Local and National Data Access
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- Led initiative for CNH membership in PEDSnet
- Coordinated agreement for data sharing with CRISP Health Information Exchange
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Established CNH-GW Data Sharing Agreements
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Created FABRIC (Flexible Architecture for Building Research Informatics Collaborations) environment able to dynamically provision computing and storage applications
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Facilitated establishment of REDCap at GW
- Training & Education
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- Assisted hundreds of early-career investigators through Grants Enhancement Program; over 40% of GEP-reviewed applications have been funded
- Launched expanded Good Clinical Practice training in 2019; over 350 investigators and staff trained across CNH and GW
- Enrolled 494 investigators/research staff in clinical and translational research degree and certificate courses
- Established CTSI-CN/FDA Fellowship Program; 2nd fellow currently training at FDA
- Supported 20 KL2 Career Development Award Scholars
- 100% of Scholars published a first-author paper within 2 years of completing the program
- 85% are currently in academic careers
- 87% have served as co-Investigator, site Principal Investigator, or Principal Investigator on an extramural award
- 80% have led a federal or foundation award as Principal Investigator
- Clinical Research Support
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- Established telehealth for research with REDCap-based eConsent
- Successfully implemented Advarra OnCore CTMS at GW Cancer Center; CNH implementation of OnCore on track for early 2022
- Developed biorepository at CNH
- Established an IRB-approved Healthy Bear Control Cohort for pediatric studies
- Funding
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- Awarded $4.5m in pilot funding to 48 investigators from 2016-2021; resulted in $21m follow-on funding
- Awarded 4 funded Team Science awards ($100,000 total) in 2019-21; resulted in $863,978 follow-on funding