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| Dr. Mark Gillespie, professor and chair of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine, is site principle investigator for a Clinical and Translational Sciences Award. |
The Center is supported by UAB’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health. The USA College of Medicine is one of 11 institutions in the southeast – including five academic medical centers – that is a partner on the award.
One of the key goals of the CTSA is to facilitate translational research, which is a field of medical science aimed at translating basic laboratory discoveries into improved patient care. As the region’s only academic medical center, USA’s state-of-the-art medical research laboratories and clinics are well positioned to lead this effort.
The TRSC team plays a key role in this initiative and is comprised of basic and clinical science researchers and administrators that provide research support services and facilitate training, professional development and collaboration. The team brings expertise in informatics, statistical analysis and research design, clinical research support and community engagement resources to USA researchers.
The award provides funding for a wide range of services and activities, converging on its central mission to address disparities and diseases disproportionately represented within the Deep South by accelerating discoveries to improve human health.
“We want our affiliation with the CCTS to help capitalize on USA’s position as the Gulf Coast’s academic medical center through our commitment to translational research, as well as our mission to improve healthcare to underserved populations in our community,” said Dr. Mark Gillespie, CTSA site principle investigator, as well as professor and chair of the department of pharmacology at the USA College of Medicine.
“There are many underserved populations here on the coast, and we are in a position to impact not only the health of the population, but also the health of the economy,” Dr. Gillespie said. “For example, if we could lower the frequency of chronic disease in these populations, this would have a dramatic effect on the health and health-economy across the spectrum.”
There are many opportunities for students, fellows, residents and faculty to bring their ideas for research to the TRSC. Dr. Gillespie encourages members of the USA Health community to reach out to the TRSC if they have ideas for clinical research. “All they need to have is the beginning of an idea, and the TRSC team will help grow it into a good plan of action.”
The TRSC also offers many educational opportunities at USA. Training through the networks that the CCTS supports is available to students, fellows, residents and faculty online and through sabbaticals at the CCTS. “All of the opportunities for training and research help to make our students and faculty rise above the competition in healthcare,” Dr. Gillespie said. “We are the only institution in our community that does translational research, and we will provide students and faculty with resources they need to be the best.”
For more information about the USA TRSC, click here.
