Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Children's National

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Children’s National (CTSI-CN) offers a unique set of resources in translating discovery to improved health. The CTSI-CN will provide highly integrated, cost-effective, investigator-focused resources designed to overcome research barriers, promote collaborative research and provide research training in the area of children’s health. With an emphasis on health disparities and childhood antecedents to adult diseases, this center will build upon its pediatric research strengths in areas such as rare diseases, asthma and neurodevelopmental disabilities to collaborate with a national network of 1,200 community health centers.

The specific objectives of the CTSI-CN are to: 1) provide state-of-the-art, flexible resources required by clinical and translational researchers ; 2) promote multidisciplinary clinical and translational research (CTR); 3) strengthen CTR education and training for diverse trainees at all stages of career development; 4) promote demographic diversity and address health disparities; 5) incorporate effective and sustained collaboration with community partners; 6) ensure research efficiency; and 7) establish bi-directional collaborations with the CTSA network. The CTSI-CN will lend its unique perspective on pediatric health issues and urban health disparities to the already distinguished members of the CTSA network.

Some key features of the CTSI-CN are to expand CTR education and training, making it available from high school through mid-career; encourage community-based research at diverse locations; and overcome gaps in innovative research methodologies to support research.