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The UAB Systems Pharmacology AI Research Center (SPARC) has launched the 2026 SPARC Drug Discovery CollaboFest, a collaborative challenge inviting multidisciplinary teams to turn promising biomedical insights into experimentally testable therapeutic strategies.

Written by Brian C. Moon | August 7, 2026 Seventy-five scholars, trainees, mentors, researchers, and community partners took part in the 2026 Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Summer Jamboree, which culminated in a July 15 public program at the UAB Marnix Heersink Conference Center.

Written by Brian C. Moon - July 28, 2026 Community members bring knowledge, experience, and local perspective that can strengthen research, programs, and academic-community partnerships.

The UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine has named Joshua Stein, M.D., M.S., as the inaugural associate dean for data sciences, effective July 1, 2026.

DataLENS, a robust clinical data access tool jointly managed by the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, was awarded the AAMC Group on Information Resources (GIR) Excellence Award.

Brian C. Moon – July 10, 2026 Clifford Kennon, EdS, MPA, CPP, Program Director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Community Engagement Institute, has been recognized by the Urban League of Alabama as a Community Champion honoree.

July 01, 2026 The Center for Clinical and Translational Science is thrilled to announce 2026 Pilot Projects. Selected through a rigorous competitive process, projects represent a variety of disciplines from across the CCTS Partner Network.

Brian C. Moon – June 3, 2026 Orlando M. Gutiérrez, MD, MMSc, Director and contact multiple principal investigator of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), has joined the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) Board of Directors as a Director at Large for 2026–2027.

Brian C. Moon - May 27, 2026 Jennifer A.

Brian C. Moon – May 21, 2026 At the 2026 Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) of Alabama Celebration of Service, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) once again sponsored the annual Excellence in Mentorship awards, recognizing outstanding individuals who have made a lasting impact through guidance, leadership, and service to ASF Fellows.

Four projects have been selected as the inaugural awardees of the Dr. Latesha E. Elopre Health Across the Lifecourse (HEAL) Pilot Program, supporting innovative research designed to improve health outcomes across the lifespan.

Written by Brian C. Moon – May 11, 2026 Artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping research, medicine, and clinical operations.

Written by Tyren Lucas – May 13, 2026 The annual Association for Clinical and Translational Science conference, Translational Science 2026 (TS26), was held April 20-23 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event brought together more than 1,100 research professionals, trainees, faculty, and leaders from across the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) consortium and beyond.

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), located at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), is proud to celebrate four CCTS leaders selected for the inaugural cohort of Fellows of ACTS (FACTS), a new recognition program from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS).

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and spanning an 11-institution Partner Network across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, is pleased to announce that Jennifer A. Croker, PhD, was recognized as a 2026 Fellow of ACTS. 

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and spanning an 11-institution Partner Network across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, is pleased to announce that Meredith B. Fitz-Gerald, RN, MSN, was recognized as a 2026 Fellow of ACTS.

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and spanning an 11-institution Partner Network across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, is pleased to announce that Robert P. Kimberly, MD, was recognized as a 2026 Fellow of ACTS.

Written by Brian C. Moon - April 10, 2026 In recognition of National Nutrition Month®, the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) brought together researchers, community leaders, and public health professionals for a Community Engagement Institute (CEI) Perspectives panel, “Discover the Power of Nutrition for Communities,” held March 31, 2026.

At the Comprehensive Healthy Living Research Center, research is grounded in the realities of the communities with which we collaborate. That connection is facilitated by the Partnerships & Engagement Program, a team dedicated to ensuring research is co-created with communities, not just conducted amongst them.

Written by Jennifer Croker, PhD | March 20, 2026 The 2026 Southeast Regional Clinical & Translational Science Conference, held March 11-13, 2026, at Callaway Resort and Gardens, brought together transdisciplinary researchers to present the best new health-related preclinical, clinical, implementation, and population-based research and build collaborative relationships.

Written by Ciara Mitchell, PhD, RDN, LD If the phrase meal prep makes you think of hours of cooking, stacks of containers, and eating the same meal all week, you’re not alone. Many people don’t avoid meal prep because they don’t care about their health.

Written by Brian C. Moon - March 4, 2026 More than 80 researchers, community leaders, and public health professionals gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 26, 2026, for the 11th Annual CCTS Bioethics Forum, hosted by Tuskegee University at the Elevation Convening Center & Hotel.

Written by Brian C. Moon - February 20, 2026 After four years of dedicated service to the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), John E.

Written by Brian C. Moon - January 22, 2026 Faculty, staff, and trainees across the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) have access to a valuable professional resource through membership in the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS).

Written by Brian C. Moon – December 18, 2025 After more than 16 years with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), Jean Lambert, MA, is retiring, marking the conclusion of a career defined by dedication, institutional knowledge, and a genuine commitment to supporting researchers across the CCTS Partner Network.

Written by Brian C. Moon - December 12, 2025 When Simon Grelet, PhD, joined the University of South Alabama, Department of  Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2021, he launched the Cancer Innervation and Neurobiology Laboratory at the Mitchell Cancer Institute to investigate a fundamental question: how do nerves influence tumor development and spread?

December 12, 2025 The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) is pleased to announce the latest recipients of CCTS Statistical and Analytic Methods Development support. This competitive program is designed to advance innovative projects that develop, refine, or apply novel statistical and computational techniques to address complex challenges in health research.

Brian C. Moon – November 24, 2025 The CCTS extends its deep appreciation to Frannie Horn, JD, EdS, MA, and Robert P.

Written by Brian C. Moon – November 5, 2025 Over 120 trainees, scholars, faculty, and research professionals from across the CCTS Partner Network gathered in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for the 2025 CCTS Translational Science Symposium (TSS25), a one and a half day in-person event hosted October 30–31 at The Lodge at Gulf State Park.

Written by Brian C. Moon – October 15, 2025 The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) recently hosted a Community Engagement Institute (CEI) Perspectives panel discussion on September 26, 2025, exploring how citizen science can empower communities, reshape research, and redefine the relationship between science and the public.

Written by Brian C. Moon - October 9, 2025 Dissemination & Implementation Science bridges the gap between discovery and real-world practice, helping researchers turn evidence-based findings into lasting improvements in healthcare and public health.

Written by Brian C. Moon - September 24, 2025 The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) is pleased to welcome the newest participants in the RISE Leadership Development Program, an initiative designed to equip clinical research professionals with essential leadership skills.

Written by Jean Lambert - September 19, 2025 Applying for an NIH grant funding can be intimidating, especially when new rules and regulations are introduced. The Simplified Peer Review Framework for most research project grants began in January of 2025.

Avocados are nutrient-packed fruits celebrated for their creamy texture and rich supply of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, potassium, and vitamins C, E, and K. They can support heart health, improve digestion, and provide lasting energy, making them a favorite in many healthy eating patterns.

With the growth of clinical research and trials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and to meet the evolving needs of investigators and study teams, two longstanding support programs—the UAB Department of Medicine’s Clinical Research Enterprise (CRE) and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Clinical Research Support Program (CRSP)—have merged to form the Clinical Research Support Enterprise (CReSt).

Written by Brian C. Moon – August 20, 2025 The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) recently hosted a CEI Perspectives virtual panel titled “Navigating Partnerships Between Academia and Faith-Based Organizations,” drawing participants from across sectors for a robust conversation on trust-building, collaboration, and community-driven research.

Written by Tyren Lucas – August 20, 2025 Every day, we wake up and, before getting started, pass by the mirror. The person in the mirror is someone you know well—someone you’ve spent a lifetime becoming.

Written by Ciara Mitchell, PhD, RDN, LD More than 40% of U.S. adults live with obesity, increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. While many people succeed in losing weight initially, studies show that more than half regain most of it within a few years.

Written by Brian C. Moon – August 1, 2025 The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) welcomed over 80 trainees, scholars, mentors, and institutional leaders from across the CCTS Partner Network for the 2025 CCTS Summer Jamboree on July 17th.

Written by Tyren Lucas - July 25, 2025 In the world of research, collaboration across disciplines is not a novel idea for achieving scientific discovery. It is the norm.

July 11, 2025 The Center for Clinical and Translational Science is thrilled to announce 2025 Pilot Projects. Selected through a rigorous competitive process, projects represent a variety of disciplines from across the CCTS Partner Network.

Written by Tyren Lucas - June 20, 2025 The translational research workforce exists in an environment that is continuously evolving by the month and even by the day. Research and clinical professionals are all facing various challenges that can impede their career development and build roadblocks that tests their resilience.

Brian C. Moon – June 18, 2025 On June 9–10, 2025, over 80 attendees gathered in New Orleans for Breaking the Boundaries: Reimagining Research and Clinical Practice for a Healthier Tomorrow, a two-day symposium focused on aligning research and care delivery to address today’s most pressing health challenges.

Ready to level up your cooking techniques? In this month’s CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition feature, Razel Gargollo with the CCTS Bionutrition Unit walks you through the fundamentals of panfrying, poaching, and sautéing. Learn when and how to use each method to make your meals healthier and more delicious.

June 9–10, 2025 | Astor Crowne Plaza, New Orleans, LAgo.uab.edu/bbsymposiumJoin national leaders in New Orleans June 9-10, 2025, for Breaking the Boundaries: Reimagining Research and Clinical Practice for a Healthier Tomorrow, a two-day event focused on improving how research and care delivery align to meet today’s most urgent health challenges.