OnCore Goes Live in UAB Dept. of Medicine Divisions
On Thur. Dec. 14, three divisions in the UAB Dept. of Medicine--Endocrinology, Cardiology, and Infectious Diseases--joined CCTS and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center as users of the OnCore clinical trials management system, which is replacing the older and no longer supported SiteMinder system. Join the CCTS in congratulating the OnCore team for a masterful launch, the result of superb team work and months of painstaking effort migrating and validating study data, training super users, and, as of last week, supporting end users with a call center.
Enhance Your Research with a CCTS and/or Radiology Imaging Development Voucher
Do you have specimens that need processing, data that need analyzing, or subjects who require dietary, nursing, or regulatory support? Would your project benefit from molecular, functional or anatomic images? The CCTS and UAB Dept. of Radiology voucher programs offer extra support that may help take your research to the next level. Investigators with a full-time faculty appointment at any CCTS Partner institution are encouraged to apply. Each program offers up to $5,000 in direct costs.
CCTS Announces New Dates for Kaizen R2T Game--Register Soon!
Have fun while mastering required NIH policies for rigor, reproducibility, and transparency (R2T) in our online Kaizen game! The next round of this highly popular approach to learning competencies will run Jan. 8-Feb. 2, 2018. Kaizen R2T is open to players at any professional level from across the CCTS Partner Network.
Mark (and Unmark) Your Calendar for CCTS January Events
The CCTS Monthly Forum will not take place in Jan. but will resume on Feb. 7 at the new time of 4pm. Instead, CCTS will present a special Health Sciences Entrepreneurship (HSE) seminar on Tues., Jan. 9. Sameer Ather, MD, PhD, will discuss his journey from physician-scientist in Cardiology at UAB to founder and CEO of the online start up, XpertDox, LLC, which uses a proprietary algorithm to "help patients find the best care for their disease." HSE is a collaboration among UAB, UKMC, University of Arkansas Medical Center, and University of Utah.
CCTS Announces New 2018 Dates for Popular i2b2 Training
investigators learn how to use the i2b2 database to access de-identified patient data, check study feasibility, develop hypotheses, and more. Registration is required. Supervisory approval is required for non-faculty (e.g., trainees, staff). All attendees are strongly encouraged to request i2b2 access prior to their session.
CCTS Launches New Radiology Research Pilot
In collaboration with the UAB Dept. of Radiology and School of Medicine, CCTS is requesting pilot study proposals for research projects requiring animal and/or human imaging on a wide variety of scanning machines. Applicants may request up to $15,000 in direct costs. Early investigators and faculty with previous or active K awards are encouraged to apply.
Dec. Forum Highlights Next Generation Research Data Management Needs
CCTS BERD CoDirector Dr. David Redden and UAB Libraries Assistant Professor Dorothy Ogdon led a lively discussion on the many challenges inherent in managing one's research data to address short and long-term goals, including the need to meet policy requirements for reproducibility and security. A new workshop series to provide hands-on training in data management techniques was announced for early 2018.
Mark Your Calendar: STRIDE & eConsent TIN Webinar
The Trial Innovation Network (TIN) collaboration webinar series will feature STRIDE (Strengthening Translational Research in Diverse Enrollment) this month. STRIDE, a collaborative project among Vanderbilt University Medical Center, UMass and UAB, aims to increase participation in clinical trials by under-represented communities. Tune in at 11am on Thurs., Dec. 14, to learn more about the need for an improved informed consent process, new strategies for personalization and security, and the future of eConsent.
VA Seeks New Cohort of Health Care Leaders
The VA Quality Scholars Fellowship offers physicians, nurses, and associated health professionals the unique opportunity to improve healthcare quality through innovation, teaching, and research. This advanced program combines a broad curriculum with an individualized approach to meet the needs of each healthcare professional's interests.
Broaden Your Career Options with an MS/MSPH in Clinical and Translational Research
CCTS is accepting applications for its 12-month multidisciplinary mentored research experience. Targeted to pre-doctoral students in health professions, the full-time training program provides a stipend, funding for travel and other training related expenses, and tuition support for candidates not in a PhD program. Applications due by Dec. 22, 2017.
Mark Your Calendar: "Bringing Novel Cancer Therapies from Bench to Bedside in a University Spinout"
Join us at PCAMS on Tues., Dec. 12, when Dr. Daniel Aires, CoFounder of Hylapharm LLC and Director, University of Kansas Medical Center (UKMC) Division of Dermatology, will present the next seminar in the Health Sciences Entrepreneurship (HSE) Series. HSE is a collaboration with UAB, UKMC, University of Arkansas Medical Center, and University of Utah.
Submit Your Abstract to Translational Science 2018
Share your latest research with an audience that will appreciate it! TS18 is accepting abstracts for six different tracks, including basic science; clinical studies; informatics; education and training; policy, outcomes, and ethics; and health equity and community engagement. Abstracts are due on or before Dec. 31, 2017, at 11:59 PM CDT. Don't forget to register while you are on the website-TS18 takes place in Washington, DC, April 19-21.
TriNetX: Following the Data to Tee Up Clinical Trial Opportunities
Membership in TriNetX, a clinical data network of healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and contract research organizations, is increasing the number of industry-sponsored trial opportunities for CCTS investigators.
December Forum To Explore How Informatics is Transforming Clinical Research
Join us on Wed. Dec. 7 to learn how to access clinical data with i2b2; build multisite collaborations using the Shared Health Research Informatics Network (SHRINE); and connect to clinical trial opportunities and collaborations through TriNetX.
Back By Popular Demand! New Session Scheduled for CCTS Clinical Data for Research Training
“Accessing Clinical Data for Research with i2b2,” a hands-on training helping investigators learn how to access de-identified patient data, check study feasibility, develop hypotheses, and more, will take place on Thurs., Dec. 1, from 1-3pm, in Cudworth 305. Register today!
NCATS Awards $6.3 Million Grant for Integrating Patient-reported Outcomes into EHR
The EHR Access to Seamless Integration of PROMIS (EASI-PRO), a multisite grant awarded to nine universities, will make it easier for investigators and clinicians to collect patient-reported outcomes information and use it to improve clinical care and research."
Registration Now Open for CCTS Clinical Data
Seats are filling fast for “Accessing Clinical Data for Research with i2b2.” This hands-on training will cover using i2b2 to access de-identified patient data, check study feasibility, develop hypotheses, recruit, and more. It will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 2-4pm."
CCTS Biostatics Clinic Cancelled for Holiday Weeks
The weekly Wednesday Biostatistics Drop-in Clinic, which usually takes place at PCAMS from 11:30am-1pm, will not be held on the Wednesdays preceding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve (November 23, December 21, or December 28). One-on-one consultations may still be scheduled by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 205-934-7442"
CCTS Meets with External Advisory Committee
Mark your calendars for this hands-on training on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2-4pm at the Cudworth Building, Room 307! Learn how to access de-identified patient data to develop a research hypothesis, check enrollment feasibility for a clinical study or trial, and recruit. Request your i2b2 access now! Registration opens next week.
ICYMI: CEI Speaker Videos, Slides Now Available
Catch the powerful presentations made by our 3rd Annual Community Engagement Institute keynote speakers Kevin Powell and Rep. Jeramey Anderson and peruse the slides from our outstanding breakout sessions.
Bring Your OnCore Questions to the Nov. CCTS Forum
Are you a clinical trial investigator or research coordinator? If so, mark your calendar for Wed. Nov. 1st, 4:15-6pm, when CCTS will host a Q&A session on the enterprise-wide rollout of OnCore, UAB’s clinical trials management software. A special celebration of the extraordinary efforts of our OnCore implementation team will follow. Join us!
CCTS Welcomes New Mentored Career Development (KL2) Scholars
Congratulations to our new cohort of KL2s, whose appointments become official on Nov. 1, 2017. They represent a variety of disciplines including neurosurgery, nursing, orthodontics, and pulmonary critical care. Selected through a rigorous competitive process, the scholars will receive clinical and translational science career development support for up to two years.
CCTS Launches Research Data Management Workshop
Your research data are precious, and the ability to share them is required by sponsors and high-impact journals alike. Discover the latest strategies and tools to help you organize, protect, and disseminate your data, quickly and easily. Don’t lose out on a last-minute opportunity due to missing, messy, or mislaid data.
4th Annual CEI Advances Regional Health Equity Dialogue
Our 2017 Community Engagement Institute (CEI) drew a large crowd, both live and virtual, to share best practices at the nexus of health, environmental renewal, and civil inclusion and empowerment. From the opening keynote speaker to the final networking session, the call for health equity resounded, creating a strong sense of connection and shared purpose among the diverse attendees.
CCTS Now Accepting Applications for Career-Boosting Clinical and Translational Science Training Program
Graduate students, postdocs, and faculty interested in becoming certified in clinical and translational research are encouraged to apply for this free six-month training. Classes meet for two hours every Wed. morning from January to June. Submit an application by 5pm on Wed. Nov. 22.
Win Big Demonstrating Your Research Skill! i2b2 Contest Deadline Fast Approaching
It's not too late to enter to win $500-1000 by searching UAB's i2b2 self-service clinical data repository with a research question in mind and submitting a one-page abstract based on your findings! Don't know how to use i2b2? There is still time to take a CCTS class to learn how to use this powerful research tool before the contest deadline of Friday, Nov. 17.
CCTS Experts in Disparity Research Make the News
Our CCTS team comprises several investigators who are working hard to move the needle on health disparities, a major focus of the CCTS mission. Join us in cheering on Drs. Mona Fouad, Kenneth Saag, and Isabel Scarinci in their efforts to reduce disparities in obesity, gout, and cancer.
Making Headlines: How Scientists Can Work Successfully with the Media
Our latest Training Interdisciplinary & Emerging Research Scholars (TIERS) event featured UAB Media Relations Specialist Bob Shepard, who discussed how the media works, why scientists should care, and what they need to do (and not do) to ace an interview.
CCTS Thanks Its External Advisory Committee Members, Partner Site and Team Leads, Staff
The CCTS External Advisory Committee (EAC) met last week, gathering for a day-long discussion in preparation for a May 2018 NCATS submission deadline. We thank our six EAC members as well as UAB School of Medicine Dean Selwyn Vickers, MD; UAB Vice President of Research Christopher S. Brown, PhD; NCATS Program Officer Erica Rosemond, PhD; and the CCTS partners, experts, and staff who helped make the meeting a success.
Oct. CCTS Forum Highlights the Power (and Fun) of Design Thinking
UAB Associate Dean for Research, Innovation, and Faculty Success; CCTS Executive Council Member; and Stanford d.school expert Dr. Molly Wasko led Forum attendees in a hands-on demonstration of the power of design thinking to produce exciting, insightful solutions to challenges such as how to train early stage investigators in translational science.
Mark Your Calendar for 2017 ADDA Drug Discovery Symposium
This annual symposium, cohosted by CCTS and other Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance members, will take place Thur., Oct. 26. Topics include antiviral drug discovery, including small molecule high throughput screening for antiviral therapies, epigenetic modulators in hematological malignancies, and TXNIP inhibitors for diabetes therapy. Register by Oct. 20.
Non-Coding RNA Symposium Speakers Announced
This free symposium, cohosted by CCTS and the Heflin Center for Genomic Science, will feature nearly a dozen presentations by up and coming ncRNA investigators, a panel discussion, and a competitive poster presentation. Registration is open.
ClinicalTrials.gov: What's New?
The CCTS Clinical Research Support Program updated a lunchtime crowd on the recent revision of the ClinicalTrials.gov website and how these changes are affecting investigators. From upload requirements to a helpful new checklist, find out the latest...and what's ahead.
ADDA Releases Drug Discovery Award RFA
The Alabama Drug Discovery Award − a joint initiative between Southern Research, UAB School of Medicine, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the CCTS − will provide up to two pilot grants of $50,000 in funding annually for up to 2 years. Applications due Thur., Nov. 2, at noon.
How to Share Your Science with the Media
What makes a good news story? At our next TIERS event, UAB Media Specialist Bob Shephard will provide an overview of how the news media works, why scientists should care, and tips for acing a media interview. Mark your calendar for Thur., Oct. 12, 2:30. Register soon, space is limited.
Last Chance to Attend Our 4th Annual Community Engagement Institute!
Registration will close this Thursday, Oct. 5. Don't miss the chance to share best practices and meet other health equity and social justice change agents at our 2017 CEI, which takes place at the BJCC on Friday, Oct. 6. You must be pre-registered to attend!
December CCTS Forum: Research Data Management Tips and Techniques
Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 6, when we will discuss the latest ways to organize, protect, and disseminate your research data. Ensure your data are ready to share with sponsors, journals, and collaborators, quickly and easily. Bring your questions for our experts, doors open at 4pm.
Who Has the Data? Strategies for Successful Research Data Management
Our new workshop drew a standing room only crowd of postdocs, trainees, grad students and faculty members alike. We reprise the highlights, including the whys and hows of data management and who to ask for help (don’t miss our Dec. CCTS Forum for an upcoming chance to connect with CCTS data management experts).
i2b2 Abstract Contest Deadline Extended to Jan. 7, 2018
u still have time to take a CCTS i2b2 training, query nearly 500 million rows of data, submit a one-page abstract on your findings, and possibly win $500-1000. Even better, you will master a powerful new research skill. There is no downside!
CCTS Builds Houses, Too
In the spirit of the season, several staff and faculty from the CCTS recently volunteered half a day to put the finishing touches on a Habitat for Humanity House: building porches, hanging blinds, painting, and cleaning. Not only did the experience help deliver a new home for local resident Ms. Tiffany Wells and her baby son Morgan, but it also strengthened the team spirit that is the foundation of all we do at CCTS.
It’s Not Too Late to Apply to Our Career-Boosting Clinical and Translational Science Training Program!
CCTS encourages graduate students, postdocs, and faculty interested in becoming certified in clinical and translational research to apply for our free six-month training. Classes meet for two hours every Wed. morning from January to June. The application deadline has been extended to 5pm on Friday, Dec. 1.
The CCTS “On Ramp”: A Value Proposition
Do you have colleagues who might benefit from a CCTS learning or funding opportunity, clinical support, research collaboration, or community partner? Here’s a primer to help spread the word, based on a recent Grand Rounds presentation by CCTS Director Dr. Robert Kimberly.
Register Today! CCTS Case Studies in Mentoring
Whether you are a seasoned faculty member or a new trainee, don’t miss the next three sessions of our popular mentoring series: Promoting Professional Development, Cultivating Ethical Behavior, and Articulating Your Mentoring Philosophy and Plan. Each topic is facilitated by an experienced mentor and offered twice a week.
Holiday Schedule for CCTS Drop-in Clinics
The weekly Wednesday BERD Drop-in Clinic will not be held on Nov. 22 or Dec. 27. One-on-one consultations may still be scheduled by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 205-934-7442. All First Wednesday clinics will take place on Jan. 3rd as scheduled.
Encore OnCore! Nov. Forum Celebrates Enterprise-Wide Rollout of Powerful Clinical Trials Management System
More than 60 clinical investigators, research coordinators, and others interested in next-generation clinical trial research joined CCTS to toast the launch of OnCore. CCTS Director Dr. Robert Kimberly highlighted the system’s many advantages and a panel of implementation experts and several super users answered attendees’ questions.
Mark Your Calendar: STRIDE & eConsent Webinar
Are you interested in novel ways to increase participation of under-represented communities in clinical trials? On Dec. 14, the Trial Innovation Network will present a webinar on the Strengthening Translational Research in Diverse Enrollment (STRIDE) eConsent tool, which aims to personalize a process considered by many to currently hamper recruitment. STRIDE represents a collaboration among UAB, UMass, and Vanderbilt Medical Center.
October Entrepreneurial Grand Rounds Highlights the Power of SBIR/STTR Grants
Dr. Laura James, University of Arkansas Medical Center (UAMS) Associate Vice Chancellor of Clinical and Translational Research and Translational Research Institute Director shared her team's success story in leveraging NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants to fund their research and commercialize a new diagnostic test for acetaminophen toxicity.
CCTS Announces Call for CHIA Mentors
Community Health Innovation Award (CHIA) teams compete for grant funding to turn their creative ideas for addressing health challenges in the Birmingham area into sustainable solutions. CHIA mentors play an invaluable role, championing a team through the critical stages of project idea development and presentation. Support positive change in our shared community by applying for this unique opportunity.
Master Your Data with REDCap
Join us at the Hub’s Lister Hill Library on Friday, November 2, for "Using REDCap to Capture and Store Your Data: An Introduction." Facilitated by two well-known data wrangling experts—UAB Department of Medicine CIO Nazmul Islam and Senior System Analyst Shalini Saini—this CCTS-UAB Libraries collaboration represents the fourth workshop in our Data Management Series. Attend all six and receive a certificate in data management. Room G17, 10:30am-noon.
CCTS Conducts Technology Commercialization Pop-up Course at Auburn
More than 30 faculty, postdocs, and students participated in the half-day event, which was led by CCTS Executive Council Member and UAB Collat School of Business Associate Dean for Research, Innovation, and Faculty Success Dr. Molly Wasko. Participants learned how to determine the commercial viability of their innovations, develop a successful business case for securing funding and attracting collaborators, and apply to NIH for an SBIR grant.
Mark Your Calendar: Scientific Community of Outcomes Researchers (SCOR) Open House
CCTS and the Hub-based SCOR team invite you to stop by their new space on the 7th floor of UAB's Faculty Office Towers between 1pm and 3pm on Tuesday, October 30, to learn about several new programs aiming to develop a dynamic community of scholars dedicated to achieving health equity for all. Investigators interested in transitioning from a K to an R grant (and enjoying some Halloween treats!) are especially encouraged to attend. RSVPs to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Updated CCTS SPAN Lab Fee Sheet Now Available
Are you planning a study that will require lab services for specimen processing or analysis and/or DNA and cell preparation? CCTS has posted an updated fee sheet for its SPAN unit to assist Hub research teams for either investigator-initiated or industry sponsored studies with budgeting. Available on request to CCTS Partner Network investigators.
Mark Your Calendar for U-BRITE Day!
Co-sponsored by UAB Informatics Institute and the CCTS, the inaugural Biomedical Research Infrastructure Technology Enhancement (U-BRITE) Day will unveil several “proof of concept” translational research projects while soliciting attendee feedback to help guide its future development. U-BRITE will assemble existing and new HIPAA-compliant, high-performance informatics tools to provide researchers with the means to manage and analyze clinical and genomic data sets, including a “translational research commons” component to enable interdisciplinary team science across geographical locations. So whether your analytic needs for data are big or small, biological or human, or any combination, join us at PCAMS on Thursday, November 1, from 10:30am-2:45pm to see how UAB is transforming your research environment. Working lunch will be provided to first 50 registered attendees.
CCTS Shares Informatics Solutions at TriNetX Summit 2018
Research Commons Program Manager and CCTS TriNetX Liaison Madeline J. Gibson, MPH, traveled to Boston to share informatics-based tips to empower study recruitment and enrollment at the second annual TriNetX conference, an invitation-only event that took place September 25-26 in Boston, MA. Our CCTS Informatics Team is leading the way in i2b2 integration with TriNetX.
CCTS Breaks Ground for Hub Habitat House Build 2018
Braving unseasonably high temperatures in September, CCTS volunteers came together and put up the first walls for the UAB Benevolent Fund's Fifth Annual Habitat House. Follow along via #UABBuilds on Twitter to see this house turn into a home for life-time Birmingham resident Ames Farrell. Congrats to our CCTS Habitat team!
Register Today for Genetics and Genomics in Clinical Research
This week-long immersion course will acquaint you with basic genetic principles and provide hands-on training in the latest technologies and experimental approaches necessary to develop cutting-edge protocols for genetic and genomic studies involving human subjects. You will also learn how to conduct an analysis of genomics using bioinformatics databases. Cosponsored by CCTS and the Heflin Center for Genomic Sciences. Student, postdoc, and faculty investigators welcome.
Registration Deadline Near for 5th Annual Community Engagement Institute
Register by Thursday, October 11, for our upcoming CEI 2018, which will take place at the Hyatt Regency (The Wyndham) in Hoover, AL, on Friday, October 12. This full-day symposium will explore ways we can cross sectoral divides to work synergistically on our greatest health challenges. Seats for "Building Bridges for Better Health through Engaging Communities" are limited, no onsite registration will be available, so secure your ticket today!
CCTS Celebrates Successful Migration of UAB to OnCore Enterprise
CCTS played a lead role in the implementation of the OnCore Enterprise clinical trials management system at the Hub. The culmination of more than a year of highly coordinated teamwork, the migration required moving 274 protocols in three "waves," training 270 individuals including an initial group of super users, and integrating OnCore with the Cerner IMPACT electronic health record. Just in time for an OnCore upgrade in early 2019!
Unique New Conference Aims to Fill Gap in Research at Nexus of Environmental Exposure, DNA Repair, and Genome Integrity
On the weekend of October 20-21, 2018, CCTS Partner University of South Alabama (USA) will host the 1st Southern Genome Maintenance Conference to explore the role of environmental influences on DNA repair and human genome integrity as related to cancer therapy outcomes and disease and health disparities. USA's goal is to facilitate collaborative research on the underlying cellular processes of these understudied nexuses. The conference will provide a chance for students, fellows/trainees, and junior faculty to connect with interdisciplinary experts in these fields.
CCTS Accepting Applications for CTSTP 2019
Become a translational thinker and increase your team science skills with our popular six-month Clinical and Translational Science Training Program (CTSTP)! This competitive, career-boosting opportunity is open to grad students, postdocs, or faculty from across the CCTS Partner Network. Apply by 5:00pm, Friday, November 12, 2018.
CEI 2018 Agenda and Program Now Available
The complexity of our greatest health challenges requires a new level of intersectoral collaboration. Join us for our 5th Annual Community Engagement Institute (CEI), where diverse stakeholders from the Birmingham area and throughout the Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi region will explore innovative ideas for synergizing efforts to improve the health of our communities. Interested in participating? Submit a poster abstract by 5pm Friday, October 5. Be sure to register by Thursday, October 11, to secure your spot.
Mark Your Calendar for Translational Science 2019
This annual event, which will take place in Washington, DC, on March 5-8, 2019, showcases the latest research in translational science and provides a unique opportunity to connect with more than 1,000 researchers, trainees, and federal officers. Sponsors have extended the conference by a day to provide an even more comprehensive educational experience for attendees, including the new ACTS Career Pathways event. Meet key thought leaders in the field and share your research-the Call for Abstracts is open until Thursday, November 15, 2018.
October 3rd Drop-in Clinics Deferred or Relocated
Please note a change in scheduling for our CCTS First Wednesday Drop-in Clinics on October 3rd. Due to the CCTS Training Academy Advisory Council meeting at PCAMS, our Biorepository, Bionutrition, and Clinical Research Unit clinics will be deferred until November 7th. The BERD clinic will relocate to the Lister Hill Edge of Chaos at the usual time (11:30am-1pm).