Baylor College of Medicine, University of Houston Receives $44.2 Million to Create Regional Center for Translational Research

Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston have been awarded a $44.2 million Clinical and Translational Science Award Program grant from the National Center for the Advancement of Translational Research to establish a regional center that will serve as a infrastructure support, services, community engagement and workforce development. to advance research and drive innovation in translational medical science.

The new site is called the Consortium for Translational and Precision Health (CTPH) and builds on the strong collaboration between UH and BCM as well as clinical and research teams within the Texas Medical Center that collaborate with these two institutions. It relies on the strength from both organizations of basic science, translational research, health services, pharmaceutical science as well as business to develop and disseminate new methods. CTPH will also connect researchers with public health organizations and government agencies involved in health, clinical research and policy in the region.

“This transformational grant for medical research, led by Baylor and UH, will advance patient care in Houston even further,” said Dr. Paul Klotman, president, CEO and chief executive officer of BCM. “It will accelerate the transfer of new technologies to patient care.”

“Research is the engine that powers life-changing health advances,” said UH President Renu Khator. “This science center will be the catalyst for fundamental discoveries and treatments that improve the quality of people’s lives. That is what drives us at UH and we are excited to create a transformative center near Baylor.”

The leaders of CTPH are Dr. Christopher Amos, professor and director of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) BCM, Dr. Fasiha Kanwal, professor of medicine and director of the gastroenterology and hepatology section at BCM, and Dr. . Bettina M. Beech, clinical professor of public health and chief public health officer at UH.

“CTPH is a partnership that relies on the strengths of both institutions, to create a rich multi-functional environment. It will serve as a vehicle to improve the infrastructure and resources needed to carry out effective research and implementation solutions to advance health care,” said Dr. Carolyn Smith, interim vice president and director of research at BCM. “It will help implement and create ongoing research activities that will support translational medical science at both institutions.”

This site will provide funding for pilot projects, and support the foundation needed for further research. For example, a researcher conducting a clinical study may need help with social and engagement issues, additional study design planning, or access to clinical data. CTPH will provide tools and services to accelerate the pace of research from discovery to population-level impact.

The CTPH platform was designed in part by the work of Amos’s group at ICTR, a group that supports clinical and translational research within BCM.

In addition to UH’s Population Health program and Division of Research, CTPH will draw on expertise from 10 UH colleges, including the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Optometry, CT Bauer College of Business, Cullen College of Engineering, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Honors College.

“We are deeply committed to advancing new approaches in clinical and translational science, and this award is a major step forward in our mission to improve population health outcomes,” Beech said. “This is a testament to the unwavering dedication and collaborative spirit of all involved. It was definitely a team effort.”

Currently, more than 60 leading medical centers across the country receive funding from the CTSA Program. The Centers provide expertise, resources and partnerships at the national and local levels to improve the health of individuals and communities. The CTSA program also expands the field of translational sciences through education, training and career support at all levels.