CCTST

People in Greater Cincinnati who want to participate in research studies can now connect online with researchers nationwide by joining ResearchMatch.org.  ResearchMatch is a not-for-profit website that brings together researchers and people who are willing to learn more about research studies in a secure and convenient manner.  UC and CCHMC are 2 of the 52 institutions participating in this first national, disease-neutral, volunteer recruitment registry.

ResearchMatch is the product of the Clinical and Translational Science  Awards (CTSA) Consortium, led by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The CTSA Consortium is  a national network of 46 medical research centers, including the UC Academic  Health Center (AHC), working together to improve the way biomedical research is conducted across the country. 

The Cincinnati liaison for ResearchMatch is the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST), co-directed by associate deans for clinical and translational research James Heubi, MD and Joel Tsevat, MD, MPH.  The CCTST spearheaded the AHC’s successful CTSA application, culminating in a $23 million, 5 year award starting in April 2009.  The UC AHC is the 39th member of the CTSA Consortium.  “ResearchMatch offers an excellent opportunity to link translational researchers with research participants across the nation,” Dr. Heubi said.  “This program should be particularly helpful in the study of rare diseases, an area which is sometimes neglected.”

How does ResearchMatch work?
ResearchMatch will ‘match’ any interested individual residing in the United States with researchers who are approved to recruit potential research volunteers through the system. After an individual has self-registered to become a volunteer, ResearchMatch’s security features ensure that personal information is protected until volunteers authorize the release of their contact information to a specific study that may be of interest to them. Volunteers are simply notified electronically that they are a possible match and then make the decision regarding the release of their contact information.

For the first year of the project, only researchers affiliated with participating CTSA institutions may be eligible to utilize the recruitment tool, but plans exist to ensure it will be available beyond the CTSA by 2011.  Investigators interested in participating can complete a Researcher Interest Form.  A complete list of CTSA Consortium members may be viewed here.

For more information on ResearchMatch, see the official NIH press release.

The CCTST is now accepting applications from junior faculty for the next round of KL2 Research Scholars mentored career development awards.  Funded by the Academic Health Center’s NIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), the KL2 program provides 75% salary support (up to $75,000/year) plus $25,000 in expenses for 2-3 years to highly qualified MD, PhD, or PharmD junior faculty pursuing careers in clinical and translational research.

During the award period, Scholars are expected to pursue their own K23 or similar individual career development awards.  To be eligible, the applicant must have a faculty appointment at UC, CCHMC, or the Cincinnati VAMC at the time of the application; the position cannot be contingent on obtaining the KL2 award. The applicant must also be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status.  Faculty who have been a principal investigator on an R01 or another K award, or project leader on a P01 or P50, are not eligible.  Those who have been a PI on an R03 or R21 award are still eligible. As with other K awards, KL2 applicants may not have pending any career development award that duplicates any of the provisions of their KL2 application.

An internal competition will be held and 1-2 applications will be selected for funding beginning April 1, 2010.  Applications will consist of a 1-page letter of intent outlining the applicant’s career development and research objectives, followed by a 12-page PHS 398-format application detailing the career development plan (in approximately 4 pages) and the research plan (in approximately 8 pages), along with letters of support from the candidate’s primary mentor and division director or department chair, the applicant’s other support page and the checklist.  The letter of intent is due by October 26, 2009 at 5:00 PM and the full KL2 application is due by December 1, 2009 at 5:00 PM. 

Current KL2 Scholars are Xiaonan Han, PhD, CCHMC division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition; Melinda Butsch Kovacic, MPH, PhD, CCHMC divisions of asthma research and biostatistics and epidemiology; and Yui-Hsi Wang, PhD, CCHMC division of allergy and immunology. 

For more information, please contact KL2 program directors Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD (513-636-7177) or Ken Clark, PhD (513-558-6552).  Additional details are available here:

• Application instructions and checklist
• Program description and requirements
• Cadre of mentors

The CCTST is now accepting applications from junior faculty for the next round of Clinical Research Feasibility Fund (CReFF) grants.  Instructors or assistant professors utilizing the resources of the Clinical Translational Research Center (CTRC, formerly the General Clinical Research Center) are generally eligible to apply.  Fellows anticipating a faculty appointment during the grant period may also be eligible.  The CReFF provides one-year start-up funding of up to $20,000 for pilot studies, potentially renewable for one additional year.

Potential applicants are strongly advised to contact the program director, Dr. James Heubi, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   prior to submitting an application.  Applicants must already have an active CTRC-approved protocol or submit one for review with their proposal.   A letter of intent is not required.  Applications must be submitted as a single .pdf file to  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  by 12:00 noon on Friday, December 4, 2009.  Late applications will not be accepted without Dr. Heubi’s prior approval.  Two grants will be awarded this cycle.  Click here for complete details, or contact Angela Sterwerf at (513) 803-2778.          

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) has announced the recipients of “T1” pilot project grants from its first funding round, which began September 1.  They are Philip Howles, PhD, assistant professor, pathology and laboratory medicine; Ian Papautsky, PhD, associate professor, electrical and computer engineering; Kimberly Risma, MD, PhD, assistant professor, pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) allergy and immunology; and Shannon Saldaña, PharmD, assistant professor, pediatrics, CCHMC clinical pharmacology and pharmacy. 

“T1” (translation 1) research is designed to bring laboratory findings into the clinic.  Made possible by the NIH Clinical & Translational Science Award (CTSA) and institutional funds, the pilot grant program is modeled after the former CCHMC Translational Research Initiative (TRI), and available to investigators across UC and the Academic Health Center. 

Dr. Howles’ study, “CEL Inhibitors for Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease,” will assess whether a carboxyl ester lipase inhibitor given together with a statin will provide added benefit in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia over treatment with a statin alone.      

Dr. Papautsky’s multidisciplinary study,“Zinc Chip for Point of Care (POC) Monitoring in Critically Ill Children,” will work on developing a device that will allow rapid and accurate measurement of zinc levels at the bedside, which may lead to simple zinc supplementation-based therapies for critically ill patients.  Co-investigators are Hector Wong, MD, professor of pediatrics and director of the CCHMC pediatric intensive care unit; Fred Beyette Jr, PhD, associate professor, electrical and computer engineering; and William Heineman, PhD, distinguished research professor, chemistry.

Dr. Risma’s  study, “Pathogenesis of Perforin Mutations Causing Immunodeficiency,”  will help determine why some perforin mutations lead to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis while others lead to milder clinical disorders or no symptoms at all.  Co-investigator is Andrew Herr, PhD, associate professor, molecular genetics, biochemistry and microbiology.

Dr. Saldaña’s study, “Pediatric Expert Dosing Strategies (PEDS) for Warfarin,” will study genetic differences in children taking warfarin and develop a formula to help clinicians choose a dose for effective treatment with lower risk of adverse events.

Letters of intent for the next T1 funding round must be received by Friday, October 9 at 5:00 PM.  Click here for more details or contact Angela Sterwerf at (513) 803-2778 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .