CTSI offering predoctoral awards in translational research

The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) is seeking applicants for TL1 Predoctoral Awards in Translational Research. These awards are designed to provide promising predoctoral students with the opportunity to be mentored in research-intensive, multidisciplinary settings toward the goal of developing careers in translational research.

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) defines translation as the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public. This includes a wide range of research that consists of diagnostics and therapeutics, medical procedures and behavioral change.

Emphasis of CTSI predoctoral training awards are to move findings from basic laboratory and clinical research (referred to as T1 research) toward the development of new treatment options/interventions (referred to as T2 research)  and eventual dissemination and implementation (T3+ phases of translational research). The goal of CTSI is to make awards at all of these levels.

It is important that the translational research have clear applications to human disease and health outcomes. To that end, predoctoral training through this CTSI program is viewed as a collaborative endeavor among the trainee, the primary mentor, and the co-mentor. Therefore the application must be completed by both the primary mentor and the applicant. 

Funding is available for predoctoral graduate students. Eligibility criteria for application include the following:

• Candidates must have completed at least one year of a predoctoral training program but cannot have completed more than their third year (i.e., applicants must be in the second or third year of their predoctoral program when they apply). Applicants must be from Indiana-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University Bloomington, Purdue University West Lafayette, or the University of Notre Dame.
• Candidates must receive interdisciplinary mentorship from a clinician or clinician-scientist with a doctoral degree and a basic or non-clinician scientist with a doctoral degree. This means there must be at least two mentors (i.e., one person cannot fill both roles). Either one may serve as primary mentor.
• The primary mentor must have a research program that includes peer-reviewed, extramurally funded research.
• Candidates’ proposed research should be translational in nature and take advantage of the synergism that comes from working at this basic/clinical interface or clinical/community interface.
• Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply.

Funding is for two years (with the second year of funding contingent upon satisfactory progress). Benefits include a stipend as well as health insurance and partial coverage of tuition.

Trainees will be required to attend and present a poster at the National Association of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ACTS) meeting in Washington, D.C., in the spring, attend and present a poster at the annual Indiana CTSI meeting in the fall, and present their work at several Indiana CTSI predoctoral gatherings during the academic year. They also will be encouraged to participate in brief experiential learning opportunities, for example experiences with an industry partner, government agency, community organization, or health research-related organization, and other training opportunities provided by the Indiana CTSI throughout the year.

Completed applications must be submitted by Nov. 12, and awards will start July 1, 2021.

For general questions, contact Tammy Siemers at tsiemers@purdue.edu or 765-496-0294.

Candidates will be submitting through the Indiana CTSI’s grants management software WebCAMP. Information on how to submit, along with the WebCAMP User’s Guide, can be found here.