CCTS secures $55.5 million grant, extends leadership in translational research

By Kenny Bybee, UTHealth Houston
Dr. David McPherson

David McPherson, MD, was recently appointed vice president for Clinical and Translational Sciences at UTHealth Houston. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences at UTHealth Houston has secured a $55.5 million grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, an agency of the National Institutes of Health, extending its funding through 2031. The continuation of funding into the Clinical and Translational Sciences Awards (CTSA) Program’s fourth grant cycle underscores the center’s pivotal role in advancing clinical and translational research across Texas.

As one of the three Texas Medical Center institutions among the inaugural class of recipients of the Clinical and Translational Science Award in 2006, which launched the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, UTHealth Houston has paved the way in translating laboratory discoveries into practical patient treatments.

Kevin A. Morano, PhD, senior vice president of Academic and Faculty Affairs and the Roger J. Bulger, MD, Distinguished Professor at UTHealth Houston, highlighted the center’s significant contributions.

“Maintaining funding for so long is not only a badge of honor but also a testament to our leadership in clinical and translational research,” Morano said. “It’s about building and sustaining partnerships that can drive meaningful change in health care.”

The center’s network spans several institutions, covering a catchment area of approximately 23,000 square miles and serving more than 16 million residents. This extensive collaboration facilitates a wide range of research, from molecular studies to public health initiatives.

  • UTHealth Houston: With expertise and resources in biomedical research, translational science, training, and implementation science, UTHealth Houston, the prime institution of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, is led by David McPherson, MD. At UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Brownsville, where Belinda Reininger, DrPH, serves as dean, the development and expansion of the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort is overseen by Joseph McCormick, MD.
  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Overseeing research and services for the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences at the No. 1 cancer treatment facility in the country are Daniel Karp, MD, and Funda Meric-Bernstam, MD, who specialize in bench-to-bedside research and high-level complex clinical trials. Leading community engagement initiatives is Lorna McNeill, PhD, MPH.
  • Rice University: Under the direction of Jane Grande-Allen, PhD, Rice brings expertise in computer science, team science, and innovative diagnosis and health care approaches.
  • The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center: Jarret Berry, MD, is the site lead for UT Tyler Health Science Center, where the focus is on community health in a largely underserved rural population through the newly launched School of Medicine, the first of its kind in East Texas.
  • The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: Bringing medical faculty, trainees, and communities together, Everardo Cobos, MD, steers research and engagement with populations whose health care is impeded by factors such as poverty and lack of insurance.
  • Texas Tech Health El Paso: The newest partner is situated in the Borderplex Region of far West Texas where a substantial underserved population stands to benefit from participation in clinical and translational science overseen by Deborah Clegg, PhD, and Edward Michelson, MD.

“Early on, our focus was on foundational science and initial clinical research,” Morano said. “Today, our work spans all stages of translational research, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes directly in clinical settings.”

A key component of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences’ success is its statewide collaboration, engaging partners across Texas. This has allowed the center to act as a control center, channeling resources, training, and expertise to various regions, including underserved areas such as El Paso, Tyler, and Brownsville.

McPherson leading the charge
As the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences looks to the future, principal investigator McPherson is a central figure in its operations. McPherson is chair and professor of the Department of Internal Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, where he also holds the Francine J. and Frederick M. Pevow, MD, Chair of Internal Medicine and the James T. and Nancy B. Willerson Chair. He was recently appointed vice president for Clinical and Translational Sciences at UTHealth Houston.

McPherson was instrumental in UTHealth Houston securing three cycles of the CTSA Program awards, establishing the institution’s prominence in academic medicine. His efforts have brought together 11 principal investigators and over 100 clinicians, researchers, and staff from six partner institutions, successfully meeting the evolving and expanded requirements of the NIH.

“Dr. McPherson has been the driving force that has maintained our status for 17 years,” Morano said. “His tenacity allows us to continue to do fantastic work serving the state. He has been the glue.”

McPherson highlighted the Center for Clinical and Translational Science’s unique role in conducting clinical research that represents the American population.

“We are the only program for 16 million people in Texas, spanning from northeast Texas through Houston, down to the Rio Grande, and over to El Paso,” McPherson said. “Our catchment area brings clinical and translational research to patients who have never been exposed to research, and better represents the population in the U.S.”

Looking ahead, the center plans to expand its outreach to include all counties in South Texas, aiming to bring clinical trials within 30 minutes of every resident. “We’re working with our Texas Regional CTSA Consortium partners to develop research trials in small communities, ensuring broader access to clinical research,” McPherson said.

Community engagement is essential to the center’s success.

“It’s about everyone working together,” McPherson said. “Once the community is engaged, they participate willingly because they trust and believe in our mission. They know we’re not going to walk away. And we couldn’t do what we do without them. Together, we are transforming health.”

The grant also leverages dissemination and implementation science to accelerate and improve the use of evidence-based interventions in clinical and community settings. These efforts are led by María Fernández, PhD, vice president of Population Health and Implementation Science at UTHealth Houston, founding co-director of the UTHealth Houston Institute for Implementation Science, and professor and Lorne Bain Chair in Public Health and Medicine at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. The work focuses on translating scientific discoveries into everyday clinical and public health practices, addressing logistical challenges, and ensuring innovations reach communities to address health inequities.

“Our CCTS has previously applied dissemination and implementation processes to translate innovations into real-world solutions,” Fernández said. “In this next cycle, we have included a specific D&I core through the UTHealth Houston Institute for Implementation Science that will work across all CCTS components to facilitate research translation and to advance the field of D&I science.”

Signature achievements
The Center for Clinical and Translational Science’s impact was particularly notable during the COVID-19 pandemic, where existing infrastructure facilitated rapid response and significant contributions to understanding and combating the virus.

The center gained national recognition for its role during the pandemic, particularly in conducting the convalescent plasma trial. “Our partner, UT Tyler, was the highest enroller in the country for this trial, bringing in population groups that had never been part of clinical trials before,” McPherson said.

Leading the CONTAIN COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma trial, the consortium, including UTHealth Houston, UT Tyler, and UTRGV, enrolled 246 subjects within eight months.

Significant contributions were made to the National COVID Cohort Collaborative and other major research programs, leveraging a large, varied population base.

Other Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences initiatives include the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, which has tracked more than 5,000 individuals to measure chronic disease burdens, securing $16 million in grants from the NIH and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Vanderbilt University. The Texas Regional CTSA Consortium united four CTSA hubs to advance research and training programs. The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences facilitated a statewide institutional review board reciprocity agreement among 23 Texas institutions, supporting over 1,300 research studies, and pioneered the “umbrella clinical protocol” for large database analytics, enhancing research efficiency across multiple institutions.

Training the next generation
In addition to research, the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences emphasizes mentoring and workforce development. Programs such as the T32 grant support junior researchers and postdoctoral fellows, while workforce training initiatives enhance the skills of clinical research nurses and allied health professionals.

The K12 training program provides mentored career development in clinical and translational sciences for early career faculty and provides related resources to all partner institutions. K-program graduates have gone on to achieve high levels of federal funding and have become leaders in academic medicine.

“Training the next generation of scientists is crucial,” Morano said. “We’re facing unprecedented challenges in health care, and technology is evolving at a record pace. Our programs are designed to equip students and trainees with the skills needed to become professionals and leaders in clinical and translational research.”

The center’s commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers is evident in its initiatives, including high school training programs funded by the NIH. These programs aim to foster an early interest in medicine and clinical research, preparing students for future careers in the field. As the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences continues to grow, it remains a beacon of stability and innovation in clinical research.

“The strength of our program allows us to take on more jobs and responsibilities, ensuring we can continue to deliver high-quality research and mentorship,” McPherson said.

With its ongoing, innovative efforts and secured funding, the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences is well positioned to be the leader in clinical and translational sciences, driving medical advancements and transforming health across Texas and beyond.