The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute was launched in recognition of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap initiative. Philip Greenland, MD, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research and Harry W. Dingman Professor of Preventive Medicine, directs the Institute, and William L. Lowe, MD, professor of medicine, serves as deputy director.

NUCATS, currently a virtual institute, will be a growing presence across campuses and clinical affiliates that is positioned to become the home base for clinical and translational science at Northwestern University and its clinical affiliates. The Institute will provide the infrastructure, services, and resources for maximizing and leveraging our interdisciplinary "bench to bedside" research.  Ten thousand square feet of office space is being designed and built to house the NUCATS Institute and its programmatic functions, including the Center for Translational Innovation, the Northwestern University Biomedical Informatics Center (NUBIC), Center for Clinical Research Education, and the Community Engagement and Research Center.  In addition, plans for the Center for Clinical Research are being created to occupy a new state-of-the-art 10,000 square feet clinical research facility in the Olson Pavilion of NMH. This will nearly double currently available space and new or expanded clinical research facilities at CMH and RIC.

Currently, opportunities to advance and support our translational research priorities are being recognized and seized. For example, Drs. Greenland and Lowe spearheaded preparation and submission of a 5-year Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) proposal to the NIH in November 2007. Translational research is recognized as a high priority at the NIH. Its CTSA program will drive the transformation of academic medical centers. A significant collaborative effort was used in creating the master proposal that involved faculty from five Northwestern schools, as well as our clinical affiliates Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), Children’s Memorial Hospital (CMH), Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH), and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).

For more on NUCATS, visit: http://www.nucats.northwestern.edu/