CTSA Corner
Introducing CTSA 4.0
The University of Florida-Florida State University Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), funded by the National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, has evolved over the past 15 years, expanding from a collaborative research partnership into an integrated hub that supports researchers, clinicians, trainees, and community partners across Florida.
Today, the UF-FSU CTSA Hub is one of only two CTSA Program hubs in Florida and is part of a national network of more than 50 hubs working to accelerate translational science. By connecting expertise, resources, and community partnerships, the CTSA helps move research discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic to the community, providing real-world solutions that improve health.
As our partnership with UF enters its newest funding cycle, CTSA 4.0 builds on the foundation of previous award cycles.
Evolution of the UF-FSU CTSA
The UF-FSU CTSA has developed and matured over four funding cycles, with each phase building on the last to strengthen translational science across Florida.
CTSA 1.0: Create (2009–2015)
The partnership began by establishing the foundation for collaborative clinical and translational research. During this phase, UF and FSU worked together to expand research infrastructure and launched initiatives like Health IMPACTS and the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium.
CTSA 2.0: Strengthen (2015–2019)
As the partnership matured, the focus shifted to strengthening statewide collaboration. FSU joined CTSA 2.0 as a consortium partner for community-based clinical research, while OneFlorida expanded its data infrastructure to support research across institutions.
CTSA 3.0: Expand (2019–2024)
FSU became a fully integrated consortium partner, broadening translational research training and collaboration across seven colleges. This phase emphasized expanding opportunities for researchers and increasing interdisciplinary partnerships.
CTSA 4.0: Advance (2024–2031)
Today, CTSA 4.0 builds on that foundation by strengthening the learning health ecosystem and applying translational science to overcome barriers that limit the impact of research. The current award continues to expand collaboration, innovation, and community partnerships to help move discoveries into practice more efficiently.
Strategic Goals for CTSA 4.0
The four strategic goals of CTSA 4.0 provide the framework for the work happening across the UF-FSU CTSA Hub. From preparing the next generation of translational scientists to strengthening collaborations and advancing research into practice, these goals guide our CTSA Hub's efforts to improve health through research.
Meet the CTSA Cores & Programs
CTSA 4.0 is supported by a network of cores and programs that provide research support, training, community engagement, and implementation resources across the UF-FSU CTSA Hub.
Biostatistics, Informatics, and Research Design (BIRD) Core
The BIRD Core provides a central point of support for human health data science, informatics, and clinical and translational research design.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement Core
The Community and Stakeholder Engagement Core strengthens the community’s role in research through outreach, education, shared resources, and collaborative programs that address needs identified by the community.
Dissemination and Implementation Science Core (DISC)
DISC helps bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application by supporting the translation of research findings into practices that improve health, education, and social well-being.
Translational Workforce Development (TWD) Core
The TWD Core trains and equips academic professionals with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to move scientific discoveries into practical applications.
K2R Scholar Program
The K2R Scholar Program supports early career faculty and mentors as they develop high-impact translational science career development and research proposals.
Evaluation Core
The Evaluation Core defines and refines evaluation approaches to measure translational science outcomes and impact. Future editions of the CTSA Corner will highlight these cores and programs in more detail, along with our new, cross-cutting initiative: TrustScience.
News & Announcements
2026–2028 CTSA Scholars Announced
The UF-FSU CTSA Hub is proud to welcome two new career development awardees. Amber DeJohn, PhD, received the NIH/NCATS-funded K12 Multidisciplinary Program Career Development Award for her project, Disentangling Mobility, Cognitive Function, and Digital Behaviors to Understand Social Isolation and Dementia Risk.
Val Wongsomboon, PhD, received a college-sponsored CTSA Career Development Award for her project, Development and Feasibility Testing of a Brief AI Literacy Intervention to Improve Help-Seeking and Mental Health Outcomes in Adolescents.
Congratulations to Dr. Zhe He
We’re also excited to celebrate Zhe He, PhD, Co-Director of the CTSA BIRD Program. He was recently appointed to the NIH Center for Scientific Review’s Clinical Informatics and Digital Health Study Section as a standing member for 4 years. He also received one of FSU’s Graduate Faculty Mentor Awards.
BIRD Office Hours
The BIRD Core hosts virtual office hours for questions related to research and trial design, health informatics and AI, electronic health record data, biostatistics, and bioinformatics.
Office hours are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 10:00 AM via Zoom. The next session is July 21, 2026.
Stay Connected
CTSA Website | LinkedIn