Georgetown-howard universities center for clinical and translational science (ghuccts)

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences awarded a cooperative agreement to Georgetown University for $3.969 million on August 4, 2026, under the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences program (CFDA 93.350).

Georgetown University leads the Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science (GHUCCTS), a multi-institutional partnership that includes Howard University, MedStar Health Research Institute, the Washington DC Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The center promotes high-quality interdisciplinary clinical and translational science by utilizing one of the largest integrated clinical research networks in the United States, leveraging synergistic collaborations among partner institutions, and advancing translational science priorities aligned with NCATS objectives. The award funds work performed in Washington, DC, with a period of performance extending through May 31, 2033.

GHUCCTS operates as a Clinical and Translational Science Award hub established in 2010 to establish, nurture, and grow a transformative translational science ecosystem wherein scientific excellence and innovation catalyze measurable health improvements through collaborative, multidisciplinary, and multi-institutional partnerships. The center aims to serve as a field-leading center for clinical translational science innovation while participating in multi-hub collaborations regionally and nationally.

Abstract

Initially funded as a clinical and translational science award (ctsa) in 2010, the georgetown-howard universities center for clinical and translational science (ghuccts) is a unique partnership of georgetown university, howard university, medstar health research institute, the washington DC veterans administration medical center, and OAK ridge national laboratory. Each partner and collaborator bring unique and complementary strengths to our ctsa hub. The overall vision of ghuccts is to establish, nurture, and grow a transformative translational science (TS) ecosystem wherein scientific excellence and innovation catalyze measurable health improvements via collaborative, multidisciplinary and multi-institutional partnerships. We will implement our vision and move forward as a fully mature ctsa with the capacity to serve as a field-leading center for clinical translational science (CTS) innovation while participating in multi-hub collaborations both regionally and nationally. The principles upon which our specific aims are based have remained the bedrock of our ctsa since its inception but have significantly evolved in this application to reflect new, timely CTS priorities and plans, innovations, and knowledge aligned with the national center for advancing translational sciences' (ncats) priorities. This application highlights how we will innovate beyond our current successes and lessons learned in order to grow CTS in the next phase of ghuccts, and the specific strategies for accomplishing each of the following specific aims: aim 1. Promote high-quality interdisciplinary CTS by effectively utilizing one of the largest integrated clinical research networks in the united states. Aim 2. Leverage and expand the strength of ghuccts as a model multi-institutional ctsa hub by fostering synergistic collaborations among our partner and collaborating institutions. Aim 3. Design and execute CTS projects that achieve transformative health impacts through deep and sustained engagement with the varied communities that we represent. Aim 4. Implement innovative, scalable educational programs that promote the principles of cross-disciplinary team science and provide high-quality training for a broadly-based CTS workforce. Aim 5. Develop and validate innovative computational methods and data-driven approaches to enhance CTS, thereby improving both research efficiency and public health outcomes.