Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of California, Davis received a $971,998 Project Grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), CFDA 93.350, effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031. The award supports the CTSA K12 Program titled "Advancing Clinical and Translational Innovation by Vitalizing and Training Early-Career Faculty" (ACTIVATE), an institutional career development program designed to cultivate early-career scholars into independent translational science investigators. The program delivers comprehensive, tailored training tools and mentoring services that equip scholars with strategic skills, methodological expertise, and broad perspectives necessary to excel as translational science leaders in academic, community, and industry settings. Building on nearly two decades of institutional success with 44 previously trained early-career faculty members, the program focuses on developing researchers skilled in team science, community engagement, and advanced research techniques.

Over the five-year funding period, ACTIVATE aims to cultivate a new generation of highly skilled translational scientists who will lead transformative, interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and patient-centered research initiatives. The program recruits and mentors early-career scholars from diverse scientific backgrounds while fostering innovative career development initiatives and supporting ongoing growth of both scholars and mentors. Through structured mentoring, professional development, and research training delivered by UC Davis's Clinical and Translational Science Center, the program addresses the critical workforce need for exceptional clinical and translational investigators capable of advancing human health and healthcare solutions across diverse community populations.