UC Davis Health Receives $40 Million NIH CTSA Award to Accelerate Clinical Translation
Key Insights
UC Davis Health (search) has been awarded a seven-year, $40 million NIH grant to continue and expand its Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC).
The CTSC has served as a critical bridge between laboratory discoveries and patient care since 2006, when UC Davis was among the 12 original CTSA program hubs.
The renewed funding will expand clinical trial access, enhance research workforce training, strengthen community partnerships, and develop new translational tools.
UC Davis Health (search) has secured a prestigious seven-year, $40 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue and expand its Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC), reinforcing the institution's role as a vital conduit between scientific discovery and patient care.
The funding, granted through the NIH's Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program, positions UC Davis among more than 60 leading medical institutions nationwide that hold CTSA designations. The institution has received continuous CTSA funding since 2006, when it was selected as one of the 12 original program hubs.
"This award recognizes nearly two decades of building a system that moves promising ideas out of the lab and into clinical care," said Ted Wun, director and contact principal investigator of the award. Wun, who also serves as chief of hematology and oncology at UC Davis Health (search) and co-principal investigator of the California Cancer Reporting and Epidemiologic Surveillance program, added: "Our goal is simple but not easy: Train and help researchers, clinicians and communities work together to develop and deliver better treatments faster."
Bridging the Translational Gap
Scientific breakthroughs routinely emerge from laboratories, yet the journey from discovery to approved therapy can span years or even decades. The CTSA program at UC Davis Health (search) addresses this gap by providing critical support for clinical studies, connecting patients with novel therapies, and helping investigators navigate the complex web of local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
Nicholas Kenyon, a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, associate director of the CTSC, and co-PI for the award, emphasized the patient-centered value of the initiative. "Clinical trials are a vital part of what we can offer our patients at UC Davis Health (search)," Kenyon said. "They can give patients access to sometimes lifesaving or life-altering new therapies and help us advance the overall understanding of medicine through rigorous medical research."
Currently, approximately 460 clinical trials at UC Davis Health (search) are actively recruiting participants, encompassing studies on cancer treatments, behavioral interventions, diabetes and metabolism, and mental health.
Expanding Scope Under Renewed Funding
With the renewal, UC Davis will broaden its efforts across several strategic domains: increasing access to clinical trials at UC Davis Health (search), enhancing training programs and career development to address critical gaps in the research workforce, strengthening community partnerships, and developing new tools and approaches to accelerate the translation of research innovations into clinical practice.
The CTSC functions as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from medicine, engineering, public health, and data science to develop novel solutions to health challenges. Since its inception in 2006, the center has trained hundreds of investigators, clinicians, and research professionals, many of whom now lead independent studies and successfully compete for research funding.
Investing in People and Communities
"Advancing healthcare isn't just about discoveries — it's about people," said Angela Griffiths, chief administrative officer of the CTSC. "We invest in training researchers and clinical teams so they can run high-quality studies and bring discoveries into everyday care."
The CTSC places particular emphasis on partnerships with patients and communities across Northern California, including rural and underserved areas. Community engagement programs involve direct collaboration with local organizations, educational initiatives, and the inclusion of community members in shaping research questions and study design.
Courtney Lyles, a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, director of the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, and associate director and co-PI of the CTSC, underscored the philosophy guiding these efforts. "Health research is most effective when it's done with communities, not just for them," Lyles said. "By listening and collaborating, we can develop solutions that truly improve health outcomes."
Griffiths summarized the broader implications: "This funding means more opportunities for patients to participate in research and more support for our investigators. Ultimately, it means faster progress toward better care."