Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio, Catalyzing Linkages to Equity in Health (CLE Health)

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT For the past 15 years, the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) has linked clinical and translational research efforts at five independent institutions— CWRU, Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth System, University Hospitals of Cleveland, and Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Two new partners (University of Toledo School of Medicine and Northeast Ohio Medical University) are now being added to extend the CTSC’s reach across Northern Ohio. The CWRU CTSC has a strong track record of enhancing the quantity and quality of Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) among our partners by facilitating novel research paradigms, technologies, and training. Our CTSC has developed a new generation of researchers, enhanced collaborations among investigators, streamlined discovery by building partnerships among industry and community and organizational partners, and facilitated many successful entrepreneurial startups. Building on this solid foundation, the CWRU CTSC proposes an expanded focus on health equity, reflected in the project theme Catalyzing Linkages to Equity in Health (CLE Health). Social, economic, and environmental disadvantages are linked to poor health outcomes and lead to disparities in life expectancy, infant mortality, and rates of chronic conditions. Minority groups are often underrepresented in clinical trials as well, meaning there can be insufficient data for understanding the effectiveness or safety of new drugs, procedures, or health interventions for different populations. The overall goals of this project are to 1) understand the fundamental barriers to optimal recruitment of underrepresented groups in clinical trials and test and scale interventions aimed at breaking down these barriers to diversify study engagement, 2) facilitate and expedite innovation in multicenter clinical and translational research by fully integrating community and stakeholder partners and ensuring that this research represents the experiences of all and results in health improvements for all, 3) disseminate and implement novel and responsive research programs across clinical and community settings to advance access to health interventions that aim to promote health equity, and 4) create and disseminate inclusive and high impact educational and training programs for translational research professionals of all disciplines and levels, both in clinical and community settings. The CTSC has designed a Strategic Management Core and six CTS research and training Elements to accomplish these goals: Workforce Development, Community & Stakeholder Engagement, Resources & Services, CTS Pilot, Health Informatics, and CTS Research Program. We are committed to innovative and collaborative practice and dissemination of results so that everyone in Northern Ohio—and beyond—can benefit from advances in CTS in our programs and discoveries.