UIC CCTS Receives 7-Year NIH CTSA Renewal — and UICOMP Joins as a Key Partner
NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award
The University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) has received a major 7-year renewal of its NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) — a transformative investment of more than $30 million from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). This award supports institutions that accelerate the movement of scientific discoveries from the laboratory and community into real-world health solutions, treatments, and prevention strategies. CTSA programs are nationally recognized for building strong research infrastructures, fostering innovation, promoting workforce development, and addressing critical health challenges through team science.
For the first time, the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) is an active partner in UIC’s CCTS, marking an important milestone for our campus. UICOMP’s inclusion elevates Peoria’s role in clinical and translational research at the state and national levels and strengthens our ability to contribute to cutting-edge science that improves health outcomes across Illinois.
UICOMP played a meaningful role in this year’s successful renewal application. Dr. Soni Dodani and the Center 4 Health Research (C4HR) team represent UICOMP within the CCTS structure. Dr. Dodani serves as the Lead for Element E (Research Core) and Co-Lead for Element C (Workforce Development Core), helping shape statewide strategies in research innovation and workforce development. Dr. Sarah Donohue, Associate Director of C4HR–Population Health and Engagement, also contributes to the Research Core (Element E), reinforcing Peoria’s expertise in community-engaged and population health research.
What This Means for the UICOMP Campus
As a full CTSA partner site, UICOMP faculty, trainees, and research staff now have expanded access to CCTS’s robust set of services, including:
- Consultative support for clinical, community-based, and translational research
- Methodology, biostatistics, and informatics resources
- Pilot grant opportunities supporting innovative early-stage research
- Training, education, and workforce development programs
- Eligibility for competitive career development funding, including the prestigious CCTS K12 Career Development Awards, opening for applications in January 2026
This partnership enhances UICOMP’s research infrastructure, expands opportunities for faculty engagement, and positions our campus to play a greater role in statewide research collaborations that address today’s most pressing health challenges.