The federal grant to the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute will be used to accelerate scientific discovery and train future researchers.

UC San Diego’s Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute has been awarded a seven-year, $80 million Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.

This is the fourth consecutive CTSA awarded to the institute since it was established in 2008 and is one of UCSD’s largest federal research grants.

The grant will support ACTRI’s endeavors to accelerate scientific discovery, increase access to groundbreaking therapies and train the next generation of health researchers.

“This award underscores the national significance of ACTRI’s work and the trust placed in our ability to accelerate progress in human health,” Dr John Carethers, vice chancellor for health sciences at UCSD, said in a press release.

The grant also affirms the university’s “leadership in building a more equitable and efficient research ecosystem — one that translates scientific discovery into better health outcomes for all,” he said.

“It’s about bridging the gap between science and care, and doing it faster, smarter and more fairly,” said Dr Davey Smith, UCSD assistant vice chancellor for clinical and translational science.

ACTRI also serves as one of 60 coordinating hubs supported by the CTSA program, allowing a wide network of partner institutions to access the institute resources. The new grant adds Eisenhower Health, Rady Children’s Hospital, the VA San Diego Healthcare System and El Centro Regional Medical Center to this group, which already includes Mesa College, and La Jolla’s the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Sanford Burnham Prebys.

The coordination links data across institutions to streamline research processes. 

ACTRI also prioritizes workforce development programs, providing mentored fellowship opportunities for early-career scientists and the Creating Dedicated Scientists through Research Education program, which offers research experience to Mesa College students at Mesa College.

“We’re cultivating future leaders ready to accelerate medical breakthroughs,” said Colin Depp, UCSD School of Medicine professor of psychiatry. “This award gives them a path forward.”