RESEARCH OVERVIEW
division accomplishments
CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION New Technology Disclosures Reach All-Time High // The Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) received more than 200 new technology disclosures in FY2012, up from 118 in 2011 and 93 in 2010. The increase reflects a concerted effort to reach out to Cincinnati Children’s investigators to share the benefits of commercialization. We also established collaboration between Cincinnati Children’s and Ben-Gurion University in Israel that focuses on developing new and innovative pediatric medical devices. MORE THAN
200 NEW TECHNOLOGY
CENTER FOR CLINICAL AND T R A N S L AT I O N A L S C I E N C E AND TRAINING Facilitating Data Access for Researchers // During the past year, we continued to revise Research Central, the portal for investigators to obtain our services. Meanwhile, more than 200 research projects are using REDCap, our secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. Our group also implemented a federated identity management project to make it easier for investigators at Cincinnati Children’s and the University of Cincinnati (UC) to share data. We initiated a new Clinical Research Informatics track in the MS in Clinical and Translational Research program.
DISCLOSURES
were received in 2012.
Innovation Fund Awards $500,000 to Six Projects // Our new Innovation Fund, managed by the CTC, announced the first round of funding totaling $500,000 to support six early-stage projects. The Innovation Fund provides up to two years of funding for projects, and plans to award approximately $1 million per year.
SAC Review Accelerates Commercialization Efforts // This year, the CTC was the first non-faculty division at Cincinnati Children’s to undergo the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) Review. This annual review evaluates how well selected Research Foundation entities are performing in key areas of basic and clinical research, education, clinical care and advocacy. The SAC Review confirmed the direction the CTC is heading and identified several areas for growth. Notable goals include creating funding mechanisms to accelerate the development of commercializable technologies; increasing outreach and engagement with industry for licensing and strategic alliances; improving communication and education within Cincinnati Children’s; and expanding CTC resources by adding personnel.
Providing Research Support and Collaboration // Research Central supported 319 consultation requests and has become a model for several other Clinical and Translational Science Award programs. We offer two RNs with clinical research experience who help define investigators’ needs and connect them with needed services. We also developed a new charge-back mechanism for services provided by Research Central. The Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) awarded five pilot grants related to clinical research ethics and study design methodology. Finally, our group has worked with Biomedical Engineering and several other divisions and departments at Cincinnati Children’s and UC to form a medical device collaborative to foster cross-campus cooperation in medical device design. Expanded Funding for Pilot Studies // Our Pilot and Collaborative Translational and Clinical Studies grant program completed its third cycle of grant funding. We received 102 applications and awarded 14 grants totaling $1.2 million. Work has begun on a fourth round of funding. The CCTST also started a Junior Pilot T1 program that made seven awards of $25,000 each to instructors and assistant professors; awarded five “Just-in-Time” grants to support data collection for external grant applications; provided seven retreat/symposium awards to foster transdisciplinary research; and awarded two Clinical Research Feasibility Fund (CReFF) grants.
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