Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute Provides Researchers with Funding, Resources to Help Improve Health Outcomes

Kansas-based Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Frontiers) is one of approximately 60 Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) programs across the country helping to turn observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public.

The University of Kansas Medical Center’s Mario Castro, MD, MPH, and Children’s Mercy Kansas City’s J. Stephen Leeder, PharmD, PhD, lead the Institute. 

The goal of Frontiers is achieving equity across the lifespan for underserved and historically excluded populations, particularly in urban and rural communities. To accomplish this, Frontiers partners with the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City and Wichita, the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Kansas City University, the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Saint Luke’s Health System and the University of Kansas Health System. As part of the CTSA program, Frontiers collaborates with institution researchers to help catalyze improvements in health and healthcare throughout the region and nation. Frontiers received a five-year, $27 million grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2022. Since 2011, the organization has provided over $10 million to more than 250 research projects. 

Frontiers investigators regularly use five Clinical and Translational Science Units (CTSUs), including the JCERT-funded KU Clinical Research Center in Fairway, Kansas. Through June 2023, CTSUs had more than 5,000 clinical trial participant visits. Additionally, Frontiers offers researchers a number of resources to further their investigations, including assistance with biostatistics, community engagement, team science, genomics, recruitment and integrating special populations. 

Frontiers also offers funding opportunities through Pilot Awards and CTSA-specific awards, as well as an education and training program, which gives additional training to early-career faculty interested in research. As part of this program, Frontiers also assists researchers with scientific communication writing and reviews NIH grant applications. 

To learn more, visit Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute.