From Labs to Lives: UC Davis receives $40 million NIH award to speed up access to new treatments

UC Davis Health has received a prestigious seven-year, $40 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue and expand its Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC), a critical bridge between research and patient care.

The funding comes from the NIH's Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program. The initiative speeds up the process of turning basic scientific discoveries into tangible clinical treatments, diagnostics and preventive interventions that improve public health.

UC Davis Health is one of more than 60 leading medical institutions across the nation to receive a CTSA award, and has received continuous funding since 2006, when it was one of the 12 original program hubs.

"This award recognizes nearly two decades of building a system that moves promising ideas out of the lab and into clinical care," said Ted Wun, the director and contact principal investigator (PI) of the award. Wun is also the chief of hematology and oncology at UC Davis Health and serves as a co-principal investigator of the California Cancer Reporting and Epidemiologic Surveillance program.

"Our goal is simple but not easy: Train and help researchers, clinicians and communities work together to develop and deliver better treatments faster," Wun added.

With the renewal, UC Davis will expand its efforts in several key areas, including:

• Increasing access to clinical trials at UC Davis Health
• Enhancing training programs and career development to fill critical gaps in the research workforce
• Strengthening community partnerships
• Developing new tools and approaches to speed the translation of research innovations into practice

Turning research into real-world care

Scientific breakthroughs happen all the time. But it can take years - or sometimes decades - for promising treatments to reach people.

CTSA programs, including the one at UC Davis Health, provide support for clinical studies by connecting patients with new therapies and helping investigators navigate the complexities of local, state and federal requirements.

Nicholas Kenyon, a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, is an associate director of the CTSC and a co-PI for the award. "Clinical trials are a vital part of what we can offer our patients at UC Davis Health," Kenyon said. "They can give patients access to sometimes lifesaving or life-altering new therapies and help us advance the overall understanding of medicine through rigorous medical research."

About 460 clinical trials at UC Davis Health are actively recruiting participants, including studies on cancer treatments, behavior, diabetes and metabolism and mental health.

Helping investigators navigate the complexities of clinical research

The CTSC is also a catalyst for collaboration.

The center brings together experts from different fields - like medicine, engineering, public health and data science - to develop new solutions to health challenges.

Equally important is the CTSC's commitment to building the future of clinical research.

Since its launch in 2006, the CTSC has trained hundreds of investigators, clinicians and research professionals - many of whom now lead their own studies and successfully secure research funding.

Investing in people, partnering with communities

"Advancing healthcare isn't just about discoveries - it's about people," said Angela Griffiths, chief administrative officer of the CTSC. "We invest in training researchers and clinical teams so they can run high-quality studies and bring discoveries into everyday care."

The CTSC also emphasizes strong partnerships with patients and communities across Northern California, including rural and underserved areas. "These partnerships help ensure that research reflects real-world needs and that clinical trials are more accessible and inclusive," Griffiths said.

Community engagement programs include working directly with local organizations, offering educational initiatives and involving community members in shaping research questions and study design.

"Health research is most effective when it's done with communities, not just for them," said Courtney Lyles, a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, director of the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research and an associate director and co-PI of the CTSC. "By listening and collaborating, we can develop solutions that truly improve health outcomes."

"This funding means more opportunities for patients to participate in research and more support for our investigators," Griffiths said. "Ultimately, it means faster progress toward better care."

Resources

• UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center
• Clinical trials at UC Davis Health
• About the NIH CTSA Program
• From Labs to Lives: Federally funded research keeps innovation alive