The University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico have been awarded a significant seven-year federal grant totaling $43.6 million to launch an ambitious research initiative focused on enhancing healthcare outcomes for residents of Arizona and New Mexico. This collaborative project aims not only to drive medical and clinical breakthroughs across both states but also to cultivate a new generation of translational researchers and healthcare professionals dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing health issues in the region. The grant, provided by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), underscores a commitment to accelerating the transformation of scientific discoveries into effective treatments that directly benefit patients and communities.
Central to this initiative is the establishment of the Southwest Center for Advancing Clinical and Translational Innovation (SW CACTI), a flagship entity within the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program. The CTSA consortium is a network of 61 leading academic health centers nationwide, all focused on enhancing translational science—the process that bridges laboratory research and clinical application. SW CACTI represents a strategic convergence of expertise and resources from two prominent institutions, harnessing their clinical strengths and research capacities to create an integrated platform dedicated to rapid innovation and community-focused health solutions across the Southwest.
The seven-year, $43.6 million funding package is comprised of approximately $38.8 million allocated to foundational translational science research, supplemented by a $4.8 million K12 Research Training and Career Development Award. This supplementary funding is designed to empower aspiring translational scientists through rigorous training and mentorship opportunities. The overarching goal is to foster a dynamic workforce capable of advancing the field of translational medicine by integrating clinical insights and cutting-edge research methodologies, ensuring that biomedical discoveries more swiftly permeate clinical practice and community health interventions.
Dr. Sally Radovick, who leads SW CACTI at the University of Arizona, emphasizes the critical role of this partnership in addressing the unique demographic and epidemiological characteristics shared by Arizona and New Mexico. Both states have large Native American and rural populations, presenting challenges in healthcare access and delivery that necessitate tailored solutions supported by robust clinical research infrastructure. By expanding the reach and capabilities of the CTSA network in the region, SW CACTI will enhance clinical trial enrollment and broaden the availability of therapeutic advances to underserved populations, thus promoting health equity.
Banner Health, the University of Arizona’s primary clinical partner, is poised to play an integral role in the implementation of SW CACTI’s research agenda. According to Dr. Corey Casper, chief research officer at Banner Health, the CTSA award will accelerate the health system’s ability to conduct pioneering clinical research, facilitate rapid translation of innovations into patient care, and nurture a community-engaged research culture. This partnership will not only increase clinical research capacity but also help develop a robust pipeline of clinician-scientists trained to tackle complex health problems within diverse patient populations.
Collaborative efforts extend beyond these core institutions, encompassing regional partners such as Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Diné College, and several health organizations including the Flinn Foundation and the Arizona Department of Health Services. This collective network represents a multi-disciplinary ecosystem fostering translational science through shared expertise, data resources, and community engagement. The integration of academic, clinical, and public health stakeholders is foundational to SW CACTI’s strategy to translate research findings quickly into actionable healthcare solutions.
The SW CACTI initiative has identified substance use disorders and rural health disparities as focal points for translational research. Notably, both Arizona and New Mexico are grappling with an ongoing opioid crisis that disproportionately affects rural communities. SW CACTI’s translational research approach aims to develop and disseminate innovative opioid addiction treatment strategies tailored to rural healthcare settings. This includes expanding access to medications, behavioral interventions, and specialized clinical services to enhance outcomes for patients suffering from opioid use disorder.
A key translational research project spearheaded by the team will evaluate the deployment of a new addiction consult service at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Led by Dr. Nancy Pandhi, the investigation centers on assessing whether this model increases outpatient follow-up care for patients with opioid use disorder after hospital discharge. The insights garnered will be compared with similar services implemented in rural hospitals, thereby generating evidence to refine addiction treatment protocols and delivery systems across rural and urban settings alike.
Beyond targeted studies, SW CACTI will support a competitive pilot funding mechanism to stimulate innovative translational research projects. Researchers from both the University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico will have the opportunity to apply for these funds, promoting cross-institutional collaboration as well as independent investigations. This approach not only encourages scientific diversity and novelty but also fosters a collaborative research culture, leveraging the complementary strengths of both institutions.
Integral to the SW CACTI mission is the training and professional development of early-career scientists specializing in translational research. The K12 Research Training and Career Development Award will enable systematic mentorship and skill-building programs, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of investigators proficient in bridging basic science and clinical applications. Community engagement and inclusivity remain pivotal, with efforts to expand undergraduate programs designed to inspire students from diverse backgrounds, thereby diversifying the translational science workforce of the future.
Monitoring and evaluation represent critical components of SW CACTI’s framework, with plans to track outcomes across economic, policy, clinical, and public health domains. These metrics will provide comprehensive insights into the initiative’s impact in transforming healthcare delivery, research innovation, and workforce development across the Southwest. The ability to quantitatively assess the program’s success will inform iterative improvements and serve as a model for similar programs nationwide.
This grant award underscores a strategic vision by the NIH and its CTSA program to leverage regional strengths and collaborations for high-impact translational science. By addressing region-specific health challenges through cutting-edge clinical research, training, and community partnerships, SW CACTI partners aim to accelerate innovative healthcare solutions that are both scientifically rigorous and deeply attuned to the needs of diverse populations in Arizona and New Mexico.
Subject of Research: Translational Science and Clinical Research in Healthcare, Substance Use Disorders, Rural Health Initiatives
Article Title: University of Arizona and University of New Mexico Launch Southwest Translational Science Initiative with $43.6 Million Federal Grant
News Publication Date: Not explicitly provided
Web References: NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) UM1TR005466 grant information
Image Credits: Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
Keywords: Rural populations, Substance abuse, Opioid addiction, Clinical studies, Health care
