Translation in action: Influence, collaboration, and evolution of COVID‐19 research with Clinical and Translational Science Awards consortium support
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: The National Institutes of Health (NIH)'s Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) consortium aims to accelerate translational processes that move discoveries from bench to bedside. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unmatched challenges and applications for CTSA hubs nationwide. Our study used bibliometrics to assess features of COVID-19 publications supported by the national CTSA program to characterize the consortium's response to the pandemic. Our goal was to understand relative scientific influence, collaboration across hubs, and trends in research emphasis over time. We identified publications from NIH's curated iSearch COVID-19 Publication Portfolio from February 2020 to February 2023; 3234 peer-reviewed articles relevant to COVID-19 cited a CTSA grant. All 66 CTSA hubs were represented, with large-size and longstanding hubs contributing more publications. Most publications cited UL1 grants, 457 cited KL2/TL1 training grants, and 164 cited multiple hub grants. Compared to a random sample of non-CTSA-supported COVID-19 publications, the CTSA portfolio exhibited greater clinical relevance, more human research, and higher altmetric and citation influence. Results were similar for multi-hub publications involving networked initiatives like multi-site clinical trials or the National COVID-19 Cohort Collaborative. Shifts from molecular/cellular-oriented research toward human-oriented research over time were evident, demonstrating translation in action. Results illuminate how the CTSA consortium confronted the pandemic through high-quality projects oriented toward human research, working across hubs on high-value collaborations, advancing along the translational spectrum over time. Findings validate CTSA hubs as critical support structures during health emergencies.
DOI: 10.1111/cts.13700
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,300
Awards: G4091522973, Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NUCATS), G5514976981, G6675941278, G6810423065, G687203789, G7473568262, Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Cleveland, Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio, Catalyzing Linkages for Everyone's Health (CLE Health), University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA), North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute (NC TraCS)
OpenAlex ID: W4390411435