Annual Scientific Meeting
CTSI Annual Scientific Meeting
The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) held its Annual Scientific Meeting on February 12, 2026, bringing together a broad and engaged audience from across the university and beyond. Attendees represented 12 colleges, along with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State regional campuses, reflecting the CTSI’s central role in the translational science and research community. Interest in the event was so strong that registration closed nearly a month early after reaching capacity with 328 attendees, exceeding the original target of 250.
The depth and breadth of research were evident throughout the day, particularly during the poster sessions. A total of 153 presenters from 12 colleges and Nationwide Children’s Hospital shared their work. To accommodate the high level of participation, two poster sessions were held, creating additional opportunities for discussion, collaboration and meaningful engagement. The expanded format encouraged conversation across a wide range of topics, including clinical and basic science, community‑engaged research, implementation science and other health initiatives.
The meeting was guided by the theme Advancing Health Through Science and Partnerships for a Healthier Future, with a special focus on rural health research, care delivery and community impact. While rural health was highlighted throughout the program, the agenda reflected the full spectrum of translational science, offering value for investigators at every stage and across a wide range of disciplines.
A keynote session on rural health stood out as a defining moment of the day. Attendees were especially moved by the personal perspective shared by John Carl Barba II, MD, MPH, who spoke about growing up in Appalachia and how those experiences shaped his path and passion for improving rural health outcomes. He was joined by Lori Criss, MSW, and Electra Paskett, PhD, FACE, FAACR, FASCO, who discussed their leadership and research focused on advancing health and health equity in rural communities. The combination of lived experience and scientific expertise resonated strongly with attendees and was widely described as one of the most impactful sessions of the meeting.
A special session on science communication added a different kind of energy to the day. Sara Serritella from the Institute for Translational Medicine at the University of Chicago led a high-energy, high‑impact discussion on how to communicate research effectively and authentically. Attendees left with practical tips for sharing their work with the public, using social media strategically, building trust with audiences and positioning their research for long‑term success beyond academic settings.
The program also featured speed presentations from both early‑career and established faculty, offering quick, engaging snapshots of innovative work taking place across campus. These fast‑paced sessions highlighted the breadth of translational research underway and gave attendees the opportunity to learn about new ideas, approaches and potential collaborations in a short amount of time.
In the afternoon, a panel discussion focused on work being done in rural communities across Ohio and brought together community advisory board members, local health workers from Appalachian counties, Ohio State Extension professionals who serve all 88 counties in the state, and researchers leading major implementation studies. The discussion highlighted the importance of strong, sustained partnerships and featured work such as the State of Ohio Adversity & Resilience Brain Health Study (SOAR), a first‑of‑its‑kind, multi‑generational study examining biological, psychological and social factors related to mental health. The panel underscored how community‑engaged research is driving meaningful change across the state.
Feedback from attendees reflected the success of the event. One hundred percent of survey respondents reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the Annual Scientific Meeting, and all indicated they were likely or very likely to attend a CTSI event in the future. Many also shared that the meeting provided valuable opportunities to connect with other researchers and partners, with several noting that they made new connections or began new collaborations as a direct result of attending.
Together, the strong turnout, expanded programming and overwhelmingly positive feedback reinforced the CTSI Annual Scientific Meeting as an important space for connection, collaboration and shared progress toward improving health through science and partnership.
2026 Annual Scientific Meeting Schedule
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Please bring your poster with you to registration.
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Julie Johnson, PharmD
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John Carl Barba II, MD, MPH, Lori Criss, MSW and Electra Paskett, PhD, FACE, FAACR, FASCO, to present keynote session.
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10-minute break!
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Presented by Sara Serritella, a science communication expert at the University of Chicago, an award-winning journalist and private detective whose high-energy presentations can be seen across global and national stages.
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Discover groundbreaking research from across campus as faculty share their work in less than five minutes each!
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Take some time to chat with research colleagues from across campus.
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We’re doubling the fun! Thanks to the incredible number of poster submissions, we’ll be hosting two poster sessions. The second will run from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
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Presentations about Rural Health topics and the Southeastern Ohio Community Advisory Board, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session.
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10-minute break
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Selected abstracts from early-career faculty that will be featured in five-minute, five-slide speed presentations.
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Julie Johnson, PharmD
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We’re doubling the fun! Thanks to the incredible number of poster submissions, we’ll be hosting two poster sessions.
View the research posters and network with colleagues from across campus.