Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Advancing today’s discoveries to improve health for all.

RAPTIC Application Process and Schedule

RAPTIC logo

RAPTIC

RAPTIC supports faculty doing innovative research in the medical, health or biomedical fields. 

FY26 Cohort - Now Accepting Applications!

Applications are open to participating college faculty for the RAPTIC (Research Accelerator Program to Translate, Innovate and Commercialize) FY26 cohort. The current  participating colleges include: Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy VetMed, and Education and Human Ecology. 

The Mission of RAPTIC is to facilitate and accelerate progress in translational and clinical research at Ohio State by increasing awareness of and access to key resources and training, in order to identify and realize innovative ideas with applications that can be protected by IP, funded, commercialized and implemented in healthcare or biomedical settings. 

Please contact program founder Dr. Kristy Townsend and program coordinator Kimberlee Moore to obtain an application form. 

Please note – in FY26 we have two open scholarship seats for non-participating colleges, as well as dedicated participant seats in all participant colleges. Applications are due by July 25, 2025, by email with the subject line RAPTIC APPLICATION.

 

Learning Sessions FY26

Registration is open to participating college faculty for the RAPTIC Learning Sessions, held in-person monthly from September 2025 - May 2026.  

The Mission of RAPTIC is to facilitate and accelerate progress in translational and clinical research at Ohio State by increasing awareness of and access to key resources and training, in order to identify and realize innovative ideas with applications that can be protected by IP, funded, commercialized and implemented in healthcare or biomedical settings. Applications are open now for participants in participating colleges and for two scholarship seats in non-participating colleges. Please contact program founder Dr. Kristy Townsend and program coordinator Kimberlee Moore with any questions.

View the FY26 Learning Session Calendar
Register for the FY26 Learning Sessions

“I’m afraid for this to end. I was able to get ideas in the group coaching setting and then execute it in my 1:1 research coaching sessions.”

RAPTIC Pilot Cohort Participant

RAPTIC Program Overview and History

RAPTIC logo

RAPTIC

RAPTIC supports faculty doing innovative research in the medical, health or biomedical fields. 

Learn More and Apply to be a part of the RAPTIC FY26 Cohort!

Ready to Apply? Read FY26 Cohort Application Info.
Early career researcher with mentor

“I could not have gotten this intramural research award had I not participated in RAPTIC.”

RAPTIC Pilot Cohort Participant

History of RAPTIC

A Brief Timeline

RAPTIC Creation

2022
RAPTIC was created by Kristy Townsend, Ph.D., College of Medicine. RAPTIC was developed to support access in research and IP/commercialization work, by providing a framework of: 1) peer-trained research coaches to enable support and accountability that accelerates progress and success for faculty research programs, and 2) custom learning content generated with RAPTIC and its partners to fill gaps in research, innovation, IP and commercialization trainings and resource dissemination.

Pilot Cohort

2023-2024
RAPTIC ran two pilot cohorts in 2023 and 2024 with participant from the College of Medicine and Nationwide Children's Hospital with the co-leadership of Dr. Carolyn Presley. Two participants from the pilot cohort credited the coaching and skills gained through RAPTIC as instrumental in securing their first intramural funding awards.

Expansion of Program

2025
RAPTIC is expanding its reach to include all faculty and research teams working in health, medicine, and biomedical fields across the university. In 2025, new strategic partnerships were established with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Dr. Julie Johnson), Health Science Innovation (HSI)/ERIK (Dr. Paco Herson), The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and other key collaborators. Five colleges officially joined as partners this year: the College of Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Pharmacy and the College of Education and Human Development.

“I would have never known I had a product to commercialize if I hadn’t done RAPTIC, now I am teaching full professors that they have IP of their own to protect that they weren’t aware of, and I connected them to a license officer.”

RAPTIC Pilot Cohort Participant

RAPTIC Leadership and Coaches

Kristy Townsend
Dr. Kristy Townsend
RAPTIC Founder/Head
Dr. Carolyn Presley
Phase 1 Coaching Director
Kimberlee Moore
Kimberlee Moore
Program Coordinator

RAPTIC Advisors

Dr. Paco Herson
Associate Vice President for Health Sciences Innovation
Julie Johnson, PharmD headshot
Dr. Julie Johnson
Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Program Support from the following:

  • Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  • Health Sciences Innovation
  • College of Medicine
  • College of Education and Human Ecology
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Pharmacy
  • College of Veterinary Medicine

 

Spark Awards RFA

Please read all of the Spark Awards RFA instructions below before submitting your application.

CTSI will award Spark Awards to Ohio State and Nationwide Children's Hospital investigators worth up to $3,000. CTSI will award up to $5,000 for projects involving researchers from two different Ohio State colleges or a collaboration between Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s investigators.

Scope of Projects

Proposals must encompass activities to support a future grant application or major scientific initiative, or provide additional support critical to the success of an existing project. 

Award Amount

$3,000 - $5,000

Application Dates

Applications will be received through March 15, 2026, or until designated funds are exhausted.

To Apply for a Spark Award

  1. Complete a MyCTSI Profile
  2. Contact the core service for a cost calculation (quote/estimate) and upload it as a PDF with you application.
    1. You are required to contact the core service provider and work collaboratively to obtain the quote. 
    2. The personnel who helped you must be listed on the intake form. 
  3. Complete the Spark Awards application form. Make sure to answer all questions and attach the PDF of your cost calculation.
CTSI Membership Profile
Eligible Cores
Cost Calculation Template
Spark Awards Application

Eligibility

Eligible Investigators must meet the following criteria:

Applicants must be early to mid-stage career level.

  • Post-Doctoral Fellow (academic track)
  • Instructor, Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor, less than two years of appointment at Ohio State/Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Research Scientists 

Applicants must be IRB approved as key personnel or investigator to work on the protocol.

Spark awardees may receive only one Spark award (single or collaborative) per funding cycle. A new funding cycle will start no earlier than August 1 of each subsequent year.

Projects must fall into one of these categories

  • Clinical research
  • Clinical implementation
  • Public health

Ineligibility

Before applying, please review the following restrictions to ensure your role, project type and requested services meet eligibility criteria. The following are not eligible for Spark Award consideration:

Ineligible Roles

  • Students (undergraduate, graduate and medical)
  • Residents
  • Research managers

CTSI Previously Funded Investigators

  • Individuals currently funded by CTSI mechanisms (K, T, Pilot, Element E)
  • Researchers who have already received a Spark Award during this funding cycle

Ineligible Project Categories

  • Basic science
  • Pre-clinical research
  • Animal model studies

Unsupported Core Services

  • Core services not explicitly listed in the table below
  • Services involving animal models, biomarker testing or genomic research
View Eligible Service Cores

Other Important Details:

  • If applicable, Projects must have IRB approval before funds are disbursed. 
  • Applicants must satisfy all IRB requirements, including required training and reporting of conflicts of interest. 
  • You must be approved by the IRB to work on the protocol. 
  • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with funding decisions provided within four weeks.
  • Applications are reviewed for eligibility, completeness, feasibility to complete within the required time frames, and scientific merit. Revisions or clarifications may be requested by the program. 
  • Awarded services must be completed by July 31, 2026. Final invoices must be received by August 31, 2026. 
  • Awardees must complete a post-award survey about related publications, abstracts and/or grant submissions/awards.
  • Awards may include funding from more than one core service for a single project.
  • Research must be conducted within the US.
  • Awardees must be in good standing with CTSI (compliant with citing all publications and requirements of past CTSI funding).
Apply for a Spark Award

For more information:

Email

CTSI-Spark@osumc.edu

Spark Award FAQ

FAQs

Frequently Asked questions below. Please contact CTSI-Spark@osumc.edu with any additional questions. 

Eligibility Questions

Application Questions

Award Questions

Core Service Questions

Call for Applications: Clinical and Translational Science Institute Program Co-Director

Call for Applications!

The CTSI is Seeking a Research Resources and Services Program Co-Director

Blocks with silhouettes

The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is seeking a dynamic faculty member to serve as the co-director for the CTSI Research Resources and Services (RRS) Program. The goal of the RRS is to facilitate and advance success of clinical and translational science (CTS) across campus, and beyond by providing resources, programs, services and/or guidance to clinical and translational researchers. The co-director will work with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital co-director of RRS to ensure robust programming across our CTSA Hub. The primary duties involve overseeing all RRS programs (Regulatory, Recruitment, Research Navigator, Spark Awards, DSMB support, etc.), leading innovation of each of these resources and identifying other resources that might advance CTS at Ohio State. 

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Coordinate with CTSI leadership to ensure alignment and integration of Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA)-related programs within the broader CTSA framework.
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of local and national research resource initiatives that advance clinical and translational science (CTS).
  • Design and curate toolkits and resources for the CTSI website to support investigator success across the CTS continuum.
  • Develop, implement and oversee innovative programs tailored to the needs of the CTS research community.
  • Facilitate complex research resource navigation requests, serving as a point of contact for advanced support.
  • Participate on CTSI leadership committees as appointed, contributing to strategic planning and program oversight.
  • Engage actively with national CTSA leadership, networks, and committees to represent Ohio State and support collaborative efforts in RRS.
  • Provide oversight and mentorship to CTSI staff supporting this mission area, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and operational excellence.

The CTSI is funded under the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award. The CTSI has been funded since 2008 and in 2023 was successfully awarded seven years of funding through 2030.

This CTSI leadership position is associated with salary support through the NIH CTSA grant (based upon NIH salary cap)

The term for the RRS Program co-director will begin no later than November 1, 2025

Applications will be accepted until August 15, 2025

Requirements, Qualifications and Apply

  • Requirements

    Applicants must be willing to be a dedicated Program Director of the Research Resources and Services (RRS), including national engagement with other CTSA hubs, along with serving on several CTSI committees. Applicants must:

    1. Be a current Ohio State faculty member
    2. Have a notable scholarly record consistent with the duties of the role.

  • Qualifications

    Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to lead a program that includes faculty and staff members, a record of clinical trial and research study success. 

  • Application Process

    Complete the application form for the RRS Program Director position at CTSI by 11:59 p.m., August 15, 2025

    A completed application packet includes: candidate application , a 2-3 page statement that describes interest in the role and experiences in clinical trials/clinical research that would equip the candidate for success, a CV and NIH Biosketch that includes a personal statement related to the CTSI role you are applying for. Once an application is submitted, the CTSI will follow up with confirmation on the submission materials.

    The CTSI PI, Dr. Julie Johnson, will be the hiring authority, with input from a subcommittee of CTSI leadership. 

    Complete the Application Form

About the CTSI and the Research Resources and Services (RRS) Program

RAPTIC

RAPTIC logo

RAPTIC

RAPTIC supports faculty doing innovative research in the medical, health or biomedical fields. 

RAPTIC Program Mission

Facilitate and accelerate progress in translational and clinical research at Ohio State by increasing awareness of and access to key resources and training, in order to identify and realize innovative ideas with applications that can be protected by IP, funded, commercialized and implemented in healthcare or biomedical settings.

RAPTIC is a year-long program; participant applications open in July each year, learning sessions run September to May, and every other June we hold a showcase and pitch competition. 

1 Short-Term Goals

  • Faculty recruitment, retention, job satisfaction
  • Support more ‘projects’ turning into ‘products’ at Ohio State
  • Connect faculty and their research teams to resources and information that enable the innovation pipeline 
  • Encourage cross-campus collaborations and peer support
  • Accelerate research progress and success for a broad group of faculty

2 Longer-Term Goal

  • Improve metrics for faculty research, IP, licensing, innovation grants and retention collectively driving a higher return on investment for individual colleges through existing fiscal workflows on campus that return indirects, license revenue, industry co-development opportunities and more.

“My confidence grew so much and I learned the research building blocks I needed.”

RAPTIC Pilot Cohort Participant

Three Phases of RAPTIC

Faculty may join at the appropriate phase. 

1 Ideation to Innovation

Strengthening research programs, transforming research ideas into innovative concepts, learning about IP.

2 Projects to Products

Developing projects into tangible products while securing intellectual property.

3 Invention Development

Refining inventions, mitigating risks, and planning for business success.

Key Elements of Each Phase

Coaching

Trained peer coaches for research acceleration.

Learning Sessions

Content, individualized feedback and peer networking.

Resources

Internal and regional connections, mentors, handbook and materials.

Opportunities

Funds for grant development, prototyping, seed/pilot work, and more.

Interested in being a part of the RAPTIC FY26 Cohort?

Learn More and Apply
Two female scientists working in a lab

“I never would have submitted this grant if I didn’t have the support of RAPTIC.”

RAPTIC Pilot Cohort Participant

R34/U01 Clinical Trials Deliverables Project Management

Appendix B: R34/U01 Clinical Trials Deliverables- Project Management

There is an illustration of a building shape with pillars. At the top of the building share is a triangle shaped roof with UM1 Submission in text. The next layer has the words "Regulatory Authority Submission Management."

There are nine pillars holding the roof in place and the read from left to right: Data Management Plan (CRF); Statistical Plan; HSP- Informed Consent (transitions); Drug Supply/Accountability; Monitoring Plan; Enrollment, Randomization & Subject Tracking; Central Laboratory & Sample Repository; Data Safety and Monitoring Plan; Training and Site Initiation Plan.

Below these nine pillars are four levels of flooring, which include form the top to the bottom: Sites/Subcontracts/budgets, Clinical Operations Management and Manual of Procedures, Study team, and lastly, Protocol and Investigator Brochure. 

Clinical Research Team Structure (Page 13)

Appendix A: Clinical Research Team Structure (Page 13)

The Clinical Research Team Structure image illustrates the hierarchical organization and roles within a clinical research team. The structure is designed to ensure efficient management and execution of clinical trials. Here is a detailed description of the image:

Regulatory (ICH, FDA) is in a black box positioned at the top center of the hierarchy with the Sponsor and Contract Research Organization branching out directly below in gray boxes. Underneath is the Medical Director in a spruce green box with a Coordination Center beige box branching out below and to the left that includes purple boxes with Regulatory sStaff, Fiscal management and a Project Manager. Branching out below and to the right is the Data Coordinating Center in the same style beigh box as the Coordination Center that includes Data Manager, Statistician and Monitor in mustard yellow boxes.

The next tier on the structure has the Principal Investigator in a lime green box positioned at the top middle of this next level of hierarchy with the Grants Manager, Sponsored Programs, IRB and CCRM/CTO Management Teams listed next to it in pink boxes. 

Below this tier are gray arrows that show a back and forth connection with the Principal investigator lime green box is a row of teal boxes that include, from left to right, Research Assistant, Nurses, lab Tech, Clinical Research Coordinator, Sub-investigators and Pharmacist. 

Directly below these teal boxes is one sky blue box with an arrow showing the back and forth relationship with Subjects.

 

Bioinformatics Shared Resources (BISR) Summer Omics Workshop

22nd Annual Ohio Mass Spectrometry Symposium

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