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

CTSI Predoctoral T32 Information Session Registration

Faculty Career Development Grants Information Session

LifeScale

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LifeScale

LifeScale combines a lifespan-linked multimodal data repository with a secure cloud-based computing platform. 

LifeScale empowers researchers to:

  • Investigate lifespan and intergenerational health via linked mom-baby and linked-lifespan records
  • Increase speed and autonomy for researchers via access to clinical and community data for research through an IRB-approved data repository 
  • Accelerate discovery by accessing both a wide range of data and a robust analytic computing environment via a single platform and process
  • Conduct flexible analyses without the delays associated with traditional research data request processes
  • Accelerate translation by working with data in standard EHR data models
  • Enable collaboration using a unified web-based platform
Request Access to LifeScale

Launch to R

LaunchtoR

Launch to R Grant Writing Workshop

The Launch to R Grant Writing Workshop offers a structured, step-by-step path to developing a competitive NIH R01 grant, culminating in a Mock Study Section.

The Launch to R Grant Writing Workshop from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute provides a structured, interactive experience for faculty to facilitate preparation of an initial R01 grant. Over the course of the workshop, participants will write their grant, section by section, and receive peer and expert review on each part. 

The program is open to anyone who is ready to write an NIH R01 grant and will accept up to eight applicants. The program concludes with a Mock Study Section. 

The workshop will meet in person from 2 to 4:30 PM at the CTSI in Prior Hall every two weeks from September 2 to December 16. 

When

Beginning September 2 - December 16, 2025

Every Other Week

 

Where

In-Person

Prior Hall, Suite 260

Application Due

August 17, 2025

Apply Now

Full Schedule

September 2, 2025: Session 1 - Introduction Session

September 16, 2025: Session 2 - Aims

September 30, 2025: Session 3 - Aims v. 2; start talk about Significance and Innovation

October 14, 2025: Session 4 - Significance/Innovation

October 28, 2025: Session 5 - Approach

November 10, 2025: Session 6 - Approach v. 2

November 25, 2025: Session 7 - Budget Justification/Biosketch

December 2, 2025: Grant due

December 16, 2025: Session 8 - Mock Study Session

Questions?

Contact Stuart Hobbs

 

NASEM Community Lecture and Discussion: Supporting Caregivers in STEMM

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: College of Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and College of 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. 

New for FY26: Two scholarship seats are available for non-participating colleges, as well as dedicated participant seats in all participant colleges. Applications are due by August 10, 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
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. 

The successful applicant is expected to have significant clinical research/clinical trials experience as much of the work of the research resources team focus on this part of the CTS research spectrum.  

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.

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

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.

Relevant Experience

The successful applicant is expected to have significant clinical research/trials experience. 

Term

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

Application Deadline

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

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