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

Request a Letter of Support

Person typing on laptop

Letter of Support

A letter of support from the Ohio State CTSI can significantly strengthen your grant application by demonstrating institutional commitment, highlighting collaboration and detailing resources and support available for the project. For certain grants, letters of support are a required component of the application to demonstrate institutional commitment and feasibility of the proposed research.

How to Request a Letter of Support

  1. Download and Complete the Template: Use the template provided to draft your letter of support. Fill in all the necessary details and tailor it to your project. Use the CTSI Facilities and Resources boilerplate to customize your letter with the appropriate offerings.  Please include:
    1. The name of the proposal and the name of the PI
    2. The name and contact information for the person who should receive the completed letter
    3. Your deadline (The CTSI requests a minimum of fifteen (15) business days in advance)
    4. A copy of your project’s Specific Aims
  2. Submit Your Request: Email the completed template to ctsi-info@osumc.edu. Please ensure that you submit your request at least fifteen (15) business days in advance of your deadline.
  3. Review: Be sure to include any additional information or documents that may support your request. The CTSI will review your draft and provide the final letter on official letterhead within fifteen business days of your request.
Letter of Support Template

Who can use this offering?

Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s researchers, faculty and research staff.

Cite and Submit

Please remember to cite the CTSA grant and submit your publications. Submit your publications to PubMed Central (PMC) for compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy. Ensure that you are following Author Affiliation Guidelines.

Cite the Grant, Access the NIH Public Access Policy and Author Affiliated Guidelines

Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA) Accepting Applications

The Winn Awards program is designed to improve participation in clinical trials to drive better health outcomes in all communities to save more lives. The applications are open for one of their signature programs: the Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA). 

Winn CDA is a two year program designed to support the career development of early-stage investigator physicians who have a demonstrated commitment to transforming and expanding access to the clinical research landscape. They will become community-oriented clinical trialists who will drive improved health outcomes through their research and mentoring.

This award is open to early-career physician researchers who are committed to improving patient participation in clinical trials and transforming the clinical trials.

Applications will be accepted through Monday, May 12, 2025.

Apply Now
More Information

Julie Johnson, PharmD, is the Director and Principal Investigator at The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute. 

Claire (Jungyoun) Han, Spark Award Recipient

Claire (Jungyoun) Han, PhD, DNP, ARNP, an Assistant Professor from the College of Nursing and an affiliate of the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care is designing and developing artificial intelligence (AI) – based chemotoxicity prediction models for patients that have colorectal cancer at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute Gastrointestinal Cancer Center.

“We are in the process of developing these AI/ML-based chemotoxicity prediction models, and the next step is to integrate the model into the EHR-based Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) in real time,” says Han. “This integration will help identify high-risk groups vulnerable to chemotoxicity, which can lead to treatment noncompliance, cancer recurrence, death, adverse events, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, symptom distress and impaired quality of life. This is the first study of its kind in the colorectal cancer population.”

Han plans to use their Spark Award to support the develop and design of a rapid prototype for a preliminary AI-Based chemotoxicity prediction model integrated into a clinical decision support system (AID-CHEMO) as a cloud-based prototype. “With this support, the Spark Award will enable me to generate a preliminary prototype of the potential AID-CHEMO dashboard, laying the foundation for a larger-scale research and future implementation plans.”

Congratulations to Claire (Jungyoun) Han on receiving a Spark Award and using it to make an impact on how colorectal cancer is treated. If you are interested in applying for a Spark Award, applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until April 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/spark2025.

Julie Johnson, PharmD, is the Director and Principal Investigator at The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute. 

Katie Shahwan, Spark Award Recipient

Katie Shahwan, MD, FAAD, an Associate Professor in the Division of Dermatologic Surgery, with co-investigators Andrea Tan, MD and David R. Carr, MD, MPH, is focusing her research on cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), which is the second most common type of skin cancer. “While most CSCCs are low-risk and curable with surgical removal, a small subset is high risk and cause poor outcomes including metastasis and death,” says Shahwan.

This project was developed to detect perineural invasion (PNI), a high-risk feature that upstages tumors and has been independently associated with poor disease outcomes, so it is critical to accurately ad reliably detect PNI when it is present. In using Mohs surgery, a layer-by-layer removal of tissue and careful examination of cells under a microscope, this research team is testing to see how reliably Mohs surgeons can detect PNI on Mohs micrographic surgery slides.

“We plan to have a group of Mohs surgeons from across the United States evaluate a set of CSCC slides and record PNI, including whether it is present, the size and the number and depth of the involved nerves. We will then use kappa statistics to evaluate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. 

Shahwan plans to use her Spark Award funding for statistical analysis for the project. “We are very grateful for the opportunity and look forward to sharing our findings.”

Congratulations to Katie Shahwan on receiving a Spark Award and using it to reliably detect PNI and change the course of how CSCC is treated. If you are interested in applying for a Spark Award, applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until April 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/spark2025.

Julie Johnson, PharmD, is the Director and Principal Investigator at The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute. 

CTSI 2025 FDA Symposium

CTSI 2025 FDA Symposium

Attendees networking at FDA Symposium

CTSI 2025 FDA Symposium

Adapting to Change: Innovations in FDA-Regulated Clinical Trials

Co-Sponsored by The Ohio State University College of Nursing and Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Thank You For Attending!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2025 CTSI FDA Symposium! This year’s event offered a range of insightful sessions, focusing on FDA-regulated research guidelines, evolving regulatory processes and practical strategies to improve inspection preparedness through quality initiatives in clinical trials.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Subinoy Das, MD, FACS, Chief Executive Officer for the U.S. Institute for Advanced Sinus Care and Research, presented an exceptional keynote session, sharing invaluable insights about working with the FDA and providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the complexities of medical device development. His expertise delivered a uniquely engaging and informative perspective.

Attendees also had the opportunity to explore diverse topics through specialized sessions, including:

  • Decentralized clinical trials
  • Revisions to ICH E6 (R3)
  • REDCap Black
  • Artificial intelligence predictive analytics models
  • Drug development protocols
  • Strategies for developing effective recruitment plans

In addition to the educational content, the symposium served as a valuable networking platform, enabling participants to connect with peers and industry leaders to share ideas and best practices.

Thank you to our co-sponsors, The Ohio State University College of Nursing and Nationwide Children's Hospital, for their support in making this event possible. 

And we thank all attendees, speakers and organizers for their contributions to making the symposium an enlightening and successful event. We are excited to continue fostering collaboration and learning in future programs. 

Access the slides from the symposium
Access the FDA Symposium Survey
FDA Symposium attendees
FDA attendees listening to speaker
Dr. Timothy Huerta presenting
FDA attendees listening to lecture
The full room of the FDA symposium

Agenda

FDA Symposium Speaker Biosketches

Access Symposium Speaker Biosketches

Spark Awards Request for Applications

Spark Awards Request for Applications

Introducing the Spark Awards – a new initiative from the CTSI designed to enable preliminary work and generate essential data for both new and ongoing projects. This award is intended to provide investigators with the resources they need to effectively advance their research efforts. The goal of the Spark program is to jump-start new pilot studies with the goal of supporting future extramural grant applications or scientific initiatives. 

Eligibility

Investigators must meet these criteria:

  • Early to mid-stage career level
  • ⁠Post-Doctoral Fellow
  • Instructor, Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor, less than two years of appointment at Ohio State/Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Please note: researchers in the following roles are not eligible for a Spark Award Students (undergraduate, graduate and medical), residents and CTSI funded investigators (K, T, Pilot, Element E)

Principal Investigator (PI) status or a letter of exception at Ohio State or Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  PI eligibility information can be reviewed in the Ohio State Office of Research Study Team Lookup website.

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.

Exceptions may be made. 

Please contact CTSI-SPARK@osumc.edu for more information.

Award Amount

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.

Application Dates

Applications will be received through May 15, 2025, or until designated funds are exhausted.

Number of Awards

The program will make approximately 70 awards during 2024-2025.

Scope of Projects

All 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. In addition, proposals must fall into one of these categories: clinical research, clinical implementation or public health. For 2024-2025, the program will not support basic science or pre-clinical research proposals.

For this funding cycle, use of Spark Awards will be limited to these cores and services:

Spark awards will support services from these cores only. Please contact CTSI-Spark@osumc.edu for any questions related to these services or if there is a service you need that is not currently offered.

How to Apply

  • Complete a MyCTSI Profile
  • Contact the proposed core service and obtain a cost calculation (budget estimate) for the project. Your cost calculation must be completed before submitting your application.
  • Complete the Spark Awards application form. Make sure to answer all questions and attach your cost calculation. 

CTSI Membership Profile

CTSI Cost Calculation Template (Word Document)

CTSI Spark Award Application

Other Important Details

  • Funded projects must be IRB/ORRP approved prior to disbursement of funds. Applicants must satisfy all IRB/ORRP requirements, including required training and reporting of conflicts of interest. 
  • Spark Award applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility, completeness, feasibility to complete within the required time frames, and scientific merit. Applications revisions may be requested by the program. Funding decisions should be available within four (4) weeks of application.
  • All services supported by Spark Awards must be completed by July 31, 2025. All invoices must be received no later than August 31, 2025. 
  • Awardees must complete a post-award survey which will confirm any publications, abstracts and/or grant submissions/awards related to the Spark project.
  • Awards may include funding from more than one core service.
  • Research must be conducted within the US.
  • Funded pharmaceutical or industry studies are not eligible for Spark Awards.

Awardees must be in good standing with CTSI (compliant with citing all publications and requirements of past CTSI funding).

Jamie Boster, Spark Award Recipient

Jamie Boster, PhD, CCC-SLP is conducting research about the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices which are designed to support communication for individuals who are unable to rely on their natural speech to express themselves. AAC devices produce speech output to allow individuals with severe communication impairments to communicate their daily wants, needs, thoughts and opinions to others.

“This project is specifically looking at the profiles of children who use AAC devices and exploring how different models of care are used to develop their skills overtime,” says Boster. “It is necessary to learn more about how children who use AAC devices move through services to support their transitions between models of care which ultimately lead to successfully discharge from therapy. This project will aid in developing an understanding of profiles of children who use AAC which will inform future interventions.”

Boster plans to use her Spark Award funding to develop a REDCap database that allows for tracking of key variables that impact patients who use AAC devices. This database will be developed through a partnership with IT Research and Innovation at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Congratulations to Jamie Boster on receiving a Spark Award and using it to track how AAC devices are impacting children’s lives. If you are interested in applying for a Spark Award, applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until April 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/spark2025.

Boster working with childAAC Devices

Julie Johnson, PharmD, is the Director and Principal Investigator at The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute. 

Accessing Federal Data for Research

To assist with this, University Libraries has compiled a comprehensive guide that provides a curated list of alternative federal data sources, including public repositories and resources licensed specifically for Ohio State affiliates. This valuable guide is continuously updated as new resources and information become available, ensuring that the Ohio State community remains well-equipped to navigate any changes in data access.

Within the guide, users will find archived federal data sources, which include a variety of data repositories, archives and mirrored data collections that serve as backups for federal datasets. Additionally, the guide offers access to library-licensed resources for federal data, which are available exclusively to Ohio State affiliates. Please note that some of these licensed resources may require authentication using university credentials to ensure secure and authorized access.

If you have any questions about federal data access or would like to contribute additional resources to enhance this guide, we encourage you to reach out to the Research Commons at researchcommons@osu.edu.

Access the federal data repository

Julie Johnson, PharmD, is the Director and Principal Investigator at The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute. 

Julie Johnson, PharmD, begins three-year appointment to National Academies Drug Discovery and Development and Translation Forum

Dr. Johnson’s appointment to The National Academies Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation will run through Dec. 31, 2027.  The forum is part of the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.  

This forum will hold public workshops, action collaboratives and meetings that are neutral venues where varying experiences can be shared and built upon. Members of the forum will also work together to spur cross-sector collaboration to develop practical approaches for advancing a clinical trials enterprise that is more efficient, effective and patient-centered and also integrated into the health delivery system.  

Read more about Dr. Johnson's appointment

Julie Johnson, PharmD, is the Director and Principal Investigator at The Ohio State University Clinical and Translational Science Institute. 

Subscribe to