The inaugural UAB Marchase Interdisciplinary Research Centers Symposium explored the importance of “a spirit of camaraderie” in science addressing important societal challenges. The half-day event, named in honor of former UAB Vice President for Research and Economic Development Richard B. Marchase, PhD, featured talks by leading UAB researchers, discussion of the roles of UAB’s University-wide Interdisciplinary Research Centers (UWIRCs), a poster session, and presentation of the inaugural Marchase Award. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the NIH, presented the keynote.

CCTS Director Dr. Robert Kimberly and Child Health Research Unit Co-Director Dr. Steve Rowe presented two of the three morning talks, both underscoring the role of translational thinking in successful team science endeavors. In his presentation “Targeting Mucus Clearance for the Treatment of Lung Diseases,” Rowe discussed how cystic fibrosis research is accelerating discoveries in other respiratory diseases and disciplines.

In “Science through Synergy: The CCTS and Partner Network,” Kimberly described examples of successfully reaching across boundaries to enable projects with high-impact potential to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes such as the Southern All of Us Precision Medicine Initiative, the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative, StrokeNet, and the Southeast Health Alliance for Research (SHARe). “Translation is more than a process, it is a way of thinking,” he said. “By joining together in this paradigm shift, we create capacity other institutions do not have and become a catalyst of innovation and development opportunities.” 

Our CCTS poster likewise highlighted the powerful impact of reaching across disciplinary and institutional boundaries in pursuit of shared research and workforce training goals. From CCTS-supported research trending in the national news to exponential growth in clinical trial initiatives, community engagement efforts, trainees, and multidisciplinary panels aimed at sharpening science, CCTS is making a difference across the AL, LA, and MS region and within the CTSA consortium.

Editor’s Note: Many thanks to CCTS Web Specialist Kate Matthews for her contributions to this news brief.