As we close our 15-year celebration of the CCTS, we reflect on the remarkable milestones achieved and set our sights on the promising horizon. Our journey began in 2008, transforming research and fostering pivotal collaborations across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Looking ahead, we are energized to continue pioneering advancements in health, from genomic medicine to maternal and fetal health, ensuring every breakthrough propels us toward a future rich with discovery and impact. Together, we move forward, committed to innovation and the betterment of human health. Revisit our journey and envision the future with us by watching our 15-Year Celebration Video.

As we continune to celebrate 15 years of CCTS, we spotlight a notable achievement from 2019—Chocolate Milk Mommies, winners of that year’s Community Health Innovation Award (CHIA).

Reflecting on our journey during our 15-year celebration, we spotlight the unveiling of the CCTS Grant Library in May, 2016. This invaluable resource was born from a collaboration with seasoned investigators across our network, designed to demystify the grant writing process.

Reflecting on a milestone in our 15-year journey, we celebrate the successful launch of the Southeast Health Alliance for Research (SHARe) in 2016. This visionary consortium has significantly advanced multi-site studies and clinical trials, promoting seamless collaboration among CCTS Partners and driving innovation from the lab to the community.

During our memorable 2019 Open House, nearly 200 community members, including trainees, staff, faculty, and friends, gathered at the CCTS hub at PCAMS to mark a significant achievement - the launch of "CCTS 3.0," courtesy of our recent grant renewal. This event offered a dynamic exploration of CCTS's pivotal role in accelerating clinical and translational research.

As we continue our look back over 15 years of amazing work from the CCTS, we celebrate a monumental stride in our journey: the establishment of the Forge AHEAD Center (at the time of funding, referred to as the Deep South Center to Reduce Disparities in Chronic Diseases). A member of the Health Equity Action Network, this NIH-supported collaborative effort leveraged the CCTS Partner Network to enhance the successful implementation of evidence-based knowledge through rigorous scholarship and workforce development.

In a landmark moment for the CCTS and the global medical community, we celebrate the FDA's approval of trofinetide, the first treatment for Rett Syndrome. This breakthrough is a testament to the pioneering work of Dr. Alan Percy, CCTS Senior Scientist and a leading authority on Rett Syndrome, and his dedicated team. Dr. Percy's early diagnostic work and the subsequent decades of rigorous research have been pivotal in understanding Rett Syndrome's progression and developing effective treatments.

Our journey began with the establishment of the NIH-funded Rare Disease Clinical Research Center at UAB, which played a crucial role in enrolling nearly 1,000 patients to study Rett Syndrome's natural history. This foundational work paved the way for the groundbreaking clinical trial that led to trofinetide's approval.

As we mark 15 years of CCTS, we spotlight this monumental achievement in Rett Syndrome treatment, highlighting our commitment to advancing care for rare diseases and underscoring the power of collaborative research.

Celebrating 15 years at the forefront of research and collaboration, the CCTS proudly presents our anniversary celebration video. There’s still great work that awaits, and today we celebrate 15 years that have catapulted us toward a bright future, where we will pave the way for more innovation, more discovery—together.

In honor of our 15-year journey, we're thrilled to unveil new 15-year CCTS anniversary graphics for you to download and share in our collective pride and achievement.