# Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute K12 Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2023 · $756,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
The goal of the University of Miami CTSI K12 Career Development Program is to prepare 10 diverse scholars
(MD or PhD) for independent and sustained careers in clinical translational science and research (CTSR) with
focus on health disparity, community health and health equity. Integrated with the Miami CTSI, the program will
develop a robust, broad-based CTSR workforce of diverse scientists who possess both deep scientific domain
expertise and broader research systems understanding. Driven by this goal, we have set three objectives: 1)
develop core competences and knowledge in CTSR; 2) provide evidence-informed mentoring; and 3) accelerate
transition to independent and sustained careers in CTSR. Our program is designed to ensure that a diverse
pool of highly trained CTSR scientists can address community needs. Following the NCATS vision of the ideal
translational scientist, the program’s approach to CTSR training is global, where scholars produce discoveries
that are simultaneously important for their disciplines, contribute to other disciplines, and of benefit to patients
and communities, advancing the translational process as a whole. Our program’s conceptual approach
integrates principles of team science, dissemination & implementation (D&I) and diversity, equity, inclusion and
accessibility to help scholars successfully move their research products into real-world use relevant to public
health. Given our geographical location, with exceptional diversity in ancestry, racial/ethnic identities, and
cultures combined with ten years of a successful CTSI KL2 program and a strong institutional commitment to
workforce diversity and research environment, we offer unique training opportunities for addressing complex
CTSR challenges such as disparities and health equity. The program is organized around five major activities:
(1) recruitment and selection of highly qualified candidates; (2) developing key competencies in CTSR; (3)
collaborative mentorship by CTSR domain experts, and clinician, peer and community mentors; (4) accelerating
scholar transition to an independent and sustained career in CTSR; and (5) program evaluation. In the five years
of the K12 award cycle, the program will provide up to two years of funding to each scholar for personalized
training, intensive scientific practice, and research career development experience under the guidance of
collaborative mentorships and partnerships outside of their areas of expertise, both within their research domains
and with community stakeholders. Our rigorous evaluation plan assesses the quality and effectiveness of the
training program to gauge its effectiveness in enhancing diversity and principles of D&I in CTSR, and scholar
capacity to effectively lead, communicate, collaborate, and break down barriers across multidisciplinary teams
and the translational process. The program is led by two directors who are translational MD/PhD researchers
with complementary laboratory-to-clini...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10708484
- **Project number:** 1K12TR004555-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** ALESSIA FORNONI
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $756,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10708484

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10708484, Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute K12 Program (1K12TR004555-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10708484. Licensed CC0.

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