The Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Clinical and Translational Science Research Program Awards (Element E). These awards are supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) through the CTSA Program.
Element E supports innovative, highly translatable clinical and translational science projects that address significant, real-world roadblocks in translational research. Funded projects should not only advance a specific disease or intervention area, but also generate generalizable translational science innovations that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of research across multiple settings.
The organizing theme for the 2026 cycle is: Enhancing patient engagement in translational science using innovative strategies and technologies
Projects should align with one or more of the following translational science roadblocks:
- Use of electronic health records for research
- Clinical trial recruitment
- Optimizing translation of research into practice
Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to investigators within the Advocate Health enterprise who hold a primary faculty appointment at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Cross-department collaboration is highly encouraged. However, CTSI K12 scholars who have active K12 funding during the project period are not eligible to apply, while investigators with active Ignition Funds are still eligible to participate.
Funding Details
- Project period: Two years
- Award amount: $125,000 in direct costs per year
- Maximum total funding: $250,000 per project
- All funds must be spent within the two-year project period; no-cost extensions are not permitted
Key Dates
- Letter of Intent (LOI) due: May 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET
- Invitation to submit full applications: June 2026
- Full application deadline: November 2, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET
- Awardees selected: December 31, 2026
- Earliest project start date: July 1, 2027
Apply Now
Investigators are strongly encouraged to leverage CTSI resources while developing their applications. These services are available at no cost unless otherwise noted and can be requested through the CTSI Service Request form. Available support includes: Element E team consultations, Biostatistical support, Grant proposal editing, Informatics consultations and Research Studio sessions with multidisciplinary experts
Investigators are strongly encouraged to leverage CTSI resources while developing their applications. These services are available at no cost unless otherwise noted and can be requested through the CTSI Service Request form. Available support includes: Element E team consultations, Biostatistical support, Grant proposal editing, Informatics consultations and Research Studio sessions with multidisciplinary experts
For questions about project scope or the submission process, contact:
- Erica Hale, Program Director - Erica.Hale@Advocatehealth.org
- Thomas Houston, MD, MPH - Thomas.Houston@Advocatehealth.org
- Caitlin Allen, PhD, MPH - Caitlin.Allen@wfusm.edu