Convalescent Plasma to Limit Coronavirus Associated Complications

In the first awarded CTSA class, the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) formed the firstmultiple-institution CTSA, with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) and TheUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (UT MDACC). Since its inception the CCTS has beenachieving the primary goal of the Clinical and Translational Sciences Award (CTSA) program: to accelerateresearch to transform healthcare and train the next generation of translational scientists. Our initial proposalwas about bringing individuals and resources together, educating investigators, and building teams. In our2011 renewal we described our Lowering-The-Barriers program, which focused on removing a large number ofimpediments through initiatives such as IRB reciprocity, standard research contracts and subcontracts, clinicaldata warehouses, patient registries, and biobanks. Our efforts have been successful and aligned with thenational CTSA program. In this cycle, we bring in 3 new partner institutions to broaden and diversify ourCTSA: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (northeast Texas, rural, economicallydisadvantaged), Rice University (with strengths in computer science, education, and team science),and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (south Texas, education and physician resources tohelp our nearby Brownsville Clinical Research Unit perform clinical trials). Together we will effect 5strategic goals: Strategic Goal 1: To provide our investigators, staff, trainees, and scholars with theskills and knowledge necessary to advance discoveries and their translation in the new environment ofclinical and translational research (Workforce Development). Strategic Goal 2: To collaborate with allof our stakeholders in a mutually beneficial way to advance translation by furthering engagement andteam science (Collaboration/Engagement). Strategic Goal 3: To integrate pediatric and geriatricpatients, Hispanic patients with cancer, and the LGBTQ+ community into the full spectrum of clinicaland translational research (Integration). Strategic Goal 4: To advance translational science byproviding novel processes, increasing efficiency, and streamlining research (Methods/Processes).Strategic Goal 5. To create and apply innovative informatics solutions to advance translationalresearch, train the CTSA workforce, disseminate best practices, engage communities and integrateclinical and basic research data (Informatics).